Open-Source Vulnerability Scanners Accessing CVE

Introduction

• https://www.cisa.gov/about

Open-source vulnerability scanners that access the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database to help you identify and assess security vulnerabilities in your systems. These tools can be valuable for improving your organization's security posture. Here are some popular options:

OpenVAS (Open Vulnerability Assessment System)

• OpenVAS is a widely used open-source vulnerability scanner that uses the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) and CVE data to identify vulnerabilities in your network. It offers a comprehensive set of features for vulnerability assessment and is known for its accuracy.

Nessus

• While Nessus has a commercial version, Tenable, the company behind Nessus, provides a free version for personal use. It's a robust vulnerability scanner that can access CVE data and is known for its extensive vulnerability detection capabilities.

Nexpose (now InsightVM)

• Nexpose, now rebranded as InsightVM by Rapid7, is a vulnerability management solution. Although the commercial version is more feature-rich, the free version offers vulnerability scanning and access to CVE data.

Wapiti

• Wapiti is an open-source web application vulnerability scanner. It scans web applications for security vulnerabilities, including those associated with CVEs, and can be a valuable tool for web application security testing.

Nikto

• Nikto is another open-source web server scanner that checks for various web server vulnerabilities, including those related to CVEs. It's particularly useful for testing web servers and web applications.

Snort

• Snort is a popular open-source intrusion detection system (IDS) that can be used for network monitoring and intrusion detection. It can be configured to detect vulnerabilities associated with known CVEs.

ClamAV

• ClamAV is an open-source antivirus engine designed for detecting viruses, malware, and potentially unwanted software. It can help protect your systems from known vulnerabilities that may be exploited by malicious software.

OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)

• ZAP is an open-source web application security scanner from the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). It can help identify vulnerabilities in web applications and includes features for accessing CVE data.

Nmap

• While primarily known as a network scanning tool, Nmap can also be used to detect open ports and services, helping identify potential vulnerabilities in your network based on CVEs associated with specific services.

  • Navigating the Shadows of Cybersecurity: The Art of Network Port Scanning 

Conclusion

Remember that regularly updating these tools to the latest versions and keeping the CVE data they access up-to-date is crucial to ensure their effectiveness in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities in your systems. Additionally, always use vulnerability scanning tools responsibly and with the necessary permissions to avoid any legal or ethical issues.

CVEs: A Closer Look at Common Vulnerability and Exposures