How to Scan Website for Vulnerabilities in the Year 2024?

Introduction

Recent years have brought an acceleration in the pace of technological advancements in every field. One hidden yet ignored fact is the alarming rise in cyber threats. They are creating a severe impact on websites and apps. Don’t be surprised if we say you are one step closer to building a good defense front if you scan website for vulnerabilities.

Yes! Today, automated website scanners can rectify these situations properly. Hence, investing in a good security service or tool will strengthen your protection game within peer competition. But how? To have clear insights, read our blog!

What is website security and its significance today?

Protecting websites against malfunctions, cyber crimes, phishing, etc, to avoid data loss of company and customers is called website security. We can include website resilience as a fundamental step in software. Not only this, but due to the rise of new threats, web application penetration testing and vulnerability scanning have become recognized website security techniques.

In short, if cyber attack and defense in 2024 is a game of chess, AI is the queen of creating strategic advantages for whoever plays it best. So, moving ahead, let us discover some website vulnerabilities and related consequences in the following section.

What are website vulnerabilities and their consequences?

Website vulnerability can be termed a software flaw/bug or system misconfiguration weakness. They are often found in websites or web application processes. These vulnerabilities enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to the organization's systems/assets.

Using the access, they orchestrate cyber threats, attacks, takeover applications, and exfiltrate data. Besides, organizations that fail to implement security updates from third-party security providers also make their systems vulnerable to exploitation. Even a small cyber attack leads to large losses, creating hefty consequences for recovery.

So, here is why we should always keep a check and scan website for vulnerabilities because this is something we can’t take for granted, of course!

As per Statista, the global estimated cost of cybercrime in the cybersecurity market was expected to increase by $5.7 trillion between 2023 and 2028. With the anticipated thirteenth yearly surge, the indicator is estimated to achieve $13.82 trillion and, hence, a fresh high in 2028.

So, given the exposure, here are a few of the consequences that businesses might face:

• Data Breaches.
• Unexpected system downtime.
• Ransom attacks causing system disruptions.
• Infiltration of malware viruses.
• Violation of compliance rules.

In the next section, let us explore the list of common yet lethal website vulnerabilities before we get to know how to scan website for vulnerabilities.

What are the types of website vulnerabilities faced?

The realm of web application penetration testing has witnessed a dramatic change with the advent of automated tools. Still, they should take extra measures to prevent these common website vulnerabilities that target personal data. They are:

. SQL Injections (SQLi)

The SQLi vulnerabilities enable attackers to inject malicious codes into SQL queries. With that, the attackers gain access to unauthorized information. They manipulate (modify or delete) sensitive data and user permissions. It’s one of the lethal website vulnerabilities.

. XSS (Cross-Site Scripting)

XSS vulnerabilities can be used to compromise a user’s interaction with the web application. They simulate attacks by enabling them to inject the malicious scripts at the client side. This is possible when apps accept input from untrusted sources, such as messages, etc.

. Security Misconfigurations

These vulnerabilities occur when security controls and configurations of any multiple layers of a website are improperly implemented, or there are errors. Some examples are leaving unnecessary admin ports open, other Internet services, unpatched software, etc.

. Broken Authentication and Session Management

In this way, attackers capture authentication methods used by the website or apps. The attackers impersonate data theft and account takeover. Examples are weak password security, predictable logins, session ID exposure, and storing passwords.

In short, these common vulnerabilities can be removed with preventive measures. But to perform the scan? What are the prerequisites to look for when you scan website for vulnerabilities? Scroll down to learn about the same.

How to scan the website for security vulnerabilities?

Unpatched system vulnerabilities cause heavy fines and risks to their businesses. So, security scanners are a must-have. Follow this step-by-step process of setting up the website scanner and effectively detecting risks while you scan website for vulnerabilities:

Step 01: Set up the scanner

Firstly, download the software that is compatible with your OS. Next, configure the settings based on your objectives. Include IP address ranges to be targeted during the scan. Scheduling scanning intervals beforehand saves a lot of time and work.

Step 02: Scan the application for vulnerabilities

After the initial setup, we will run the scan using the predefined configurations. This involves setting parameters for specific target environments with any authentication credentials. Set output to be text format. Finally, press “Go” to start the automated process.

Step 03: Prioritize security analysis for exposures

When scanning is complete, review the results manually. Find the false positives that require more attention. The security analyst is responsible for overall security operations. Assigning severity and risk-based levels helps to find dangerous and impactful issues first.

Step 04: Deliver assessment and scan results

Review the vulnerability assessment and summarize the findings while prioritizing the level of importance. The security analyst should offer recommendations to address and eliminate threats. With clear reports, organizations can plan further website remediation.

