How to automate vulnerability scanning using OpenVAS

Question

I want to automate vulnerability scanning using OpenVAS to regularly check for security flaws in my infrastructure. While I have installed OpenVAS and can run scans manually via the GUI, I need guidance on:

• Automating the process using command-line tools or Python APIs.
• Scheduling scans and generating structured reports.
• Handling authentication-based scans for web applications or internal services.
  Any best practices or example scripts to integrate OpenVAS scanning into a CI/CD pipeline would be helpful.

Answer 1

Automating vulnerability scanning with OpenVAS enhances your infrastructure's security by ensuring regular and systematic assessments. Here's how you can achieve this:

1. Automating Scans Using Command-Line Tools and Python APIs

OpenVAS provides several interfaces for automation:

• Command-Line Interface (CLI): The gvm-cli tool allows interaction with the Greenbone Vulnerability Manager (gvmd) using the Greenbone Management Protocol (GMP).

  Example of starting a scan via CLI:

  gvm-cli socket --gmp-username admin --gmp-password your_password --xml '<start_task task_id="your-task-id"/>' 

  Replace your-task-id with the actual task ID. Ensure you have the necessary permissions and that the gvm-cli tool is correctly configured.

• Python API: The python-gvm library enables control over OpenVAS through Python scripts. This is useful for integrating scans into larger automation workflows.

  Example of starting a scan using Python:

  from gvm.connections import UnixSocketConnection
  from gvm.protocols.gmp import Gmp
  
  connection = UnixSocketConnection()
  with Gmp(connection) as gmp:
      gmp.authenticate('admin', 'your_password')
      response = gmp.start_task('your-task-id')
      print(response) 

  Ensure the python-gvm library is installed and properly configured.

2. Scheduling Scans and Generating Structured Reports

To maintain regular assessments, schedule your scans and automate report generation:

• Using cron Jobs: On Unix-like systems, cron can schedule tasks at specified intervals.

  Example cron entry to run a scan daily at 2 AM:

  0 2 * * * /usr/bin/gvm-cli socket --gmp-username admin --gmp-password your_password --xml '<start_task task_id="your-task-id"/>'
  

  This schedules the scan to run daily at 2 AM.

• Automating Report Retrieval: After a scan completes, retrieve and store the report.

  Example of retrieving a report using gvm-cli:

  gvm-cli socket --gmp-username admin --gmp-password your_password --xml '<get_reports report_id="your-report-id" format_id="desired-format-id"/>' > /path/to/save/report.xml 

  Replace desired-format-id with the format you prefer, such as PDF or XML.

3. Handling Authentication-Based Scans

For comprehensive assessments, especially of web applications or internal services, authenticated scans are essential:

• Creating Credentials in OpenVAS:

  1. Access the OpenVAS web interface.
  2. Navigate to Configuration > Credentials.
  3. Create a new credential with the necessary authentication details.

• Assigning Credentials to a Target:

  1. Navigate to Configuration > Targets.
  2. Create or edit a target, assigning the previously created credentials.

This setup allows OpenVAS to perform authenticated scans, providing deeper insights into potential vulnerabilities.

4. Integrating OpenVAS Scanning into a CI/CD Pipeline

Incorporating security scans into your CI/CD pipeline ensures vulnerabilities are detected early:

• Using gvm-cli in CI/CD Pipelines:

  Integrate gvm-cli commands into your pipeline scripts to initiate scans during build or deployment phases.

  Example in a shell script:

  # Start the scan
  scan_response=$(gvm-cli socket --gmp-username admin --gmp-password your_password --xml '<start_task task_id="your-task-id"/>')
  
  # Extract the report ID from the response
  report_id=$(echo $scan_response | grep -oP '(?<=report_id=")[^"]+')
  
  # Wait for the scan to complete (implement appropriate waiting mechanism)
  
  # Retrieve the report
  gvm-cli socket --gmp-username admin --gmp-password your_password --xml "<get_reports report_id='$report_id' format_id='desired-format-id'/>" > report.xml

  Ensure your CI/CD environment has access to the OpenVAS instance and the necessary credentials.

Best Practices

• Resource Management: Schedule scans during off-peak hours to minimize impact on system performance.
• Regular Updates: Keep OpenVAS and its Network Vulnerability Tests (NVTs) up to date to ensure the latest vulnerabilities are detected.
• Secure Credentials: Store authentication details securely, using environment variables or secret management tools.
• Monitor and Review: Regularly review scan reports and adjust your security measures accordingly.

By automating OpenVAS scans and integrating them into your CI/CD pipeline, you can proactively identify and address vulnerabilities, enhancing your infrastructure's security posture.