Lab 8 - Network Security - security scanner

Pre-assignment: "A security scanner is a software which will audit remotely a given network and determine whether bad guys (aka 'crackers') may break into it, or misuse it in some way.

Unlike many other security scanners, Nessus does not take anything for granted. That is, it will not consider that a given service is running on a fixed port - that is, if you run your web server on port 1234, Nessus will detect it and test its security. It will not make its security tests regarding the version number of the remote services, but will really attempt to exploit the vulnerability."

Assignment:

• PART 1: Use Nessus to scan for vulnerabilities of computers
• Download and install a copy of the Nessus client: http://www.nessus.org/download.html (either Nessus 3.0 for Unix/Linux client; or NessusWX for a Windows client)
• Run Nessus and explore the different options.
• I have already installed the Nessus server on x.x.x.x (given during workshop) and created accounts for all of you. I will e-mail you your login ID and password for Nessus (NOTE: this is not a user account for the computer).
• I have created the accounts to allow you to ONLY scan vulnerabilities on two computers. DO NOT set up your own Nessus server and run it on your network without the permission of your network administrator.
• Run the client program (the first time it will request permission to create a database; accept that)
• Communication | Connect
1. enter x.x.x.x for the name of the server
2. use the default value of 1241 for the port number
3. use the default value of TLSv1 for the encryption method (it will create a certificate; Save it)
4. enter the login name and password provided for you
• New Session
1. Enter the IP addresses (one at a time) above for the Target
2. Leave the default values of "safe check" and "optimize the test" for the Options
3. Leave the default "privileged ports" and be sure that "ping the remote host" and "tcp connect scan" are checked
• Press the Enter key to execute the session (be sure the "Enable session saving" is checked
• This will bring up a display showing the scans for the three computers
• When all three scans are complete, close the display. This will bring up a Session Results display
• Save the report to a text file.


• PART 2: Use NeWT to scan for vulnerabilities of computers
• Download and install a copy of the Nessus client: (http://www.tenablesecurity.com/products/newt.shtml) for Windows
• As Administrator, install NeWT (will require a reboot to be active as a service)
• Install the Plugin Update Activation Code (found in the textfile)
• Start NeWT from the “Desktop” or “Start” menu.
• Choose a “New Scan Task”
• Scan 127.0.0.1 and other approved computers in the lab only.

Post-assignment: e-mail the following:

1) Submit the report that you saved above.

2) Submit answers to the following questions based on the reports you generated.

a) Which host had the highest number of vulnerabilities?

b) Least number of vulnerabilities?

c) What operating systems are running on the computers?

d) What web server (if any) is running on each computer?

e) List several services running on each computer?

f) Identify one high severity vulnerability for each computer (if there is one). Describe the vulnerability and discuss control(s) to minimize the risk from the vulnerability.

3) Answer the following questions:

o Describe several uses of Nessus.

o Which feature of Nessus did you find the most useful and why?

o Which feature of Nessus did you find the most difficult to use and why?