Individual skill
performing-vulnerability-scanning-with-nessus
Performs authenticated and unauthenticated vulnerability scanning using Tenable Nessus to identify known vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, default credentials, and missing patches across network infrastructure, servers, and applications. The scanner correlates findings with CVE databases and CVSS scores to produce prioritized remediation guidance. Activates for requests involving vulnerability scanning, Nessus assessment, patch compliance checking, or automated vulnerability detection.
internal/tools/skills/data/penetration-testing/performing-vulnerability-scanning-with-nessus/SKILL.md
Source commit d42f381ad34843e71a42658e5c57290c713e85af
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- Matches the observed repository HEAD
- Yes
- Scanner rules are current
- Yes
- Repository scan complete
- No
- Skill scan complete
- No
- Observed behavior
- Network or broad shell
- Last checked
- Nov 9, 2026
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Repository context
- Repository stars (not skill ratings)
- 1,316
- Repository last updated
- Nov 8, 2026
- License
- Apache-2.0
Observed agent integration: No specific integration evidence. Standard SKILL.md installation does not imply verified compatibility.
- cybersecurity Repository topic
- security Repository topic
- bug-bounty Repository topic
- automation Repository topic
- autonomous-pentesting Repository topic
- ai-agent Repository topic
- ai-security Repository topic
- ethical-hacking Repository topic
- golang Repository topic
- penetration-testing Repository topic
- vulnerability-scanning Declared skill tag
- nessus Declared skill tag
- cve Declared skill tag
- patch-management Declared skill tag
- tenable Declared skill tag
- legal Derived category
- devops Derived category
- security Derived category
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# Performing Vulnerability Scanning with Nessus
## When to Use
- Conducting initial vulnerability assessment during the reconnaissance phase of a penetration test
- Performing periodic vulnerability scans to maintain compliance with PCI-DSS (requirement 11.2), HIPAA, or SOC 2 standards
- Validating that remediation efforts have successfully addressed previously identified vulnerabilities
- Establishing a baseline of known vulnerabilities before targeted manual exploitation
- Auditing patch compliance and configuration drift across server and workstation fleets
**Do not use** as a substitute for manual penetration testing, against systems without written authorization, or against fragile systems (medical devices, legacy SCADA) where scanning may cause service disruption.
## Most Often Missed & How to Confirm
- **Authenticated scanning, not just unauthenticated** — the single biggest gap. Unauthenticated scans miss the majority of local vulnerabilities (missing patches, local config). Always supply Windows local-admin/SSH/SNMPv3 creds and verify they actually worked.