Nuclei is an open-source tool that allows security researchers and penetration testers to automate the process of finding vulnerabilities in web applications. It works by sending HTTP requests to a target web application and analyzing the responses for known vulnerabilities or indicators of potential vulnerabilities.
One of the main benefits of using Nuclei is that it can save time and effort compared to manual vulnerability scanning. Instead of having to manually test every aspect of a web application, Nuclei can automatically check for common vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and file inclusion vulnerabilities. It also supports custom templates, which can be used to test for specific vulnerabilities or to match against a particular web application.
However, it's important to note that Nuclei is not a silver bullet for web application security. While it can help identify vulnerabilities, it is not a substitute for proper testing and analysis by experienced security professionals. Additionally, like any vulnerability scanner, Nuclei may produce false positives or miss certain vulnerabilities, so it's important to validate its findings and use it as part of a broader testing strategy.
☺ Positive aspects:
➥ Time-saving: Nuclei can automate the process of vulnerability scanning, which can save time compared to manual testing.
➥ Customization: Nuclei supports custom templates, which can be used to test for specific vulnerabilities or to match against a particular web application.
➥ Wide coverage: Nuclei has a large and growing library of templates for different types of vulnerabilities, which can help identify a wide range of potential issues.
➥ Open-source: Nuclei is an open-source tool, which means that it's free to use and can be customized or extended by the community.
☻ Negative aspects:
➥ False positives: Like any vulnerability scanner, Nuclei may produce false positives, which can waste time and resources if not properly validated.
➥ Limited scope: Nuclei is designed specifically for web vulnerability scanning and may not be suitable for other types of testing or analysis.
➥ Overreliance: Depending too much on Nuclei to find vulnerabilities can lead to a false sense of security, as it may miss certain types of vulnerabilities or require additional testing and analysis.
➥ Learning curve: Like any tool, Nuclei requires some learning and configuration to use effectively, which may require some upfront investment of time and effort.
It's important to note that these points are not exhaustive and may not apply in all situations. The decision to use Nuclei or any other tool for web vulnerability scanning should be based on the specific needs and requirements of the organization or individual using it.
Installation:
First, we need to install Go:
sudo apt-get remove golang-go sudo apt-get remove --auto-remove golang-go sudo rm -rvf /usr/local/go wget https://dl.google.com/go/go1.19.linux-amd64.tar.gz sudo tar -xvf go1.19.linux-amd64.tar.gz sudo mv go /usr/local export GOROOT=/usr/local/go export GOPATH=$HOME/go export PATH=$GOPATH/bin:$GOROOT/bin:$PATH go version |
Nuclei:
git clone https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei.git cd nuclei/v2/cmd/nuclei/ go build mv nuclei /usr/local/bin/ |
Easy Mode:
nuclei -u https://my.target.site nuclei -u my.target.site:5759 nuclei -l /path/to/list-of-targets.txt nuclei -l list-of-targets.txt -timeout 1 nuclei -l list-of-targets.txt -retries 3 nuclei -l targets-file.txt -resume /path/to/resume-file.cfg nuclei -l targets.txt -t my-template.yaml -debug |
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