Top 11 Vulnerability Scanning Tools for Cybersecurity Pros

Vulnerability scanning is a vital part of any cybersecurity plan—used in tandem with penetration testing, scans can spot hidden network and infrastructure weaknesses that business owners might otherwise miss.

However, not all vulnerability scanning tools offer the same support. At VikingCloud, we use a range of different scanning tools to ensure our clients’ infrastructures are protected against various evolving threats.

It’s just one part of the bigger cybersecurity picture, but it’s still crucial to find a vulnerability scanner that suits your needs and that drills deep into the areas you want to protect.

In this guide, we run through 11 of the best vulnerability scanning tools for cybersecurity as professionals, and break down why you can rely on them.

Key Features to Look for in a Vulnerability Scanning Tool

When looking for a vulnerability scanning tool, we recommend prioritizing software that offers you scope, flexibility, and ease of integration.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what cybersecurity professionals—like us—look for when comparing vulnerability scanners.

• Scanning Scope: Will the tool cover the area/s a client requires? Can it specialize in certain areas, such as web apps or internal networks? Can it extend across cloud infrastructures and complex IT environments, and does it offer internal and external scans?
• Integration Potential: How easy is it to use and integrate with a client’s existing setup? Will it require extensive customization, or can you just “plug and play”?
• Operating Systems and Platforms: Will the tool run effectively on the user’s chosen operating system, such as MacOS, Windows, or Linux?
• Automation: Can some tasks be fully or partially automated to reduce workload and time? Does it require manual or automated updates?
• Credentialed Scanning: Does the tool offer credentialed scanning, or does it operate purely without authenticated credential-based scanning? Both options can work together to offer a comprehensive scanning solution.
• Report Processing: What data will the tool produce? Is it easy to understand and take action, or will it require expert analysis?

What are the primary types of vulnerability scanning tools?

The main types of vulnerability scanners include port scanners, database scanners, cloud scanners, web application scanners, host scanners, and source code scanners.

Many vulnerability scanners also have specialties, such as those that test web applications before they go live, and those that focus on misconfigurations and encryption issues.

Top 11 Vulnerability Scanning Tools

The 11 vulnerability scanning tools we’ve chosen below offer fantastic scope, scalability, and reliable report-gathering capabilities. What’s more, they are all open-source, meaning there are free versions which are ready to use!

1. OpenVAS

OpenVAS is a vulnerability scanner that is frequently updated and fine-tuned to pick out weaknesses across broad infrastructures. It’s extremely flexible, meaning it can be tweaked to adapt to the needs of smaller and larger organizations.

This Linux-based scanner is particularly useful for breaking down weaknesses by priority fix, making it easy to rank the most vital updates first. It also offers some threat detection features, great for added protection.

2. Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP)

ZAP is a scanner specifically developed to support the analysis of web applications before they go live. It’s built to provide ad-hoc weakness detection that developers can run while they are still coding apps—meaning it supports a leaner fault-finding process.

This open-source software is one of the most widely supported in its niche, with a growing GitHub community offering insights and support.

3. Nmap

Many cybersecurity professionals use Nmap to sniff out networks, traffic, and devices. However, it also boasts a popular vulnerability scanning feature, based on a variety of scripts that mimic attacks to see how networks respond.

Nmap’s probing features are highly supportive in situations where, for example, you need to test the strength of passwords or other credentials used across a network. It’s also easy to integrate with various databases and frameworks for enhanced usability.

4. OSV-Scanner

Much like ZAP, OSV-Scanner is a fantastic tool for spotting vulnerabilities in applications and other projects before they go live, with a focus on open-source projects. It’s maintained by Google, and is therefore frequently updated and enhanced to support against new threat vectors.

OSV-Scanner is highly popular with cybersecurity professionals and app developers largely thanks to its immense language versatility. It integrates easily with diverse coding environments and even niche development languages. It’s a great resource for spotting weaknesses in both mainstream and niche projects before go-live.

5. Sqlmap

Sqlmap is a specialized vulnerability scanning tool that focuses on finding and exploiting SQL injection weaknesses. SQL injections can devastate public-facing applications and forms, giving attackers an easy entrance into a company’s private data.

Sqlmap, however, is typically used for its automation capabilities, which are easy to run as part of a deeper penetration test. It’s also great at pulling system information, making it easy to learn more about specific databases and network areas that are most at risk from injection attacks.

6. Trivy

Trivy is a highly comprehensive vulnerability scanner widely used by cybersecurity professionals thanks to its far-reaching weakness database. It tends to be popular with experts who need to scan large or complex databases, containers, and file systems.

Alongside simple integration features, Trivy also gains praise for its accessibility and its broad output range, making it one of the most flexible and scalable solutions for enterprises of all sizes.

7. Nuclei

Nuclei has gained increasing praise over the years thanks to its detection templates, which are easy to customize regardless of whether you’re testing cloud infrastructures or web apps. These templates make it easier for users to define and rank vulnerabilities, and what’s more, it’s possible to optimize scanning so it uses minimal resources.

Nuclei is an open-source tool that also boasts a growing and highly active community, making it a great choice for beginners who need extra support.

8. SSLyze

SSLyze is a specialized vulnerability scanning tool that focuses on SSL/TLS vulnerabilities. Based in Python, it’s commonly used to prevent weaknesses that open up through outdated security certificates and poor encryption standards, which can often get overlooked.

SSLyze requires a basic working knowledge of Python to operate to its full potential, however, it offers exceptional encryption insight that can help network operators remedy hidden issues without hours of painstaking research.

9. Codename SCNR

Codename SCNR is another vulnerability scanning tool ideal for securing web applications, offering competitive, unrestricted analysis capabilities—meaning you can deploy it in the cloud, on-site, or both.

It’s popular for its unique blend of weakness research techniques, most effective when applications are running live. It operates somewhat like a simulated penetration tester, applying real-world attack strategies to test web apps’ resilience while live to the public. We suggest using Codename SCNR alongside pre-launch tools, such as OSV-Scanner, for a comprehensive analysis.

10. Nikto

Nikto is a web server scanner written in Perl, and it’s particularly popular thanks to its specialized ability to find obsolete versions and patches. Many cybersecurity experts use it for its efficient, no-nonsense scanning approach, which can be useful alongside tools that offer deeper analysis.

Nikto is also well-recognized for its ability to spot and make recommendations regarding system misconfigurations, which can get frequently overlooked even in the most secure of infrastructures.

11. Wireshark

Lastly, Wireshark—a popular free network data packet analyzer—isn’t a vulnerability scanner in and of itself, but can be highly useful during scanning with other tools. For example, experts frequently use Wireshark to discover unauthorized personnel or services accessing a network.

It offers fantastic network visibility and real-time data, allowing users to respond to active threats while researching potential weaknesses. It can help to reveal exposed endpoints and ports, report suspicious activity, and identify any data that goes unencrypted.

Let’s quickly summarize these tools:

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What are the criteria for selecting the best vulnerability scanning tools?

You should ideally prioritize vulnerability scanning tools that offer:

• Ease of use
• Reliable vendor and community support
• Integration support and scalability
• Clear, actionable report production
• A focus on compliance and data protection
• Extensive, up-to-date weakness databases (that keep up to date with industry trends and emerging threats)
• Choices between credentialed and unauthenticated scanning

Make vulnerability scanning an essential part of your cybersecurity practices, and let VikingCloud show you how to get started with the best tools. Get in touch to speak with our team and learn more.