nessus

Nessus is a vulnerability scanner that helps organizations identify and fix security issues in their networks and systems. It scans for vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and compliance issues. Nessus is widely used by security professionals to ensure the integrity and security of their IT environments.

What is nessus

Nessus is a comprehensive vulnerability scanner developed by Tenable, Inc. It is designed to help organizations identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities in their networks and systems. Nessus performs thorough scans to detect vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and compliance issues, providing detailed reports that help security teams prioritize and address potential threats.

Originally released in 1998, Nessus has evolved significantly over the years, becoming one of the most trusted tools in the cybersecurity industry. It supports a wide range of operating systems, applications, and network devices, making it a versatile solution for various IT environments. Nessus is available in both free and commercial versions, with the commercial version offering additional features and support.

Organizations use Nessus to conduct regular security assessments, ensuring that their systems are protected against known vulnerabilities and emerging threats. The tool's extensive plugin library allows it to stay up-to-date with the latest security issues, providing users with timely and accurate information. Nessus also integrates with other security tools and platforms, enhancing its capabilities and making it an essential component of a comprehensive security strategy.

nessus runs on TCP and UDP port 1241 and is official IANA port.

Security risk

If port 1241 is open and the Nessus service is running, it could be targeted by attackers to gain unauthorized access to the vulnerability scanner. This could lead to the exposure of sensitive information about the network's vulnerabilities, potentially allowing attackers to exploit these weaknesses. It is crucial to secure this port and restrict access to trusted users only.

In our UFW tutorial you can follow instructions how you can configure UFW to close port 1241. Use StackChanges to monitor if the nessus port is closed and stays closed. StackChanges will send an alert if port 1241 is open again.