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Write a Script to Perform a Vulnerability Scan of the Listed Services

This time we need to write an automated vulnerability scan of the server using Python. This Python script will make use of Nmap. The must do the following: * Perform a broad full vulnerability sweep. * Generatea report and send it to the admin by email. * Be scheduled to run every week.

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Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 30m
Last updated
Clock icon Sep 02, 2025

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Install EPEL repos, Nmap, sendemail, python36, python36-devel, and git 

    sudo yum install https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-8.noarch.rpm

    sudo yum install nmap python36 python36-devel
sudo yum install git
sudo yum install sendemail

  2. Challenge

    Get vulnersCom and Perform a Vulnerability Scan of httpd, mariadb, and sshd 

    git clone https://github.com/vulnersCom/nmap-vulners.git

    sudo mv /home/cloud_user/nmap-vulners/ /usr/share/nmap/scripts/

    nmap -sV --script nmap-vulners <IP> -p22,80,3306

  3. Challenge

    Write a Python Script to Incorporate the Scans and Send Results via Email 

    vim /home/cloud_user/scan.py

    #!/bin/python3.6

import subprocess

p = subprocess.Popen(["nmap", "-sV", "--script", "nmap-vulners", "[IP_ADDRESS]", "-p22,80,3306"], stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
(output, err) = p.communicate()
msg = output.decode('utf-8').strip()

subprocess.check_output(['sendemail', '-f', '[FROM_EMAIL]', '-u', 'AUTH_NOTIFICATION', '-t', '[TO_EMAIL]', '-s', 'smtp.gmail.com:587', '-o', 'tls=yes', '-xu', '[USER_NAME]', '-xp', '[PASSWORD]', '-m', msg], stdin=None, stderr=None, shell=False, universal_newlines=False)

    ESC
:wq
ENTER

    chmod +x /home/cloud_user/scan.py

  4. Challenge

    Configure the Script to Run Once a Week 

    sudo crontab -e

    @weekly /home/cloud_user/scan.py

    ESC 
:wq
ENTER
Pluralsight Skills - Labs - Pluralsight
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Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

What's a lab?

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Provided environment for hands-on practice

We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.

Guided walkthrough

Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

Did you know?

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you get time for practice.
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