Step 05: Perform remediation and rescanning

After the first remediation efforts are complete, the final step is to rerun the same scanning interval next time. Make sure it addresses the issue better and ensures no further effort is required. Testing services should be updated before every scan for better results.

This may seem hectic, but if you diligently scan website for vulnerabilities, it is completed in no time, and that too, with complete efficiency and control.

List of five best tools to scan website vulnerability in 2024

Each scanner offers different features and benefits. So, researching which tool suits your specific needs and budgets is necessary yet confusing. Thus, to help your selection process, we made a list of the top five tools to look out for in 2024 to scan website for vulnerabilities:

. Invicti

Invicti is a web application security scanner plus a hacking tool. Its unique proof-based scanning technology finds XSS and vulnerabilities in no time. Moreover, it can scan up to 1,000 web applications in a day. It requires membership and is usually a SAAS solution.

. Unmask Parasites

Unmask Parasites is a free website security check. It's an online scanner that checks page by page explicitly. Infected web pages, hidden content, and network loopholes can all be easily detected thanks to the scanner’s thorough nature.

. Acunetix

This ethical hacking tool is fully automated. Markedly detects and reports more than 4500 web vulnerabilities, including all variants of SQLi & XSS. Acunetix fully supports JavaScript and HTML5. It allows the integration of scanner results with other platforms.

. Nikto

Nikto is a web scanner capable of performing server-specific and generic checks. It works with capturing the received cookies. Scans and tests multiple web servers to identify outdated software and unusual plug-ins. Unlike above, it's a free and open-source tool.

. Fortify WenInspect

Fortify WebInspect provides comprehensive dynamic analysis for complex web applications and services. It's designed by HP and uses professional-level testing. Furthermore, it provides accurate results and statistics to security testers.

So, these are the top five tools for website security testing services. But remember, there is a long list of testing tools to go through. So, going ahead in the blog, scroll down for more pointers to help you choose the right tools.

How to choose the right tools for vulnerability scanning?

Security tools help both companies and individual users to identify and prevent potential shortcomings. In reality, choosing the right tool to scan website for vulnerabilities & match objectives is a tough choice. Therefore, the below list will simplify your process of choosing the right one:

. Look for scanning with customizability

The web vulnerability testing tool should be capable of performing a wide range of tests. And detect vulnerabilities based on the updated vulnerability database. If the tool allows the users to customize scans to fit their specific needs, it is an extra advantage.

. Check for its ability to integrate

A good vulnerability scanner should integrate with other security tools, such as firewalls. Another type of integration is crucial for Git repositories such as GitHub and Jenkins. Integration paves the way to building complex security systems compared to plain tools.

. Ensure the remediation support

It should offer ongoing support to users by providing clear documentation. About how to use the scanner effectively. Good innate assistance with POC videos and immediate query clearance. Detailed vulnerability scanning reports are add-ons.

. Watch for user-friendliness and updates

A good hallmark for vulnerability scanners would be ease of use. The tools should be easy enough to explore for both tech and non-tech users. It should be regularly updated to ensure the latest security threats and vulnerabilities.

So, these are some features that help you choose the right tool and scan website for vulnerabilities. The next section will be more interesting and will be about future trends in 2024 and beyond.

Vulnerability scanning: Trends to follow in 2024 & beyond

In the recent past, we have witnessed several large businesses facing major security breaches. Trends in website security testing services are shaped by the evolving cybersecurity landscape. Here are some vulnerability scanning trends we may adopt in the future:

. Automated remediation

Vulnerability scanning tools will offer more automated options in terms of remediation. As a result, whenever you scan website for vulnerabilities, it will allow your business to automatically apply patches. Further, it will implement security controls supporting the requirements.

. Integration with DevSecOps

Vulnerability scanning will be integrated into DevSecOps pipelines. Consequently, when you scan website for vulnerabilities, it will enable automated testing during the development process itself. In addition, the testing will also help in the early detection of vulnerabilities and their remediation.

. Cloud-native scanning

The third one on our list of vulnerability scanning is the Cloud-native scan. We can expect vulnerability scanners to become completely cloud-native in the coming times. Eventually, adapting to the dynamic nature of the cloud environment, you will be able to provide detailed assessments of cloud-based data and assets.

Conclusion

Despite being a large corporation or single admin, every website is prone to cyber threats and thefts. One simple yet pressing fact is that you can identify and prevent potential data breaches if you scan website for vulnerabilities at regular intervals. So, it's high time that businesses should opt for security tools with vulnerability scanners to compel preventive measures in addition to a strong defense mechanism to counterattack.

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