Step-by-Step: Setting Up Netsparker Community Edition for Your First ScanNetsparker Community Edition (NCE) is a free, lightweight web application security scanner designed to help developers, students, and small teams find common vulnerabilities in web applications. This guide walks you through installing NCE, configuring it for your environment, running your first scan, and understanding the results so you can take action.
Prerequisites
Before starting, ensure you have:
- A Windows ⁄11 or Windows Server machine (NCE is Windows-based).
- Administrator privileges for installation.
- Internet access to download the installer and to allow optional vulnerability checks.
- A target web application to scan (preferably a test or staging environment — never scan production systems without permission).
Step 1 — Download and Install Netsparker Community Edition
- Visit the official Netsparker Community Edition download page and download the latest installer (choose the 64-bit version if available).
- Run the installer as Administrator.
- Follow the setup wizard: accept license terms, choose an installation directory, and proceed.
- When installation completes, launch Netsparker Community Edition from the Start Menu or desktop shortcut.
Tip: If your machine blocks the installer, temporarily disable Windows Defender or add an exception, then re-enable protection after installation.
Step 2 — Understand the Interface
NCE’s primary areas:
- Dashboard: quick status and recent scans.
- Scans: create, run, pause, and view scan history.
- Target settings: where you define the site to be scanned.
- Scan results: lists discovered issues with details and remediation guidance.
Spend a few minutes exploring the menus and the settings icon to see available options before creating a scan.
Step 3 — Configure a New Target
- Click “New Scan” or “New Target” depending on the version UI.
- Enter the target URL (include http:// or https://). Example: https://staging.example.com.
- Optional: set a custom name for the target and add a short description.
- Choose scan type/options:
- Basic scan — default checks for common vulnerabilities.
- Crawl-only — enumerates pages without active vulnerability checks.
- Authenticated scan — requires credentials (covered next).
- Save the target.
Always scan only systems you own or have explicit permission to test.
Step 4 — Configure Authentication (Optional but Recommended)
For authenticated areas, configure credentials so the scanner can access and test protected pages.
- In the target settings, find the Authentication section.
- Choose authentication type:
- Form-based login: provide login URL, username/password fields, and a valid username/password.
- HTTP Basic or Digest: enter credentials directly.
- Cookie-based: supply an existing session cookie.
- Use the built-in “Test Login” or “Record Login” feature (if available) to ensure Netsparker can successfully log in.
- Save authentication settings.
Note: Use a test account with limited privileges. Avoid scanning admin accounts if unnecessary.
Step 5 — Fine-Tune Scan Options
Adjust scan settings to match your needs and environment:
- Scan speed/concurrency: lower for fragile or resource-limited servers.
- Exclude paths: exclude logout URLs, large file directories, or sensitive endpoints that could cause side effects.
- Custom headers: add tokens or special headers required by the application.
- SSL/TLS settings: enable/disable certificate validation for self-signed certs.
- Proof of Concept (PoC) payloads: control whether potentially destructive checks run.
Save the configuration as a named scan profile if you’ll reuse it.
Step 6 — Start the Scan
- Select your configured target and click “Start Scan.”
- Monitor progress in the Scans pane. You’ll see discovered pages, requests, and initial findings in real time.
- If the server becomes unresponsive, pause or throttle the scan.
A typical first scan may take from several minutes to a few hours depending on site size and depth settings.
Step 7 — Review Scan Results
When the scan finishes (or during the scan), review findings:
- Issues list: vulnerabilities found, each with severity (High/Medium/Low/Info).
- Request/response details: HTTP requests and responses that triggered findings.
- Proofs and evidence: safe proofs showing why an issue is believed present.
- Remediation advice: recommended fixes and code examples where applicable.
Prioritize high-severity confirmed issues, then validate false positives manually if needed.
Step 8 — Export and Share Results
NCE allows exporting results in formats such as HTML, XML, or CSV:
- Open the scan result.
- Click “Export” and choose a format.
- Save the file and share with developers or stakeholders.
For team workflows, include request samples and remediation steps when handing off tickets.
Step 9 — Re-Scan After Fixes
After developers apply fixes, rerun the scan to confirm remediation:
- Use the same target and scan profile to keep results comparable.
- For regression checks, run targeted scans against the fixed endpoints.
- Document verification steps and timestamps.
Common Troubleshooting
- Scanner can’t access the site: check firewall, host file, VPN, and proxy settings.
- Login fails: verify credentials, session timeouts, and multi-factor authentication — consider cookie-based testing or use a test account without MFA.
- High false positives: verify with manual testing and adjust scan settings to reduce noisy checks.
- Performance issues: reduce concurrency and scan depth.
Security and Legal Reminder
Always obtain explicit written permission before scanning third-party or production systems. Use a staging/test environment when possible to avoid accidental disruption.
Quick Checklist (Printable)
- Download & install NCE.
- Create target and enter URL.
- Configure authentication if needed.
- Adjust scan options (speed, excludes).
- Start scan and monitor.
- Review, export, and share results.
- Re-scan after fixes.
Leave a Reply