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:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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:
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:
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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.
