Security Scanning Tools

Core Workflow

Phase 1: Network Scanning Tools

Nmap (Network Mapper)

Primary tool for network discovery and security auditing:

# Host discovery
nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24              # Ping scan (no port scan)
nmap -sL 192.168.1.0/24              # List scan (DNS resolution)
nmap -Pn 192.168.1.100               # Skip host discovery

# Port scanning techniques
nmap -sS 192.168.1.100               # TCP SYN scan (stealth)
nmap -sT 192.168.1.100               # TCP connect scan
nmap -sU 192.168.1.100               # UDP scan
nmap -sA 192.168.1.100               # ACK scan (firewall detection)

# Port specification
nmap -p 80,443 192.168.1.100         # Specific ports
nmap -p- 192.168.1.100               # All 65535 ports
nmap -p 1-1000 192.168.1.100         # Port range
nmap --top-ports 100 192.168.1.100   # Top 100 common ports

# Service and OS detection
nmap -sV 192.168.1.100               # Service version detection
nmap -O 192.168.1.100                # OS detection
nmap -A 192.168.1.100                # Aggressive (OS, version, scripts)

# Timing and performance
nmap -T0 192.168.1.100               # Paranoid (slowest, IDS evasion)
nmap -T4 192.168.1.100               # Aggressive (faster)
nmap -T5 192.168.1.100               # Insane (fastest)

# NSE Scripts
nmap --script=vuln 192.168.1.100     # Vulnerability scripts
nmap --script=http-enum 192.168.1.100  # Web enumeration
nmap --script=smb-vuln* 192.168.1.100  # SMB vulnerabilities
nmap --script=default 192.168.1.100  # Default script set

# Output formats
nmap -oN scan.txt 192.168.1.100      # Normal output
nmap -oX scan.xml 192.168.1.100      # XML output
nmap -oG scan.gnmap 192.168.1.100    # Grepable output
nmap -oA scan 192.168.1.100          # All formats

Masscan

High-speed port scanning for large networks:

# Basic scanning
masscan -p80 192.168.1.0/24 --rate=1000
masscan -p80,443,8080 192.168.1.0/24 --rate=10000

# Full port range
masscan -p0-65535 192.168.1.0/24 --rate=5000

# Large-scale scanning
masscan 0.0.0.0/0 -p443 --rate=100000 --excludefile exclude.txt

# Output formats
masscan -p80 192.168.1.0/24 -oG results.gnmap
masscan -p80 192.168.1.0/24 -oJ results.json
masscan -p80 192.168.1.0/24 -oX results.xml

# Banner grabbing
masscan -p80 192.168.1.0/24 --banners

Phase 2: Vulnerability Scanning Tools

Nessus

Enterprise-grade vulnerability assessment:

# Start Nessus service
sudo systemctl start nessusd

# Access web interface
# https://localhost:8834

# Command-line (nessuscli)
nessuscli scan --create --name "Internal Scan" --targets 192.168.1.0/24
nessuscli scan --list
nessuscli scan --launch <scan_id>
nessuscli report --format pdf --output report.pdf <scan_id>

Key Nessus features:

• Comprehensive CVE detection
• Compliance checks (PCI-DSS, HIPAA, CIS)
• Custom scan templates
• Credentialed scanning for deeper analysis
• Regular plugin updates

OpenVAS (Greenbone)

Open-source vulnerability scanning:

# Install OpenVAS
sudo apt install openvas
sudo gvm-setup

# Start services
sudo gvm-start

# Access web interface (Greenbone Security Assistant)
# https://localhost:9392

# Command-line operations
gvm-cli socket --xml "<get_version/>"
gvm-cli socket --xml "<get_tasks/>"

# Create and run scan
gvm-cli socket --xml '
<create_target>
  <name>Test Target</name>
  <hosts>192.168.1.0/24</hosts>
</create_target>'

Phase 3: Web Application Scanning Tools

Burp Suite

Comprehensive web application testing:

