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Desktop Application Penetration Testing (Electron, thick client)

We test desktop and thick-client applications, including Electron builds, for renderer sandbox escapes, IPC boundary flaws, insecure local credential storage, and privilege boundaries a local attacker can cross.

Desktop Application Penetration Testing (Electron, thick client) illustration

Testing Checklist

Every engagement covers these critical security areas.

Node integration and contextIsolation posture
Renderer sandboxing and process isolation
IPC message validation and privilege escalation paths
DevTools exposure in production builds
Remote content loading and navigation controls
Local token, credential, and session persistence
Configuration and secrets stored on disk
Tamper resistance of on-device state
Client-side business logic and validation bypass
Auto-update channel and code-signing integrity
Third-party dependency and framework versions
Local privilege boundaries and host configuration

Testing Methodology

A structured, repeatable process that ensures thorough coverage and actionable results.

STEP 01

Build and Configuration Review

Inspect the packaged application for Node integration exposure, contextIsolation and sandbox settings, DevTools accessibility, and whether the renderer loads remote content in production builds.

STEP 02

IPC Boundary Testing

Map the inter-process communication surface between renderer and main process, then test whether the renderer can invoke privileged operations it should not reach.

STEP 03

Local Storage and Credential Handling

Examine how authentication tokens, session state, and configuration are persisted on disk, and whether they survive tampering by a local user.

STEP 04

Privilege Boundary Assessment

Establish what a low-privilege local account can read, modify, or exfiltrate, including host configuration relevant to a user with console or shell access.

STEP 05

Client-Side Logic Review

Test validation, state machines, and decision logic that runs on the device rather than server-side, where a determined user controls the runtime.

STEP 06

Reporting and Remediation

Deliver findings tagged with CWE identifiers and scored with CVSS v3.1, mapped to OWASP DASVS verification requirements, with reproduction steps and fixes specific to the framework in use.

Want to scope your desktop application pentest engagement? Both founders take the discovery call.

Framework Alignment

Our methodology is aligned with industry-recognized security frameworks for thorough coverage and compliance readiness.

OWASP DASVSOWASP Desktop App Security Top 10PTESCWECVSS v3.1

Compliance Coverage

ISO
ISO 27001
A.14: System acquisition, development and maintenance
SOC
SOC 2
CC6.1: Logical and physical access controls

Deliverables

What you walk away with at the end of every engagement.

01

Executive summary with desktop-specific risk overview

02

Technical findings with reproduction steps, CWE identifiers, and CVSS v3.1 ratings

03

IPC and privilege boundary assessment

04

Local storage and credential handling review

05

Remediation guidance specific to your desktop framework

06

1 free retest within one month of the v1.0 report, returned as v2.0

Ready to secure your desktop application?

Pentest packages from INR 74,999 (~$900 / ~€830). Includes consulting hours + 1 free retest within one month. Both founders on every engagement: Rathnakara (OSCP) leads testing, Ashok handles delivery + compliance.