Top 5 Security Assessment Tools

While performing a vulnerability scan against a network, it should be done both from inside the network as well as externally — in other words, from either side of the firewall.
A structured approach starts with the network evaluation phase where sniffing and primary attacks are conducted. The information gathered is then used in the attack phase to exploit exposed vulnerabilities.

Top 5 Network Security Assessment Tools

1. Wireshark – The first step in vulnerability assessment is to understand network activity. Wireshark (previously known as Ethereal) captures all traffic within a TCP broadcast domain.
   • Supports customized filters (e.g., DNS queries, IP-to-IP communication)
   • Captures and stores traffic in files for later analysis
   • Helps detect spoofed packets, unnecessary drops, and suspicious activity

   Thanks to its user-friendly GUI, even beginners can easily use Wireshark. However, it should be seen as a data provider since it does not perform analysis itself.

2. Nmap – One of the most famous tools for over a decade, Nmap is a powerful scanner for:
   • Port scanning (e.g., SYN scan, ACK scan)
   • OS detection and version identification
   • Firewall and router detection

   Nmap provides verbose, script-friendly output, making it suitable for automation and generating evidence for security audits.

3. Metasploit Framework – Used to perform penetration testing by simulating real-world attacks:
   • Exploits vulnerabilities at OS and application levels
   • Helps security experts test patches against new threats (e.g., Day Zero attacks)
   • Supports both forensic and anti-forensic testing

   The community edition is free, powerful, and widely used by ethical hackers.

4. OpenVAS – An open-source vulnerability scanner branched from Nessus:
   • Split into scanner and manager components
   • Detects security loopholes and provides actionable remediation inputs
   • Features Greenbone Security Assistant (GUI dashboard with detailed reports)

   Known for stability and reliability, OpenVAS is favored by enterprise security managers.

5. Aircrack-ng – A specialized suite for wireless security testing:
   • Sniffs and injects packets into Wi-Fi networks
   • Captures WPA/WPA2 traffic and attempts brute-force decryption
   • Highly effective on Backtrack/Kali Linux environments

   A must-have tool for testing the security of wireless infrastructure.

Top 5 Web Security Assessment Tools

Scanning web applications is different from network scans because the scope spans from Layer 2 up to Layer 7. Proper web vulnerability assessment should cover both frontend and backend components, including databases.

1. Nikto – A popular open-source web vulnerability scanner:
   • Supports both HTTP and HTTPS scanning
   • Uses mutation techniques to combine HTTP tests and form simulated attacks
   • Detects misconfigurations, cross-site scripting (XSS), file upload flaws, cookie handling errors

   Its verbose output provides details but may generate false positives, so findings must be interpreted carefully.

2. Samurai Framework – A penetration testing Linux distro designed for web applications:
   • Includes WebScarab for HTTP mapping
   • Contains W3AF plugins for application-based vulnerabilities
   • Supports browser-based exploit testing

   It can detect even advanced vulnerabilities missed by some commercial products.

3. Safe3 Scanner – Ideal for scanning dynamic web portals:
   • Handles complex authentication including NTLM
   • Detects AJAX-based vulnerabilities
   • Provides GUI dashboard and executive-level reports

   It uses a spider (crawler) to intelligently avoid duplicate scans and detect client-side JavaScript flaws.

4. Websecurify – Focused on application-level code vulnerabilities:
   • Detects insecure coding practices like hardcoded passwords or exposed file paths
   • Generates automatic screenshots of vulnerabilities for reporting
   • Cross-platform and supports mobile application testing
5. SQLmap – A specialized tool for detecting and exploiting SQL injection:
   • Can fingerprint database engines and underlying OS
   • Capable of dumping data, password cracking, and full database takeover
   • Integrates with other tools for aggressive web testing

Summary

A thorough vulnerability assessment must include both network scanners and web security tools. Open-source software is also vulnerable, making it crucial for security professionals to regularly test, monitor, and patch their IT environments.

Caution

The tools mentioned in this article are intended for educational and research purposes only. Unauthorized use of vulnerability scanners without proper consent is illegal and punishable under law.

About the Author

The author, Prashant, has over 18 years of experience in IT hardware, networking, web technologies, and IT security. He is MCSE, MCDBA certified, and an F5 load balancer expert. As an ethical hacker and forensic specialist, he provides expert consultancy in IT security design, security audits, and infrastructure technology.

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