How to Perform Vulnerability Scanning for CEH?

Introduction

Vulnerability Scanning & Analysis is one of the highest-weightage modules in both CEH theory (12–15%) and practical exams (4–6 flags). It is the bridge between scanning and actual exploitation — without accurate vuln scanning, you waste hours on dead ends. Toppers score full marks here because they know how to run authenticated scans, interpret results, eliminate false positives, and map findings to real exploits. At Ethical Hacking Training Institute we provide 500+ real vulnerable servers, routers, web apps, and workstations so every student performs 50+ full enterprise scans before the exam.

Top 6 Vulnerability Scanners You Must Master for CEH

Authenticated vs Unauthenticated Scans – Know the Difference

Unauthenticated scans only see what an external attacker sees — many critical vulnerabilities (weak passwords, patch levels, config files) stay hidden. Authenticated scans log in with credentials and give 3–5× more accurate results — this is what real enterprises demand and what CEH practical expects. Our institute provides ready credentials for every target so you practice both types daily and understand exactly when to choose which.

Step-by-Step Vulnerability Scanning Workflow for CEH

• Step 1 → Define scope & get authorization (ROE)
• Step 2 → Run discovery scan (Nmap -sn)
• Step 3 → Full port + service scan
• Step 4 → Launch Nessus/OpenVAS authenticated scan
• Step 5 → Export report → eliminate false positives manually
• Step 6 → Map CVEs to Exploit-DB
• Step 7 → Write professional report with risk rating

How to Eliminate False Positives (Exam Favourite)

False positives waste time and damage credibility. Always verify high/critical findings manually — try the actual exploit, check patch level, or confirm via command line. Example: Nessus reports “SSLv3 enabled” → verify with openssl s_client -connect IP:443 -ssl3. Our daily false-positive elimination challenges train you to achieve <5% false positive rate — same standard expected in real pentest reports.

CVSS Scoring & Risk Rating Explained

• CVSS Base Score: 0.0 – 10.0
• 0.1–3.9 → Low
• 4.0–6.9 → Medium
• 7.0–8.9 → High
• 9.0–10.0 → Critical
• Temporal & Environmental scores for real-world adjustment

Conclusion: Become a Vulnerability Scanning Expert in 30 Days

Vulnerability scanning is where average pentesters and elite professionals separate. Join Ethical Hacking Training Institute and get:

• 500+ real vulnerable targets (Windows, Linux, Cisco, web apps)
• Nessus & OpenVAS pre-configured cloud instances
• Daily live scanning + report writing sessions
• Weekend & weekday batches
• 100% placement assistance

Enroll today and start scanning enterprise networks legally from your first class!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which scanner is most asked in CEH?

Nessus — appears in every practical and 8–10 theory questions.

Is OpenVAS enough for exam?

Yes — 100% coverage and free.

Authenticated or unauthenticated scan better?

Authenticated — gives 3–5× more findings.

How many vulnerabilities in practical?

4–6 scannable targets with multiple CVEs each.

Is Nikto important?

Yes — for web server misconfiguration scanning.

Do I need to buy Nessus?

No — our cloud lab provides Nessus Professional free.

How to reduce false positives?

Manual verification + authenticated scans.

Is CVSS scoring in exam?

Yes — 5–7 questions on scoring and risk rating.

Can I scan without credentials?

Yes, but you’ll miss critical findings.

Which Nmap script is best for vuln scan?

nmap --script vuln -sV target

Is reporting part of this module?

Yes — professional report writing is tested.

Do you provide report templates?

Yes — industry-standard Word & PDF templates.

Weekend batch covers vulnerability scanning?

Yes — full hands-on every Saturday-Sunday.

Can freshers learn this module?

Yes — we start from zero knowledge.

How to start today?

Book free demo — scan your first network in 30 minutes!