Vulnerability scanning is an automated process that checks devices, networks, and systems for known security weaknesses.
Over 450,000 malware variants are created every day, with an annual average of 3 billion records being compromised by data breaches.
Vulnerability detection helps prevent your company from becoming a victim of cyberattacks and data breaches. We explore vulnerability scanning’s role in avoiding these nightmare scenarios – including how scanning works, its benefits, methods, and use applications.
How Vulnerability Scanning Works
Vulnerability scanning involves a systematic and proactive approach to safeguarding IT infrastructure and data by identifying security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Security vulnerabilities are any weaknesses that hackers can probe to gain unauthorized access and cause harm to your network, business, and employees. Common weak points include:
- Missing security patches on software.
- Coding flaws – particularly in web applications where bugs are often exploited.
- Misconfigurations – like default settings and exposed admin panels.
- Unprotected open ports – services exposed to the internet without proper controls.
- Weak passwords and access controls.
A strong vulnerability scanning process uncovers these concerns. Here’s a broad breakdown of how it works:
Choosing tools: The process begins with choosing the right scanning tools. Tools are customized to assess specific systems, such as networks, servers, or applications. In most organizations today, scans are automated.
Configuration: Once tools are selected, they must be properly configured to suit the environment being assessed. This includes defining scanning parameters, targets, and frequency.
Scanning and detection: The tools analyze the systems for vulnerabilities. Scanning includes inspecting the system’s attack surface for known security vulnerabilities. All companies should maintain a database of known threats/indicators.
Reporting findings: The scan results are presented in a report. This feedback filters out false positives and highlights identified vulnerabilities. It categorizes them based on severity and danger levels and may include recommendations for remediation.
Prioritizing risks and remediation efforts: Using the scan results, your security team can prioritize the issues to tackle. The idea is to focus on high-risk vulnerabilities posing the most significant danger. Closing these gaps significantly improves your security posture.
Ongoing monitoring: New vulnerabilities can appear at any time. Organizations should have a scanning program that ensures checks are performed regularly to find and fix new threats.
Types of Vulnerability Scanning
Here’s a rundown of the most common scanning approaches.
External vulnerability scan
An external scan looks at your systems from outside your network. It checks for security gaps in public-facing assets like:
- Websites
- Firewalls
- Email servers
- VPNs
This scan shows what an external attacker could see and exploit to infiltrate your network. Think of it like a security guard patrolling outside a building, checking for open doors, broken windows, or malfunctioning cameras.
Internal vulnerability scan
An internal scan runs inside your network. It assesses the situation as if the attacker has already broken in. It’s like a security guard checking inside the building for unlocked offices/cabinets, disarmed alarm systems, or files left out.
The scan checks devices and systems such as:
- Office computers
- Internal servers
- Shared folders
- Printers and scanners
- IoT devices like cameras and sensors
- Employee laptops
Scanning pinpoints weaknesses that can be abused by bad actors who slip past your firewall. It shows how they might move laterally and what sensitive information they could steal.
Authenticated vulnerability scan
An authenticated or “credentialed” scan uses valid login credentials, like a username/ password, to access the system. The fact that it uses a legitimate credential and can be run from both outside or inside the network differentiates it from an internal scan.
It checks for issues like:
- Outdated software versions
- Missing patches
- System configuration settings
- Insecure user permissions
- Hidden vulnerabilities only visible after login
Authenticated scans provide a deeper and more accurate look at the system. They assist in identifying security weaknesses that a criminal could exploit if they hijacked the account or stole a legitimate user’s credentials. They also indicate the threat a malicious employee could pose.
Unauthenticated vulnerability scan
An unauthenticated or “non-credentialed” scan doesn’t log in. Rather, it checks out the system like a hacker from the outside. It differs from an external scan because it’s defined by not using credentials.
Its goal is to uncover external-facing risks like:
- Open ports
- Public-facing service pages and portals
- Web server misconfigurations
- Gaps in firewalls and perimeter defenses
Unauthenticated scans examine your safeguards with a cybercriminal’s eyes. They are a useful method of testing your first line of defense.
The Benefits of Vulnerability Scanning
The chief benefits of vulnerability scans include
- Early detection, early response: Vulnerability scanning helps you detect security weaknesses before criminals infiltrate them with potentially devastating consequences.
Scans serve as an early warning system, pinpointing areas that need attention. Armed with this information, security teams can prioritize serious risks and respond to threats promptly.
- Reducing your attack surface: Every system vulnerability is a potential entry point for hackers. Regular scanning helps you find and fix these gaps. By shrinking your attack surface, you limit the following costs and damages:
- Data breaches (costing organizations $4.88 million on average)
- Downtime and disruption
- The cost of restoring data
- Infrastructure damage
- Reputational harm
- Lost business and trust
- Penalties and censure from regulators
- Improved security posture: Scanning promotes continuous security improvements. It raises cyber threat awareness among your team, making online security part of daily habits and operations. Scanning and other detection measures provide greater insights into your overall risks.
A high-level view of your organization’s risk profile enables you to make the best decisions about security measures - Strong regulatory compliance: Meeting the standards of regulations like HIPAA, FINRA, and PCI-DSS is a constant challenge for many organizations.
Vulnerability scanning helps businesses comply with industry and national regulations. Sharp detection, alerts, and responses ensure the integrity and security of your sensitive data. - Greater business trust. When you demonstrate that you’re serious and vigilant about protecting your data and systems, it inspires confidence in clients and partners. Regulators are reassured when they see you follow security best practices.
