Top 10 Security Vulnerability Scanners

Scope of Article

Gone are the days when a network administrator would sit in a cozy datacenter room, sip coffee, and look at monitors showing stats. Today’s cyber world forces admin teams to deal with challenges that go far beyond machine-related problems.

Modern datacenters deploy firewalls and managed networking components, but still possess a sense of insecurity because of cyber hackers. This imposes a crucial need for network vulnerability assessment tools that can find the “needle in a haystack.”

This article highlights the Top 10 Security Vulnerability Scanners categorized based on their popularity, functionality, and ease of use — making them a must-have for every security professional.

Revisiting Vulnerabilities and Scanners

Vulnerabilities are an unfortunate integral part of every software and hardware system. A bug in an operating system, a loophole in a commercial product, or a misconfiguration of critical infrastructure makes it susceptible to attacks.

Hackers can exploit these flaws for personal or financial gain. Both open source and commercial systems are vulnerable, and data theft or reputational loss is often the result.

Fortunately, there are many security tools that detect and prevent such attacks. In the open-source world, both CLI-based and GUI-based utilities are widely available. One notable mention is Backtrack Linux, which incorporates a wide range of vulnerability assessment and digital forensics software utilities.

Top 5 Network Security Assessment Tools

1. Wireshark – A network protocol analyzer that works in promiscuous mode to capture all traffic within a TCP broadcast domain. Ideal for detecting stray IPs, spoofed packets, and suspicious activity. User-friendly GUI makes it accessible even for beginners.
2. Nmap – A powerful scanner used for port scanning, OS detection, and identifying devices behind firewalls. It outputs plain text, integrates with scripts, and is one of the most trusted tools for vulnerability assessment.
3. Metasploit Framework – A penetration testing framework that allows security experts to simulate attacks, exploit vulnerabilities, and test patches. Community edition is free and widely used for professional ethical hacking.
4. OpenVAS – A branch of Nessus, OpenVAS includes a scanner and manager that detect vulnerabilities and generate detailed security reports. It features the Greenbone Security Assistant for a visual dashboard and reporting.
5. Aircrack-ng – A suite of wireless security tools used to test Wi-Fi security. Capable of sniffing, packet injection, and brute-force password cracking for WPA/WPA2 networks.

Top 5 Web Security Assessment Tools

1. Nikto – A web vulnerability scanner that crawls websites, detects misconfigurations, cross-site scripting, cookie handling flaws, and file upload issues. Provides detailed verbose output for web security testing.
2. Samurai Web Testing Framework – A Linux distro containing powerful penetration testing tools like Webscarab, W3AF, and browser-based exploit testers. Ideal for advanced web app testing.
3. Safe3 Scanner – Excellent for web applications requiring authentication. It supports session and cookie-based testing, AJAX vulnerabilities, and has a user-friendly GUI for detailed reports.
4. Websecurify – An application-level scanner that detects insecure code practices, hardcoded credentials, and file path disclosures. It generates automatic screenshots for reporting.
5. SQLmap – Specialized in SQL injection detection and exploitation. It can fingerprint databases, dump data, and even gain full control of a server. Supports multiple database engines.

Summary

A proper vulnerability assessment should include both network scanning and web application security testing. Open-source tools like the ones above help administrators secure IT infrastructure effectively.

Caution

The tools mentioned here are for educational and research purposes only. Unauthorized scanning or hacking attempts are illegal and punishable by law. Always obtain proper permission before conducting any vulnerability assessments.

About the Author

The author has over 18 years of experience in IT security, hardware, networking, and web technologies. Certified in MCSE, MCDBA, and F5 load balancing, he specializes in ethical hacking and digital forensics.

Prashant runs Valency Networks in India, providing consultancy in IT security, audits, infrastructure design, and business process management. He can be reached at prashant@valencynetworks.com.