Why Vulnerability Scanners Are Broken – Insights From HD Moore

Vulnerability scanners are critical tools in cybersecurity, but according to HD Moore, they are often flawed and ineffective. In a recent interview with Risky Business Media, Moore explains why these tools fail to meet expectations and how they can be improved.

You Should Know:

1. Common Flaws in Vulnerability Scanners

False positives/negatives plague results.
Lack of context in detected vulnerabilities.
Slow updates for new exploits.

2. Practical Alternatives & Commands

Manual Verification with Nmap:
```
nmap -sV --script vulners <target_IP>
```

Metasploit for Exploit Validation:

use auxiliary/scanner/portscan/tcp 
set RHOSTS <target_IP> 
run

OpenVAS for Open-Source Scanning:

openvas-start 
gvm-cli --gmp-username admin --gmp-password <password> socket --xml "<get_tasks/>"

3. Enhancing Scanner Accuracy

Cross-reference with threat intelligence feeds (e.g., CVE databases).

Use Burp Suite for web app validation:

java -jar burpsuite_pro.jar --project-file=<project>

4. Automating Custom Scans

Nessus API Integration (Python Example):

import requests 
response = requests.get('https://nessus-server:8834/scans', headers={'X-API-Token': 'your_token'}) 
print(response.json())

What Undercode Say:

Vulnerability scanners alone are insufficient. Combining automated tools with manual verification, threat intelligence, and custom scripting ensures better accuracy. Security teams must adapt by integrating multiple approaches rather than relying on a single broken system.

Expected Output:

A refined vulnerability assessment process with reduced false positives.
Improved exploit detection using hybrid manual/automated methods.
Custom scripts for tailored security scans.

Prediction:

As AI-driven security tools evolve, vulnerability scanners may become more context-aware, reducing false alerts. However, human expertise will remain essential for validation.

URL: Risky Business Interview with HD Moore