# Proxy configuration
1. Set browser proxy to 127.0.0.1:8080
2. Import Burp CA certificate for HTTPS
3. Add target to scope

# Key modules:
- Proxy: Intercept and modify requests
- Spider: Crawl web applications
- Scanner: Automated vulnerability detection
- Intruder: Automated attacks (fuzzing, brute-force)
- Repeater: Manual request manipulation
- Decoder: Encode/decode data
- Comparer: Compare responses

Core testing workflow:

1. Configure proxy and scope
2. Spider the application
3. Analyze sitemap
4. Run active scanner
5. Manual testing with Repeater/Intruder
6. Review findings and generate report

OWASP ZAP

Open-source web application scanner:

# Start ZAP
zaproxy

# Automated scan from CLI
zap-cli quick-scan https://target.com

# Full scan
zap-cli spider https://target.com
zap-cli active-scan https://target.com

# Generate report
zap-cli report -o report.html -f html

# API mode
zap.sh -daemon -port 8080 -config api.key=<your_key>

ZAP automation:

# Docker-based scanning
docker run -t owasp/zap2docker-stable zap-full-scan.py \
  -t https://target.com -r report.html

# Baseline scan (passive only)
docker run -t owasp/zap2docker-stable zap-baseline.py \
  -t https://target.com -r report.html

Nikto

Web server vulnerability scanner:

# Basic scan
nikto -h https://target.com

# Scan specific port
nikto -h target.com -p 8080

# Scan with SSL
nikto -h target.com -ssl

# Multiple targets
nikto -h targets.txt

# Output formats
nikto -h target.com -o report.html -Format html
nikto -h target.com -o report.xml -Format xml
nikto -h target.com -o report.csv -Format csv

# Tuning options
nikto -h target.com -Tuning 123456789  # All tests
nikto -h target.com -Tuning x          # Exclude specific tests

Phase 4: Wireless Scanning Tools

Aircrack-ng Suite

Wireless network penetration testing:

# Check wireless interface
airmon-ng

# Enable monitor mode
sudo airmon-ng start wlan0

# Scan for networks
sudo airodump-ng wlan0mon

# Capture specific network
sudo airodump-ng -c <channel> --bssid <target_bssid> -w capture wlan0mon

# Deauthentication attack
sudo aireplay-ng -0 10 -a <bssid> wlan0mon

# Crack WPA handshake
aircrack-ng -w wordlist.txt -b <bssid> capture*.cap

# Crack WEP
aircrack-ng -b <bssid> capture*.cap

Kismet

Passive wireless detection:

# Start Kismet
kismet

# Specify interface
kismet -c wlan0

# Access web interface
# http://localhost:2501

# Detect hidden networks
# Kismet passively collects all beacon frames
# including those from hidden SSIDs

Phase 5: Malware and Exploit Scanning

ClamAV

Open-source antivirus scanning:

# Update virus definitions
sudo freshclam

# Scan directory
clamscan -r /path/to/scan

# Scan with verbose output
clamscan -r -v /path/to/scan

# Move infected files
clamscan -r --move=/quarantine /path/to/scan

# Remove infected files
clamscan -r --remove /path/to/scan

# Scan specific file types
clamscan -r --include='\.exe$|\.dll$' /path/to/scan

# Output to log
clamscan -r -l scan.log /path/to/scan

Metasploit Vulnerability Validation

Validate vulnerabilities with exploitation:

# Start Metasploit
msfconsole

# Database setup
msfdb init
db_status

# Import Nmap results
db_import /path/to/nmap_scan.xml

# Vulnerability scanning
use auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_ms17_010
set RHOSTS 192.168.1.0/24
run

# Auto exploitation
vulns                           # View vulnerabilities
analyze                         # Suggest exploits

Phase 6: Cloud Security Scanning

Prowler (AWS)

AWS security assessment:

