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The article highlights essential vulnerability scanners for penetration testers and security researchers. While slightly dated, the tools remain relevant for identifying security weaknesses.
Key Vulnerability Scanners:
1. Nessus – Industry-standard vulnerability scanner.
2. OpenVAS – Open-source alternative to Nessus.
3. Nexpose (Now InsightVM) – Comprehensive vulnerability management.
- Core Impact – Advanced exploitation and pivoting capabilities.
5. Vega – Web application vulnerability scanner.
Additional Tools Mentioned:
- Burp Suite
- Metasploit Framework
- QualysGuard
- Acunetix
- Nikto
Link: https://www.techworm.net/2016/07/top-10-vulnerability-scanners-hackers-researchers.html
Vega Download: https://support.subgraph.com/downloads/Vega64.dmg
You Should Know:
1. Running Nessus Scans
Start Nessus service sudo systemctl start nessusd Access via browser https://localhost:8834
2. OpenVAS Setup & Scanning
Install OpenVAS on Kali Linux sudo apt update && sudo apt install openvas Setup and launch sudo gvm-setup sudo gvm-start Access via: https://127.0.0.1:9392
3. Metasploit Vulnerability Checks
Launch Metasploit msfconsole Use an auxiliary scanner use auxiliary/scanner/http/http_version set RHOSTS target.com run
4. Vega Web Scanning
Launch Vega (GUI-based) java -jar Vega.jar
5. Core Impact Pivoting
- Automatically deploys agents on exploited hosts.
- Use `impactcli` for command-line operations.
6. Nikto Web Server Scanning
nikto -h target.com -output results.txt
7. Burp Suite for Web Vulns
- Intercept requests via proxy (
127.0.0.1:8080). - Use `Intruder` for fuzzing.
What Undercode Say:
Vulnerability scanners are critical for identifying weaknesses before attackers do. While automated tools like Nessus and OpenVAS provide broad coverage, manual verification with Metasploit or Burp Suite ensures accuracy. Core Impact’s pivoting feature is unmatched for lateral movement. Vega remains underrated but effective for web app testing. Always combine automated scans with manual testing for thorough assessments.
Bonus Commands:
Nmap Vuln Scanning nmap --script vuln target.com SQLi Detection with SQLmap sqlmap -u "http://target.com/page?id=1" --dbs Windows Vulnerability Check (PowerShell) Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "http://internal-server/patches" | Select-String "KBXXXXXX"
Expected Output:
A detailed list of vulnerability scanners, setup commands, and exploitation techniques for ethical hackers.
References:
Reported By: Activity 7313120321253879808 – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
