Automated Vulnerability Scans

nikto
nmap
wpscan
sqlmap

Automated Vulnerability Scans are critical tools for penetration testers and security professionals, allowing for deep analysis and identification of potential security risks within a network or system. These scanners perform extensive checks for vulnerabilities, configuration issues, and outdated software, uncovering flaws that could be exploited by malicious actors. By using automated scanning techniques, they ensure thorough coverage and help organizations strengthen their security posture.

Common Automated Vulnerability Scan Options

  • -host (Target Host): Specifies the target URL or IP address of the web server or network to scan.
  • -port (Port Number): Defines the specific port or range of ports to scan on the target. You can scan a single port or a range of ports to focus on particular services.
  • -ssl (SSL Support): Forces the scanner to use SSL/TLS for the scan, useful when scanning HTTPS-enabled services.
  • -timeout (Request Timeout): Sets the maximum time to wait for a server response. This helps manage slow or unresponsive servers.
  • -v (Verbose Mode): Enables verbose output, providing more detailed information about the scanning process.
  • -o (Output File): Saves the results of the scan in a specified output format, such as XML, HTML, or CSV, for reporting purposes.

Additional Automated Vulnerability Scan Options

  • -useragent (Custom User-Agent): Sets a custom User-Agent header, allowing the scanner to emulate a specific browser or device to bypass web application firewalls (WAFs) and other security defenses.
  • -Tuning (Scan Tuning): Allows selective scanning by controlling the types of tests to be run. This option is useful for focusing on specific vulnerabilities or network configurations.
  • -nointeractive (Non-Interactive Mode): Disables interactive prompts, making it suitable for automated scans or running in scripts without user input.
  • -update (Update Database): Ensures that the scanner uses the most up-to-date vulnerability definitions and detection capabilities by downloading the latest database.
  • -dbcheck (Database Check): Verifies the integrity and completeness of the scanner’s database before beginning the scan, ensuring the tool is ready to identify the latest vulnerabilities.
  • -exclude (Exclude Targets): Excludes specific targets or subnets from being scanned, useful for avoiding certain devices or networks that are known to be secure or irrelevant.

Tool-Specific Examples of Automated Vulnerability Scan Commands

Nikto Scan Examples:

  1. Basic Scan of a Web Server
    Perform a basic vulnerability scan on a web server at http://example.com.
    > nikto -h http://example.com
  2. Scan an HTTPS Server on a Non-Standard Port
    Scan a server using SSL/TLS on a non-standard port (e.g., 8443).
    > nikto -h https://example.com -port 8443 -ssl
  3. Scan for Specific Vulnerabilities
    Focus the scan on specific vulnerability types, such as those related to outdated software.
    > nikto -h http://example.com -Tuning 3
  4. Save Scan Results in a Report
    Run a scan and save the results to an HTML report file.
    > nikto -h http://example.com -o vuln_scan_results.html
  5. Scan with Custom User-Agent
    Use a custom User-Agent string to avoid detection by web application firewalls.
    > nikto -h http://example.com -useragent "Mozilla/5.0"
  6. Verify and Update Scanner Database
    Ensure the scanner is using the latest vulnerability definitions and has a complete database.
    > nikto -update nikto -dbcheck

Nmap Scan Examples:

  1. Basic Scan of a Target
    Perform a basic scan on a target http://example.com.
    > nmap -sS http://example.com
  2. Scan a Server Using SSL/TLS on a Non-Standard Port
    Scan a server at https://example.com using SSL on port 8443.
    > nmap -sS https://example.com -p 8443
  3. Scan a Specific Port Range
    Scan a range of ports (e.g., 8000-9000) on the target.
    > nmap -sS https://example.com -p 8000-9000
  4. Save Scan Results in a Report
    Run a scan and save the results in an XML report.
    > nmap -sS https://example.com -oX scan_results.xml
  5. Scan with Custom User-Agent
    Use a custom User-Agent string for the scan.
    > nmap -sS https://example.com -useragent "Mozilla/5.0"
  6. Verify and Update Scanner Database
    Ensure the scanner is using the latest vulnerability definitions.
    > nmap --update

WPScan Scan Examples:

  1. Basic Scan of a WordPress Site
    Perform a basic scan on a WordPress site at http://example.com.
    > wpscan --url http://example.com
  2. Enumerate WordPress Users
    Scan the site and enumerate users.
    > wpscan --url http://example.com --enumerate u
  3. Scan for Specific Vulnerabilities
    Focus on scanning for outdated plugins or themes.
    > wpscan --url http://example.com --enumerate p,t
  4. Save Scan Results in a Report
    Run a scan and save the results to a CSV report file.
    > wpscan --url http://example.com --output wpscan_report.csv
  5. Scan with Custom User-Agent
    Use a custom User-Agent string to bypass detection.
    > wpscan --url http://example.com --useragent "Mozilla/5.0"
  6. Verify and Update Scanner Database
    Ensure the scanner is using the latest vulnerability definitions.
    > wpscan --update

SQLMap Scan Examples:

  1. Basic Scan of a Target URL
    Perform a basic SQL injection scan on the target URL http://example.com.
    > sqlmap -u http://example.com
  2. List Databases of a Target
    Scan the URL and list available databases.
    > sqlmap -u http://example.com --dbs
  3. List Tables in a Specific Database
    Scan and list the tables in a specified database (example_db).
    > sqlmap -u http://example.com -D example_db --tables
  4. Save Scan Results in a Report
    Run a scan and save the results to an HTML report file.
    > sqlmap -u http://example.com -o scan_report.html
  5. Scan with Custom User-Agent
    Use a custom User-Agent string for bypassing security measures.
    > sqlmap -u http://example.com --useragent "Mozilla/5.0"
  6. Verify and Update Scanner Database
    Ensure the scanner uses the latest vulnerability definitions.
    > sqlmap --update

Summary

Automated vulnerability scanners provide essential capabilities for security assessments and penetration testing. They allow users to perform targeted scans, detect vulnerabilities, and generate detailed reports for remediation. By utilizing customizable options like SSL scanning, tuning, and output file generation, security professionals can tailor their scans to meet specific needs, helping uncover vulnerabilities that might otherwise be overlooked.