https://www.elanustechnologies.com/thickclient.php

1. Thick Client Penetration Testing: Modern
Approaches and Techniques
What Is Thick Client Penetration Testing ?
A client program that can offer rich functionality
without relying on the server in a network is
referred to as a “thick client,” also known as a “fat
client.” The majority of thick client operations can
be carried out without an active server
connection. While they do occasionally need to
connect to a network on the central server, they

2. can operate independently and may contain
locally stored resources.
On the other hand, a “thin client” is a client
program or computer that requires a connection
to the server in order to work. Thin clients rely
heavily on server access each time they need to
analyze or validate input data because they
perform as little processing on their own as is
feasible.
Why do thick client applications need testing?
For internal operations, thick client applications
are crucial. They are frequently used to interact
with private data, such as financial and health
records and they provide a significant danger to a
business, particularly if they are legacy
applications.
Thick clients function differently, and each has
advantages and disadvantages of their own. The
security that thin clients offer over thick clients is
one of their main advantages. The following are
some of the main security issues with thick
clients:
 Sensitive data disclosure.

3.  Denial of Service (DoS).
 Improper access control.
 Improper session management.
 Reverse engineering.
 Injection attacks.
 Variable and response manipulation.
 Improper error handling.
 Insecure storage.
How can thick client apps be tested?
Thick client applications require a certain strategy
when it comes to a penetration test because they
are typically more involved and customized than
online or mobile applications.
When dealing with a thick client application, the
initial step is to obtain data, such as:
 Identifying the technologies being utilized on
both the server and client sides.
 Determining the behaviour and operation of
the program.
 Locating the entire various user input entry
locations.
 Recognizing the application’s primary security
techniques.

4.  Recognizing widespread vulnerabilities in
things like languages and frameworks.
Phases of Thick Client Application Vulnerability
Assessment & Penetration Testing
1.Mapping and Scoping
Make a business process model and agree to it. By
identifying and regulating access to documents
and information, scoping ensures their security. It
makes it possible to map out the problems for
subsequent steps. A brief meeting with the client
will be required as part of this process to review
and confirm the rules of engagement for Thick
Client & Penetration Testing as well as to
establish the project scope and testing schedule.
2. Enumeration and Information Gathering
The tester receives information from this stage
that can be used to find and take advantage of
vulnerabilities in the online applications. This
phase’s objective is to detect any sensitive data,
such as application technology, usernames,
version information, hardcoded data, etc., that
may be useful during the testing phases that
follow.

5. 3. Scanning
To identify recurring problems in the thick client
software, we employ a proprietary method. For
our experts to investigate the tool also lists the
thick client’s network communication, inter
process communication, operating system
interactions, and other activities.
4. Vulnerability identification and assessment
The list of all targets and apps that fall under the
scope of the vulnerability analysis phase will be
compiled at both the network layer and the
application layer. Our experts examine the setup
of your thick client, detecting both issues with the
default configuration and potential methods the
application could be set up to avoid security
measures.
5. Exploitation
All potential vulnerabilities found in the earlier
stages of the assessment will be subjected to this
phase’s effort to exploit them like an attacker
would. Business logic problems, bypasses for

6. authentication and authorization, direct object
references, parameter manipulation, and session
management are all included in this. The majority
of thick clients make use of some server-side
capability, and all thick clients or central data
storage may be impacted by a server-side
vulnerability that is successfully exploited.
Need Penetration Testing for Thick Client
Applications?
Regardless of whether your thick client
application is hosted internally or in a virtualized
environment, Elanus Technologies evaluates it.
When conducting security assessments for thick
client applications, we look at best practices for
authorization and authentication as well as data
storage and communication pathways. To assess
your application, we use manual and automated
pen-testing procedures using paid, free, and
open-source cybersecurity.
We at Elanus Technologies specialize in thick
client application security, including:
 Static Analysis: To find potential flaws and
vulnerabilities in the application’s source code

7. without actually running it, our professionals
use cutting-edge methods.
 Dynamic analysis: To find any flaws or
weaknesses in the functionality of the
application, our specialists run the application
and examine its behavior while it operates.
 Penetration testing: During this process, we
mimic a real-world assault on the application
in order to find and exploit vulnerabilities and
provide a comprehensive evaluation of its
security posture.
 Review of Configuration: Our team of
specialists examines the configuration of the
application and suggests modifications to
increase the application’s general security.
 Network Traffic Analysis: To discover and
reduce potential security concerns, our
professionals track and examine network
traffic. Security Code Review: Our team of
professionals examines the application’s
source code for security flaws, finding any
potential problems and offering solutions.
Thick client application security describes the
steps required to safeguard thick client
applications, which are computer or device

8. software applications that run on end users'
computers or other devices and demand a lot of
resources and processing power. These programs
frequently work with sensitive data and are open
to many forms of assault, such as malware,
phishing, and hacking. We have expertise of
conducting Thick Client Application Security
Testing on client-server applications adopting
proven methods and technology.
Get in touch with us for more insights.
https://blogs.elanustechnologies.com/thick-
client-vapt-2/