The Applications of Vulnerability Scanning
Vulnerability scanning can be applied across different areas. The focus depends on your organization’s needs and vulnerability management program. Here are widely-deployed applications.
Network scanning
These scans search your network for weak spots in servers, routers, switches, and other connected devices. They can detect risky services and devices that could be attacked externally or internally.
Host-based scanning
Run on laptops, desktops, and servers, host-based scanning inspects operating systems and software. They find flaws that are not always visible from the network. Outdated software or wrong settings are common examples of problems identified.
Application scanning
Applications, especially web-based ones, used by customers are common attack targets. Web application vulnerability scanning searches apps for threats like SQL injection or cross-site scripting (XSS).
Wireless network scanning
Wireless-based scanning analyzes your wireless network, aiming to prevent unauthorized access. It can identify vulnerabilities like misconfigured settings, weak encryption, and rogue access points.
Cloud-based scanning
Cloud-based scans detect vulnerabilities in cloud environments. They look for misconfigurations, insecure APIs, and other security holes. Cloud scanning covers Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).
Database scanning
Several vulnerabilities can expose your critical and sensitive data to theft and damage. These include:
- Weak passwords
- SQL injections
- Default configurations
- Missing patches
Database scans look into your databases to identify and flag these issues.
How Can Acrisure Cyber Services Help With Vulnerability Scanning?
At Acrisure Cyber Services, we are committed to keeping our clients’ systems and assets safe from bad actors. We manage vulnerability scanning for numerous organizations across multiple industries nationwide.
Our leading-edge scanning services promise:
- Unparalleled expertise: With over two decades of experience, we have encountered and mitigated nearly every type of cyber threat. More than an advisor, we become your trusted security partner.
- Cutting-edge technology: We leverage the latest AI, automation, and other security tools to ensure your cyber defenses are future-ready.
- Smart spending: Our risk-based vulnerability management philosophy helps you to budget wisely. You shouldn’t spend, say, $10,000 on low-risk areas (e.g. the cloud or applications) that likely won’t cost you more than $5,000 in damages.
- End-to-end solutions: From initial assessment to execution and ongoing support, our managed security services ensure your defenses are top-grade.
FAQs
What is the difference between vulnerability scanning and SIEM?
Vulnerability scanning identifies potential security weaknesses in a system by scanning networks and devices. Scanning predicts what could go wrong and helps organizations address vulnerabilities proactively.
SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) focuses on real-time monitoring and analysis of security events across an organization. It collects, analyzes, and correlates security information from sources like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and servers. It provides insights into what has happened or is actively occurring. This allows you to detect and respond to real-time threats.
How often should vulnerability scans be performed?
How often you scan depends on your risk level, system complexity, and compliance needs. If your systems change often or you’re in a high-risk industry, continuous scanning is advisable.
For critical and public-facing systems, scan at least weekly or even daily. For less critical setups, monthly or even quarterly scans may be enough. Some standards, like PCI DSS, require scans every three months. However, following only the bare minimum can expose you to new threats.
Scanning after major system changes is important. You should also scan when dangerous emerging threats (e.g. WannaCry Ransomware) are identified so you can close new security gaps urgently.
What is the difference between a vulnerability scan and a security scan?
A vulnerability scan is usually a point-in-time assessment using automated tools to detect known security issues and common vulnerabilities. It is a specific type of security scan.
A security scan also checks for security flaws and critical vulnerabilities, but its scope is larger. It employs more tools and techniques. Besides vulnerability scans, it may also check firewall rules and user permissions. It often incorporates network mapping – a visual representation of all the network’s devices, systems, and connections.
What type of vulnerability cannot be detected by vulnerability scanning tools?
Vulnerability scanner tools cannot identify vulnerabilities like the following:
- Zero-day vulnerabilities: Newly discovered flaws not yet been recorded in vulnerability databases.
- Advanced attack techniques: Sophisticated methods like well-disguised malicious code can bypass automated scanners.
- Business logic flaws: Scanners lack the contextual understanding needed to identify issues in application workflows or logic. For example, they might not catch multiple fraudulent transactions of $499 because they only know to refer to amounts of $500+.
- Polymorphic malware: Attackers modify existing threats to create variants that evade signature-based detection. Vulnerability scanners battle to keep up.
Is a vulnerability scan the same as a vulnerability assessment?
Vulnerability scanning and vulnerability assessments are closely related but not quite the same. A scan is an automated process using specialized tools to scan systems, networks, or applications for known vulnerabilities. As a quick and critical health check, it should be a fundamental part of your vulnerability management.
A vulnerability assessment is a broader process than scanning. It typically encompasses scanning plus analysis, as well as penetration and other testing.
Can vulnerability scanners detect outdated firmware?
Vulnerability scanners can detect outdated firmware by checking device versions against known security flaws. This is useful for spotting issues in hardware like routers, firewalls, or IoT devices. Updating the firmware helps close these security gaps and protects against known exploits.
What are the limitations of vulnerability scanners?
Some limitations of vulnerability scanners are:
- Unable to detect zero-day exploits.
- Difficulty identifying sophisticated attacks.
- Lack context for spotting or prioritizing risks.
- May generate false positives or negatives.
These limitations highlight that scanning should be used in combination with other methods like SIEM, advanced threat and intrusion detection, and manual testing, where necessary.