Use Web Application Vulnerability Scanners

Web application vulnerability scans are a great way to protect your services from security risks and identify potential vulnerabilities. Web application vulnerabilities affect database access and can cause an attacker to inject malicious code. This can disrupt the normal operation of an application and allow the attacker to access data without authorization. It can also make an application execute involuntary commands. Web application scans can help you protect your services by identifying and repairing any problems as soon as they occur.

The best web application vulnerability scans can also help you identify the causes of vulnerabilities and prevent a breach from happening. They should also provide detailed reports and the ability to convert vulnerability data into a remediation plan. These reports should include prioritized tasks and context. Additionally, the best scanners should allow you to track your data and integrate them into your IT ticketing solution.

There are a number of commercial scanners on the market today. Some come with free features, but most require a monthly subscription. Alternatively, open source scanners are free to use. You can also use the tools provided by the vendors to perform a web application vulnerability scan. Web application vulnerability scans are an important part of web security, but they are not for beginners.

How to Use Web Application Vulnerability Scanners

When conducting a web application vulnerability scan, be sure to set up test accounts with limited access to sensitive data. These test accounts will not be able to perform harmful operations or access sensitive data. Furthermore, some applications present special workflows for first-time logins. Therefore, test accounts for initial users will have different scan results than those of established user accounts.

There are two major types of web application vulnerability scans. The first one is DAST, which allows a web application to be scanned without requiring any user interaction. It looks for potential security vulnerabilities and architectural weaknesses in the code. DAST is also known as an automated black-box testing tool.

The second type of vulnerability scans uses static code analysis to identify potential web application flaws. This type of scans is often used by penetration testers as a form of security testing. It also uses a shift-left DevSecOps approach, which deploys scanners throughout the SDLC.

Unlike network vulnerability scans, web application vulnerability scanners perform automated tests of web applications. They examine all the web pages and files on a website, identifying vulnerabilities and recommending fixes. The scan results are provided in a detailed report. The report will also contain mitigation and prevention techniques.