Nikto Webserver Scanner

Nikto is an open-source web server scanner designed to identify potential security vulnerabilities, outdated software versions, and misconfigurations. It is a command-line tool that performs comprehensive scans against web servers to detect issues that could be exploited by attackers. Nikto is widely used by penetration testers and security analysts to assess web application security.

• Scans for over 6700 potentially dangerous files and programs.
• Detects outdated web server software and known security vulnerabilities.
• Identifies server misconfigurations.
• Performs SSL/TLS certificate analysis.
• Supports various output formats for reporting.

Installing Nikto

In Kali Linux, Nikto comes pre-installed. However, if needed, you can install it using the following command:

$ sudo apt-get install nikto

Basic Usage

To scan a web server using Nikto, use the following command:

$ nikto -h http://example.com

This command scans the specified website and provides details on vulnerabilities, outdated software, and security misconfigurations.

Scanning HTTPS Websites

For scanning HTTPS websites, use:

$ nikto -h https://example.com

Saving Scan Results

You can save the scan results in a file using:

$ nikto -h http://example.com -o scan_results.txt

Scanning with a Proxy

To use a proxy while scanning, run:

nikto -h http://example.com -useproxy http://proxyserver:port

Nikto is a powerful tool for web security assessments, providing valuable insights into potential vulnerabilities. However, it should only be used with permission on authorized systems. Regularly scanning web servers with Nikto can help identify security weaknesses and ensure better protection against cyber threats.