# Install Prowler
pip install prowler

# Basic scan
prowler aws

# Specific checks
prowler aws -c iam s3 ec2

# Compliance framework
prowler aws --compliance cis_aws

# Output formats
prowler aws -M html json csv

# Specific region
prowler aws -f us-east-1

# Assume role
prowler aws -R arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/ProwlerRole

ScoutSuite (Multi-cloud)

Multi-cloud security auditing:

# Install ScoutSuite
pip install scoutsuite

# AWS scan
scout aws

# Azure scan
scout azure --cli

# GCP scan
scout gcp --user-account

# Generate report
scout aws --report-dir ./reports

Phase 7: Compliance Scanning

Lynis

Security auditing for Unix/Linux:

# Run audit
sudo lynis audit system

# Quick scan
sudo lynis audit system --quick

# Specific profile
sudo lynis audit system --profile server

# Output report
sudo lynis audit system --report-file /tmp/lynis-report.dat

# Check specific section
sudo lynis show profiles
sudo lynis audit system --tests-from-group malware

OpenSCAP

Security compliance scanning:

# List available profiles
oscap info /usr/share/xml/scap/ssg/content/ssg-<distro>-ds.xml

# Run scan with profile
oscap xccdf eval --profile xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_profile_pci-dss \
  --report report.html \
  /usr/share/xml/scap/ssg/content/ssg-rhel8-ds.xml

# Generate fix script
oscap xccdf generate fix \
  --profile xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_profile_pci-dss \
  --output remediation.sh \
  /usr/share/xml/scap/ssg/content/ssg-rhel8-ds.xml

Phase 8: Scanning Methodology

Structured scanning approach:

1. Planning

   • Define scope and objectives
   • Obtain proper authorization
   • Select appropriate tools

2. Discovery

   • Host discovery (Nmap ping sweep)
   • Port scanning
   • Service enumeration

3. Vulnerability Assessment

   • Automated scanning (Nessus/OpenVAS)
   • Web application scanning (Burp/ZAP)
   • Manual verification

4. Analysis

   • Correlate findings
   • Eliminate false positives
   • Prioritize by severity

5. Reporting

   • Document findings
   • Provide remediation guidance
   • Executive summary

Phase 9: Tool Selection Guide

Choose the right tool for each scenario:

Phase 10: Reporting and Documentation

Generate professional reports:

# Nmap XML to HTML
xsltproc nmap-output.xml -o report.html

# OpenVAS report export
gvm-cli socket --xml '<get_reports report_id="<id>" format_id="<pdf_format>"/>'

# Combine multiple scan results
# Use tools like Faraday, Dradis, or custom scripts

# Executive summary template:
# 1. Scope and methodology
# 2. Key findings summary
# 3. Risk distribution chart
# 4. Critical vulnerabilities
# 5. Remediation recommendations
# 6. Detailed technical findings

Quick Reference

Nmap Cheat Sheet

Common Ports Reference

Constraints and Limitations

Legal Considerations

• Always obtain written authorization
• Respect scope boundaries
• Follow responsible disclosure practices
• Comply with local laws and regulations

Technical Limitations

• Some scans may trigger IDS/IPS alerts
• Heavy scanning can impact network performance
• False positives require manual verification
• Encrypted traffic may limit analysis

Best Practices

• Start with non-intrusive scans
• Gradually increase scan intensity
• Document all scanning activities
• Validate findings before reporting

Troubleshooting

Scan Not Detecting Hosts

Solutions:

1. Try different discovery methods: nmap -Pn or nmap -sn -PS/PA/PU
2. Check firewall rules blocking ICMP
3. Use TCP SYN scan: nmap -PS22,80,443
4. Verify network connectivity

Slow Scan Performance

Solutions:

1. Increase timing: nmap -T4 or -T5
2. Reduce port range: --top-ports 100
3. Use Masscan for initial discovery
4. Disable DNS resolution: -n

Web Scanner Missing Vulnerabilities

Solutions:

1. Authenticate to access protected areas
2. Increase crawl depth
3. Add custom injection points
4. Use multiple tools for coverage
5. Perform manual testing