10 Open source security testing tools to test your website (2024)

From mini eateries to big-box retailers, from small organizations to federal bodies, cyber attackers are eyeing every small opportunity to steal valuable data on Personality Identifiable Information (PII). Whether it’s Facebook or Equifax, a single vulnerability, a tiny flaw in the security system, has caused them to lose revenues and reputation.

If security incidents like these have taught us anything, web security cannot be taken lightly, and even the best of us are not safe from it. Web security testing tools are helpful in proactively detecting application vulnerabilities and safeguarding websites against malicious attacks.

Effective cybersecurity strategies often rely on a combination of firewalls, encryption protocols, and robust security testing tools to safeguard sensitive information from potential threats.

Utilizing advanced security testing tools is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring the robustness of digital infrastructures against potential cyber threats.

List of Top Open Source Tools Popular Among Security Testers

The two most effective ways to scrutinize the security status of a website are vulnerability assessment and penetration testing. Here is a list of top open-source tools popular among security testers:

1.NetSparker

NetSparker acts as a one-stop shop for all web security needs. Available as both a hosted and self-hosted solution, this platform can be easily integrated into any type of test and dev environment. NetSparker has a trade-marked Proof-Based Scanning technology that uses automation to identify vulnerabilities and verify false positives, thus eliminating the need for unnecessary investment of huge man hours.

2.ImmuniWeb

ImmuniWeb is a next-gen platform that employs Artificial Intelligence to enable security testing. This AI-enabled penetration testing platform offers a holistic benefits package for security teams, developers, CISOs, and CIOs. With a one-click virtual patching system, this platform assists in continuous compliance monitoring. It boasts a proprietary Multilayer Application Security Testing technology and checks a website for compliance, server hardening, and privacy.

3. Vega

It is a free, open-source vulnerability scanning and testing tool in Java. Vega is GUI-enabled and works with OS X, Linux, and Windows platforms. It’s an automated scanner powered by a website crawler that facilitates quick tests. The intercepting proxy aids tactical inspection by observing and monitoring client-server communication. Vega can detect web application vulnerabilities like blind SQL injection, shell injection, and reflected and stored cross-site scripting. Its detection modules are written in JavaScript and can be used to create new attack modules as and when required with APIs.

4. Wapiti

Wapiti is a command-line application that crawls through webpages to detect such scripts and forms where data can be injected. It performs a black box scan and injects payloads in the detected scripts to check for vulnerability. With support for GET and POST HTTP attack methods, this tool generates vulnerability reports in various formats and features different verbosity levels. It detects vulnerabilities like file disclosure, database injection, file inclusion, cross-site scripting (XSS), weak .htaccess configuration, etc. It can differentiate between permanent and reflected XSS vulnerabilities and raises warnings whenever an anomaly is found.

5. Google Nogotofail

It is a network traffic security testing tool. It checks applications for known TLS/SSL vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. Nogotofail provides a flexible and scalable way of scanning, identifying, and fixing weak SSL/TLS connections. It checks whether they are vulnerable to man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. It can be set up as a router, VPN server, or proxy server and works for Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, Chrome, OS, OSX, and any other device used to connect to the internet.

6. Acunetix

Acunetix, with its vulnerability scanner, pioneered automated web application security testing. The Acunetix Vulnerability Scanner features innovative black-box scanning and SPA crawling techniques like AcuSensor and DeepScan. The multi-threaded DeepScan crawler can run an uninterrupted WordPress installation scan for over a thousand vulnerabilities. A Login Sequence Recorder enables the tool to scan password-protected fields, whereas an in-built vulnerability management system helps generate various technical and compliance reports.

7.W3af

It is a web application audit and attack framework effective against over 200 vulnerabilities. Identifying vulnerabilities such as SQL Injection, Cross-site scripting, Guessable credentials, unhandled application errors, and PHP misconfigurations assists in limiting the total exposure of a website to malicious elements. With both graphical and console-based interfaces, W3af promises the possibility of auditing a web app’s security in less than five clicks. It can be used to send HTTP requests and cluster HTTP responses. If a website is protected, authentication modules can be used to scan it. Output can be logged into a console, a file, or sent via email.

8.SQLMap

SQLMap is a penetration testing tool powered by a detection engine that automates identifying and exploiting SQL injection flaws. Encompassing support for a broad spectrum of database management systems and SQL injection techniques, SQLMap automatically recognizes hash-based passwords and supports orchestrating a dictionary-based attack to crack them. With seven levels of verbosity support, it offers ETA support for each query and brings granularity and flexibility for both users’ switches and features. Its fingerprint and enumeration features are valuable in streamlining an effective penetration test run.

9. ZED Attack Proxy (ZAP)

ZAP is a free, open-source penetration testing tool developed and maintained under the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) by several global volunteers. ZAP is available for automated and manual security testing for Windows, Unix/Linux, and Macintosh platforms. It is a “middle-man proxy” between a tester’s browser and the web application and is used to intercept and moderate the transmitted messages. Its key features are traditional and AJAX spiders, Fuzzer, Web socket support, and a REST-based API.

10.BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework)

BeEf stands for Browser Exploitation Framework and helps detect an application’s weakness using browser vulnerabilities. It uses client-side attack vectors to verify the security of an application and can issue browser commands like redirection, changing URLs, generating dialogue boxes, etc. BeEf expands its scan circumference beyond the usual network perimeter and client system to analyze where the security system of a web browser stands.

Conclusion

Implementing top-tier website security testing tools is imperative to fortify your online presence. Employing cutting-edge web application security testing tools is essential to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities, ensuring a robust defense against potential cyber threats.

Cigniti possesses rich expertise in web security testing, catering to diversified business needs, and has immense experience serving clients across different industry verticals and organization sizes. Connect with us today.