How to Use the Command 'nettacker' (with examples)

Nettacker is a versatile command-line tool designed to automate the process of information gathering and vulnerability scanning. It is invaluable for network administrators, security analysts, and penetration testers who need to assess the security posture of IT infrastructures. Nettacker can perform various scans to detect vulnerabilities, gather detailed information about network entities, and generate comprehensive reports on scan findings. This command is highly flexible and allows users to specify precisely which types of scans to perform and configure them according to the needs of their specific projects.

Use Case 1: List all available modules

Code:

nettacker --show-all-modules

Motivation:

Before starting any scanning or information-gathering activities, it’s critical to understand the capabilities of Nettacker. By listing all available modules, security professionals can identify which types of scans and information-gathering techniques are supported, ensuring that they use the most effective methods for their specific security assessments.

Explanation:

• nettacker: This is the command-line tool being used.
• --show-all-modules: This argument instructs Nettacker to display a comprehensive list of all the modules it supports. Each module represents a specific type of scan, such as port scanning, subdomain discovery, vulnerability testing, etc.

Example Output:

Available modules:
- port_scan
- subdomain_scan
- waf_scan
- vulnerability_scan
- ... (list continues with all supported modules)

Use Case 2: Run a port scan on targets

Code:

nettacker -m port_scan -i 192.168.0.1/24,owasp.org,scanme.org

Motivation:

Port scanning is a fundamental step in security assessments, helping identify open ports on target systems. Open ports could serve as potential entry points for attackers. Running a port scan helps security professionals evaluate which services are exposed, make informed decisions about tightening security controls, and potentially discover unauthorized services.

Explanation:

• nettacker: Invokes the Nettacker command-line tool.
• -m port_scan: Requests that Nettacker utilize its port scanning module.
• -i 192.168.0.1/24,owasp.org,scanme.org: Specifies a list of targets for the port scan. Targets can be specified as IP address ranges, domain names, or individual IP addresses. Here, a range of IP addresses is specified with 192.168.0.1/24, and two domains are provided: owasp.org and scanme.org.

Example Output:

Scanning ports for 192.168.0.1/24:
192.168.0.15: 22 (open), 80 (open), 443 (closed)
...
Scanning ports for owasp.org:
owasp.org: 80 (open), 443 (open)
...

Use Case 3: Run a port scan on specific ports and targets listed in a file

Code:

nettacker -m port_scan -g 22,80,443 -l path/to/targets.txt

Motivation:

When assessing the security of networks, it may be necessary to focus on specific, commonly exploited ports. This use case is particularly useful when dealing with a large number of targets, requiring the use of a file to manage them efficiently. This approach enhances organization and allows security professionals to use predefined lists of targets that can be reused in multiple scanning sessions.

Explanation:

• nettacker: The command used to start the Nettacker tool.
• -m port_scan: Indicates the port scanning module is to be used.
• -g 22,80,443: Specifies which ports to scan, focusing on ports 22 (SSH), 80 (HTTP), and 443 (HTTPS). This focus can help identify potential entry points for attacks on those specific services.
• -l path/to/targets.txt: Provides the file path to a text file containing a list of targets. This approach is especially useful for bulk scanning, where manual entry of targets would be time-consuming and prone to error.

Example Output:

Starting scan on targets from path/to/targets.txt:
Target: 192.168.0.15
Port 22: open
Port 80: open
Port 443: closed
...

Use Case 4: Run ping test before scan and then run multiple scan types on target

Code:

nettacker --ping-before-scan -m port_scan,subdomain_scan,waf_scan -g 80,443 -i owasp.org

Motivation:

Executing a ping test before performing a scan helps verify the availability of targets. This step can save time by avoiding unnecessary scanning of offline systems. Additionally, by performing multiple scan types, security professionals can achieve a more comprehensive security assessment, combining network-level insights with other reconnaissance and security checks for a robust analysis.

Explanation:

• nettacker: Initiates the Nettacker command-line tool.
• --ping-before-scan: Instructs Nettacker to perform a ping test to verify that the specified target is reachable before proceeding with more intensive scans.
• -m port_scan,subdomain_scan,waf_scan: Indicates multiple scan modules to be employed, including port scanning, subdomain scanning (to discover additional attack vectors), and WAF (Web Application Firewall) scanning.
• -g 80,443: Specifies which ports to target within the port scan, focusing on standard web service ports.
• -i owasp.org: The specific domain to be scanned.

Example Output:

Pinging owasp.org... Host is alive.
Starting scans on owasp.org...
Port Scan Result:
Port 80: open
Port 443: open

Subdomain Scan Result:
subdomain1.owasp.org found
subdomain2.owasp.org found

WAF Scan Result:
No WAF detected on primary domain.

Conclusion:

Nettacker is a powerful tool for security assessments, offering a wide range of scanning capabilities. Whether you need to find open ports, discover subdomains, or perform complex multi-type scans, Nettacker provides flexible and efficient solutions. By tailoring its extensive range of modules and configurations, you can achieve thorough and precise insights into the security posture of your network or web assets.