zoom_in Click to enlarge

Nuclei

▲ ▼

language

description Nuclei Overview

Nuclei is an open source scanner designed to assess website security vulnerabilities and performance issues. It utilizes pre-built templates to rapidly analyze web pages, identifying critical JavaScript and CSS files. This tool is valuable for developers, security professionals, and anyone seeking to optimize website loading speeds and improve overall online security posture.

help Nuclei FAQ

What is Nuclei used for in security testing?

Nuclei is an open-source vulnerability scanner developed by ProjectDiscovery that detects security misconfigurations, exposed credentials, and known vulnerabilities across web applications and network infrastructure. It uses community-maintained YAML-based templates to define detection logic for thousands of specific issues.

How do I install and run Nuclei?

Nuclei can be installed via Go with 'go install github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/v3/cmd/nuclei@latest' or downloaded as a pre-built binary from the ProjectDiscovery GitHub repository. After installation, you run it by passing a target URL or file of URLs with 'nuclei -u target.com,' and templates are fetched automatically on first run.

What are Nuclei templates and how do they work?

Nuclei templates are YAML files that define matching patterns, HTTP requests, and extraction logic for specific vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. ProjectDiscovery maintains a public template repository with thousands of community-contributed templates, and users can also write custom templates for proprietary checks.

Is it legal to use Nuclei to scan websites I don't own?

Using Nuclei against systems you do not own or have explicit written permission to test is illegal in most jurisdictions, including under the U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The tool is designed for authorized penetration testing, bug bounty programs, and internal security audits only.

swap_horiz

Looking for Nuclei alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward