Nikto 1.35 review
DownloadNikto is an Open Source web server scanner which performs comprehensive tests against web servers for multiple items, including over
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Nikto is an Open Source web server scanner which performs comprehensive tests against web servers for multiple items, including over 3200 potentially dangerous CGIs/files, versions on over 625 servers, and version specific problems on over 230 servers. Scan items and plugins are frequently updated and can be automatically updated (if desired).
Nikto is not designed as an overly stealthy tool. It will test a web server in the shortest timespan possible, and it's fairly obvious in log files. However, there is support for LibWhisker's anti-IDS methods in case you want to give it a try (or test your IDS system).
Not every check is a security problem, though most are. There are some items that are "info only" type checks that look for items that may not have a security flaw, but the webmaster or security engineer may not know are present on the server. These items are usually marked appropriately in the information printed. There are also some checks for unknown items which have been seen scanned for in log files.
Here are some key features of "Nikto":
Uses rfp's LibWhisker as a base for all network funtionality
Main scan database in CSV format for easy updates
Determines "OK" vs "NOT FOUND" responses for each server, if possible
Determines CGI directories for each server, if possible
Switch HTTP versions as needed so that the server understands requests properly
SSL Support (Unix with OpenSSL or maybe Windows with ActiveState's Perl/NetSSL)
Output to file in plain text, HTML or CSV
Generic and "server type" specific checks
Plugin support (standard PERL)
Checks for outdated server software
Proxy support (with authentication)
Host authentication (Basic)
Watches for "bogus" OK responses
Attempts to perform educated guesses for Authentication realms
Captures/prints any Cookies received
Mutate mode to "go fishing" on web servers for odd items
Builds Mutate checks based on robots.txt entries (if present)
Scan multiple ports on a target to find web servers (can integrate nmap for speed, if available)
Multiple IDS evasion techniques
Users can add a custom scan database
Supports automatic code/check updates (with web access)
Multiple host/port scanning (scan list files)
Username guessing plugin via the cgiwrap program and Apache ~user methods
What's New in This Release:
Added -config option to specify a config file (from Pavel Kankovsky)
Added enhanced content checking to reduce false positives (from Pavel Kankovsky)
Added more explicit licensing to code/databases
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