Web App Vulnerability Scans

nikto

Web Application Vulnerability Scans are crucial for identifying weaknesses in web applications that could be exploited by attackers. These tools specifically focus on vulnerabilities such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), SQL Injection (SQLi), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), Path Traversal, and more. By running these scans, penetration testers and security professionals can identify areas where malicious actors might gain unauthorized access, steal data, or execute harmful actions on a web application.

Common Web Application Vulnerability Scan Options:

  • -url (Target URL): Specifies the target URL of the web application to scan.
  • -method (Request Method): Defines the HTTP method to be used (GET, POST, etc.), which is vital for detecting vulnerabilities in different types of requests.
  • -data (POST Data): Provides the POST data for forms and other input fields, useful for testing SQL injection or other form-based vulnerabilities.
  • -proxy (Proxy Server): Routes traffic through a proxy, which can be helpful for debugging and observing the scanning process.
  • -timeout (Request Timeout): Sets the maximum time to wait for a response, useful for managing slow or unresponsive applications.
  • -o (Output File): Saves the scan results in a specified format (e.g., HTML, JSON, XML) for reporting and analysis.

Additional Web Application Vulnerability Scan Options:

  • -v (Verbose Mode): Enables detailed output to help security professionals see the scan’s process and results in-depth.
  • -useragent (Custom User-Agent): Changes the User-Agent string, helping avoid detection from Web Application Firewalls (WAFs).
  • -level (Scan Level): Defines the intensity of the scan (e.g., low, medium, high), which determines how aggressive the scan should be.
  • -risk (Risk Level): Specifies the risk threshold for vulnerabilities, allowing users to focus on either low, medium, or high-risk findings.
  • -ignore (Ignore Options): Excludes certain vulnerabilities or types of tests from the scan.

Tool-Specific Examples of Web Application Vulnerability Scan Commands

Nikto (Web Server Scanner) Examples:

  • Basic Scan: Perform a general scan of a target URL for known vulnerabilities.
    > nikto -h http://example.com
  • Scan for Specific Vulnerabilities: Search for a particular vulnerability, such as a missing HTTP security header.
    > nikto -h http://example.com -Tuning 8
  • Save Scan Results: Store scan results in a specific file format (e.g., HTML).
    > nikto -h http://example.com -o nikto_scan_results.html
  • Scan with Custom User-Agent: Mimic a specific browser to bypass security mechanisms.
    > nikto -h http://example.com --useragent "Mozilla/5.0"

XSSer (XSS Vulnerability Scanner) Examples:

  • Basic XSS Scan: Test for Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the web application.
    > xsser --url http://example.com
  • Scan for Reflected XSS: Test for reflected XSS vulnerabilities by manipulating URL parameters.
    > xsser --url http://example.com?param=value --method GET
  • Save Scan Results: Store results of the XSS scan in a file.
    > xsser --url http://example.com --output xss_results.txt
  • Verbose Mode for Detailed Output: Enable verbose output to track the scan’s progress and findings.
    > xsser --url http://example.com --verbose

SQLmap (SQL Injection Scanner) Examples:

  • Basic SQL Injection Test: Scan for SQL injection vulnerabilities in the specified URL.
    > sqlmap -u http://example.com/page.php?id=1
  • Scan for Blind SQL Injection: Specifically test for blind SQL injection vulnerabilities.
    > sqlmap -u http://example.com/page.php?id=1 --technique=BE
  • Save Scan Results in HTML Format: Output the scan results in an HTML file for easy reading.
    > sqlmap -u http://example.com/page.php?id=1 --output-dir=sqlmap_results --format=html
  • Scan with a Custom Header: Use custom headers to bypass WAF protections.
    > sqlmap -u http://example.com/page.php?id=1 --headers="User-Agent: Custom-UA"

OWASP CSRFTester (CSRF Vulnerability Scanner) Examples:

  • Basic CSRF Scan: Perform a scan for potential Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities on the target web application.
    > csrfTester -u http://example.com/form --csrf
  • Scan for Specific CSRF Vulnerabilities: Search for particular types of CSRF issues on a form-based application.
    > csrfTester -u http://example.com/form --method POST --csrf
  • Save Scan Results in a Text File: Save the results of the CSRF scan for reporting.
    > csrfTester -u http://example.com/form --csrf --output csrf_results.txt

DirBuster (Path Traversal Vulnerability Scanner) Examples:

  • Basic Directory Scan: Perform a scan to find hidden directories and files in a web application.
    > dirbuster -u http://example.com
  • Custom Wordlist for Path Traversal: Use a custom wordlist to scan for possible hidden directories or files.
    > dirbuster -u http://example.com -w /path/to/wordlist.txt
  • Save Scan Results in HTML Format: Save the directory scanning results in HTML format.
    > dirbuster -u http://example.com -o dirbuster_results.html

Summary

Web application vulnerability scanning tools such as Nikto, XSSer, SQLmap, OWASP CSRFTester, and DirBuster are essential for uncovering specific vulnerabilities in web applications. These tools allow penetration testers to test for XSS, SQL injection, CSRF, path traversal, and other critical vulnerabilities. By leveraging custom options like scan verbosity, specific vulnerability focus, and custom headers, security professionals can tailor scans to their needs. Additionally, saving results in various formats (HTML, TXT, etc.) allows easy review and reporting. Web application vulnerability scanning should be part of every security professional’s toolkit to proactively detect weaknesses and mitigate potential threats.