Vulnerability scanner
Encyclopedia
A vulnerability scanner is a computer program
designed to assess computers, computer systems, networks
or applications
for weaknesses. There are a number of types of vulnerability scanners available today, distinguished from one another by a focus on particular targets. While functionality varies between different types of vulnerability scanners, they share a common, core purpose of enumerating the vulnerabilities present in one or more targets. Vulnerability scanners are a core technology component of vulnerability management
.
Friendly types of vulnerability scanners:
A vulnerability scanner can be used to conduct network reconnaissance, which is typically carried out by a remote attacker attempting to gain information or access to a network on which it is not authorized or allowed. Network reconnaissance is increasingly used to exploit network standards and automated communication methods. The aim is to determine what types of computers are present, along with additional information about those computers—such as the type and version of the operating system. This information can be analyzed for known or recently discovered vulnerabilities that can be exploited to gain access to secure networks and computers. Network reconnaissance is possibly one of the most common applications of passive data analysis. Early generation techniques, such as TCP/IP passive fingerprinting, have accuracy issues that tended to make it ineffective. Today, numerous tools exist to make reconnaissance easier and more effective.
Computer program
A computer program is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task with a computer. A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor. The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute...
designed to assess computers, computer systems, networks
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
or applications
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
for weaknesses. There are a number of types of vulnerability scanners available today, distinguished from one another by a focus on particular targets. While functionality varies between different types of vulnerability scanners, they share a common, core purpose of enumerating the vulnerabilities present in one or more targets. Vulnerability scanners are a core technology component of vulnerability management
Vulnerability management
"Vulnerability management is the cyclical practice of identifying, classifying, remediating, and mitigating vulnerabilities" This practice generally refers to software vulnerabilities in computing systems.- Vulnerability Management Programs :...
.
Types of Vulnerability Scanners
- Port scannerPort scannerA port scanner is a software application designed to probe a server or host for open ports. This is often used by administrators to verify security policies of their networks and by attackers to identify running services on a host with the view to compromise it.A port scan or portscan is "An attack...
- Network enumerator
- Network vulnerability scanner
- Web application security scannerWeb Application Security ScannerA web application security scanner is program which communicates with a web application through the web front-end in order to identify potential security vulnerabilities in the web application and architectural weaknesses. It performs a black-box test...
- Database security scanner
- Computer wormComputer wormA computer worm is a self-replicating malware computer program, which uses a computer network to send copies of itself to other nodes and it may do so without any user intervention. This is due to security shortcomings on the target computer. Unlike a computer virus, it does not need to attach...
Friendly types of vulnerability scanners:
- CGI Scanner (usually restricted to banner checking; cgi scanners can find vulnerable scripts but usually don't exploit them)
Network reconnaissance
| Part of the server log, showing attempts to find the administration page. |
|---|
220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:09 +0200] "GET /db/db/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:09 +0200] "GET /db/myadmin/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:10 +0200] "GET /db/webadmin/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:10 +0200] "GET /db/dbweb/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:11 +0200] "GET /db/websql/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:11 +0200] "GET /db/webdb/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:13 +0200] "GET /db/dbadmin/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:13 +0200] "GET /db/db-admin/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:14 +0200] "GET /db/phpmyadmin2/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:14 +0200] "GET /db/phpMyAdmin2/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:15 +0200] "GET /db/phpMyAdmin-2/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:15 +0200] "GET /db/php-my-admin/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:17 +0200] "GET /db/phpMyAdmin-2.2.3/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:17 +0200] "GET /db/phpMyAdmin-2.2.6/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:18 +0200] "GET /db/phpMyAdmin-2.5.1/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" 220.128.235.XXX - - [26/Aug/2010:03:00:18 +0200] "GET /db/phpMyAdmin-2.5.4/main.php HTTP/1.0" 404 - "-" "-" (..) |
A vulnerability scanner can be used to conduct network reconnaissance, which is typically carried out by a remote attacker attempting to gain information or access to a network on which it is not authorized or allowed. Network reconnaissance is increasingly used to exploit network standards and automated communication methods. The aim is to determine what types of computers are present, along with additional information about those computers—such as the type and version of the operating system. This information can be analyzed for known or recently discovered vulnerabilities that can be exploited to gain access to secure networks and computers. Network reconnaissance is possibly one of the most common applications of passive data analysis. Early generation techniques, such as TCP/IP passive fingerprinting, have accuracy issues that tended to make it ineffective. Today, numerous tools exist to make reconnaissance easier and more effective.
Programs
- Port scanners (NmapNmapNmap is a security scanner originally written by Gordon Lyon used to discover hosts and services on a computer network, thus creating a "map" ofthe network...
) - Network scanners (NessusNessus (software)In computer security, Nessus is a proprietary comprehensive vulnerability scanning program. It is free of charge for personal use in a non-enterprise environment. Its goal is to detect potential vulnerabilities on the tested systems. For example:...
, SAINTSAINT (software)SAINT is computer software used for scanning computer networks for security vulnerabilities, and exploiting found vulnerabilities.-SAINT Network Vulnerability Scanner:...
, OpenVASOpenVASOpenVAS is a framework of several services and tools offering avulnerability scanning and vulnerability management solution.The actual security scanner is accompanied with a daily updated feed...
) - List of Web Application Security Scanners
- ERP scanners (ERPScan)
- CGI scanners