Exploiting the interactions between client devices and network servers
Client-device penetration testing is a crucial evaluation process aimed at identifying and assessing vulnerabilities in software applications that run on client devices, such as workstations or web browsers. This type of testing is vital for uncovering exploitable flaws that might not be readily apparent, yet pose serious risks to both the security and functionality of the system.
The primary goal of client-side penetration tests is to detect security threats that are either unknown or not fully understood within the cybersecurity community. These threats frequently exploit the interactions between client devices and network servers and can manifest through various types of malicious activities.
For example, the term “jacking” refers to a range of attacks in which unauthorised actions are performed on behalf of a user without their consent. This could involve manipulating sessions to execute unwanted actions on a website.
Another common threat comes from HTML injections, where unauthorised code is inserted into web pages. This kind of attack can lead to the theft or manipulation of data. Additionally, cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks pose a significant threat; these occur when malicious scripts are embedded into benign and trusted websites. Once executed on the client side, these scripts can steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive data directly from the user’s browser.
These vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they exploit the inherent trust between the client device and the server. Through rigorous and systematic testing, client-side penetration testing seeks to identify these vulnerabilities early, before they can be exploited by attackers. This proactive approach helps protect the integrity and confidentiality of user data and maintains the overall security posture of the system. By doing so, organisations can ensure that their client-side environments are robust against both current and emerging security threats.
