Product Overview of Netsparker
Netsparker, now part of Invicti Security, is a robust and automated web application security scanner designed to identify and verify security vulnerabilities in web applications, websites, and web services. Here’s a detailed look at what the product does and its key features.
What Netsparker Does
Netsparker is an Enterprise Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) solution that automates the process of scanning web applications to detect security flaws. It is capable of scanning all types of web applications, regardless of the platform or programming language used to build them. This includes identifying vulnerabilities such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), SQL Injection, command injection, and other types of threats listed in the OWASP Top-10.
Key Features and Functionality
Proof-Based Scanning
Netsparker’s proprietary Proof-Based Scanning Technology is a standout feature. It automatically verifies detected vulnerabilities by exploiting them in a safe, read-only manner, providing proof that the vulnerabilities are real and not false positives. This eliminates the need for manual verification and saves significant time and resources.
Automated Scanning
The tool offers automated scanning capabilities, allowing users to schedule scans and integrate them into their Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. This ensures that security testing is a part of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), enabling the “shift-left” paradigm where security issues are addressed early in the development cycle.
Integration and Collaboration
Netsparker seamlessly integrates with various project management, communication, issue tracking, and security platforms such as JIRA, ServiceNow, Asana, Slack, AWS, Okta, and Zapier. This integration enables teams to assign vulnerabilities to developers, track issues, and collaborate effectively to patch web applications in real-time.
Detailed Reporting and Compliance
The tool generates detailed vulnerability reports that provide actionable insights, helping teams prioritize and address security issues efficiently. It also offers compliance reporting to meet various regulatory requirements. The reports are clean, powerful, and include technical details necessary for remediation.
Advanced Crawling and Asset Discovery
Netsparker features advanced crawling capabilities, including support for JavaScript and Ajax, which allows it to handle complex web applications. The asset discovery feature helps in locating all websites, services, applications, and APIs that need to be scanned, and it tracks the technologies used in web applications to identify outdated components.
Customizable Scan Policies and Authentication Support
Users can customize scan policies to fit their specific needs, and the tool supports various authentication methods such as OAuth2, Single Sign-On (SSO), and client-side certificates. This ensures that scans are tailored to the security requirements of different web applications.
Role-Based Access Control and Team Collaboration
Netsparker offers role-based access control, allowing administrators to manage user permissions and ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive information. The tool also supports team collaboration features, making it easier for teams to work together on vulnerability management.
Deployment Options
Netsparker is available in both cloud and on-premises deployment options, catering to the needs of different organizations. The Enterprise edition is particularly suited for large organizations with multiple web properties, offering hosted account options and dedicated support.
In summary, Netsparker is a powerful and highly accurate web application security scanner that automates vulnerability detection and verification, integrates seamlessly with existing workflows, and provides detailed reporting and compliance features. Its advanced scanning technology, customizable policies, and robust integration capabilities make it an indispensable tool for maintaining the security and integrity of web applications.