Build a Port Scanning and Exploit Identification Tool
Combine port scanning with CVE vulnerability mapping to create a tool that not only detects open services but also highlights potential exploits — a practical project for security testing.Traditional port scanners like Nmap identify open ports and services, but lack contextual risk awareness. By linking discovered services to CVEs or known exploits, this tool helps prioritize vulnerabilities and understand potential entry points for attackers.
The tool scans target systems for open TCP/UDP ports, fingerprints the running services (e.g., Apache, MySQL), and queries public vulnerability databases to highlight relevant CVEs, including links to known exploits or Metasploit modules.
Port Scanning (TCP/UDP)
Scan a given IP or range to identify open ports and the services bound to them.
Service Version Detection
Use banner grabbing or scripts to identify specific software and versions.
Exploit & CVE Matching
Match known services with public CVEs using APIs like NVD, Vulners, or ExploitDB.
Vulnerability Report Generation
Generate an easy-to-read report showing each open port, service, and related exploits.
The scanner runs TCP/UDP port scans and captures response headers. Detected services are parsed to extract names and versions. These are sent to vulnerability databases via API calls. The result is a risk-focused scan that lists possible exploits alongside port details.
- Scan specified IP address or hostname using Nmap, socket, or Scapy-based scanner.
- Use banner grabbing or Nmap scripting to detect software version (e.g., Apache 2.4.29).
- Query CVE databases with software/version and retrieve potential exploit entries.
- Display open ports with associated risks, CVE IDs, severity, and remediation links.
- Export a vulnerability report as PDF or HTML for offline sharing or archiving.
Port Scanning
Nmap with Python wrapper (python-nmap), or custom socket/Scapy-based scanner.
Exploit Lookup
Use NVD API, Vulners API, or ExploitDB scraping to map service versions to CVEs.
Data Handling
Python (requests, pandas) for parsing responses and formatting results.
Reporting
Jinja2 + WeasyPrint or Flask for generating exportable vulnerability reports.
1. Implement Port Scanning
Use Nmap or raw sockets to discover open TCP and UDP ports on a target host.
2. Perform Service Fingerprinting
Identify service names and versions via banner grabbing or Nmap scripting engine (NSE).
3. Integrate CVE Matching
Call APIs like NVD or Vulners using service/version as query to fetch known vulnerabilities.
4. Generate Security Report
Display each port and associated CVEs with severity, description, and remediation links.
5. Add Export or UI Option
Allow exporting results to PDF or adding a basic web dashboard for scan input and viewing.
Go Beyond Scanning — Discover Real Exploits
Create a smart port scanner that doesn’t just list open ports — it finds the risks that matter by mapping services to known vulnerabilities.
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