What Is Vulnerability Scanning and How Does It Work?

Vulnerability scanning is an automated process that continuously examines systems, networks, and APIs to identify potential security weaknesses before attackers can exploit them. It acts as the first line of defence in any cybersecurity program by detecting known vulnerabilities, configuration errors, and exposures early in the lifecycle.

19,138 new common vulnerabilities emerged in 2021, reinforcing the need for high-quality vulnerability scanning tools.

A vulnerability is an exploitable flaw in a network, web application, or API, allowing hackers to access secure data.

Vulnerability scanning is especially crucial for APIs, as they are a favourite target for hackers, accounting for 90 per cent of cyberattacks in 2021 alone.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about vulnerability scans and how to keep your networks, web applications, and APIs secure.

Role of Vulnerability Scanning in Proactive Risk Management

Vulnerability scanning isn’t just a compliance exercise; it’s a proactive risk-reduction strategy. By continuously discovering misconfigurations, outdated software, and weak endpoints, organisations can shrink their attack surface and prevent breaches before exploitation occurs (Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report 2024).

Key benefits include:

Attack Surface Reduction: Detects exposed APIs, open ports, and outdated services.
Early Threat Detection: Flags weaknesses before exploitation or ransomware deployment.
Compliance Alignment: Satisfies standards like HIPAA, PCI DSS 4.0, and ISO 27001.
Operational Efficiency: Automates routine checks so security teams focus on remediation.

For teams shifting security left in the CI/CD cycle, combining vulnerability scans with automated tools such as APIsec’s Continuous API Testing ensures every release is verified before deployment.

Types of Vulnerability Scanning

Network Vulnerability Scanning

Network scanners identify insecure ports, misconfigured firewalls, or outdated firmware across routers, servers, and cloud assets.
Examples:

Nessus: Industry-standard tool for enterprise network scanning.
OpenVAS: Open-source platform that detects network and infrastructure vulnerabilities.
Qualys Cloud Platform: Continuous monitoring of cloud and hybrid environments.

Host Vulnerability Scanning

Host scanning focuses on workstations and servers, examining patch levels and privilege escalations.
Examples:

Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management: Integrates with Windows endpoints.
Rapid7 InsightVM: Correlates CVE severity with real-time asset exposure.
Tripwire IP360: Monitors configuration drift and policy compliance.

Web Application Vulnerability Scanning

Web-app scanners test endpoints for injection flaws and misconfigured authentication.
Examples:

Burp Suite: Intercepts HTTP traffic to uncover injection and logic flaws.
OWASP ZAP: Community-driven tool for detecting XSS, CSRF, and auth issues.
Nikto: Lightweight scanner for outdated components and server misconfigurations.

For deeper application-layer coverage, integrate automated tools like Best Vulnerability Scanners with API-specific security checks using the APIsec Testing Platform.

Common Vulnerabilities Detected by Scanners

SQL Injection (SQLi): Attackers manipulate queries to access databases.
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Malicious scripts execute in user browsers.
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF): Tricks authenticated users into unintended actions.
Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF): Forces servers to access internal resources.
Broken Authentication: Weak token or password handling.
Security Misconfiguration: Exposed admin interfaces or default credentials.
(OWASP Top 10 – 2023).

Vulnerability Scanning vs. Penetration Testing

Both vulnerability scanning and penetration testing help organisations achieve the same goal of securing their APIs. Still, they have some key differences in how they do it.

Vuln scans are a high-level look at servers and applications - APIs are usually under the scope of vuln scans - penetration tests look deep into your code to find the specific issues that lead to the vulnerability.

A vulnerability scan looks for weaknesses in your systems and generates a report, while penetration testing is an authorised, simulated cyberattack performed either by a live developer (a pen-tester) or an AI-based tool.

Penetration testing has the added advantage of identifying flaws in your business logic responsible for weak points in your security that a high-level vulnerability scan may miss.

Regular vulnerability scans can help you monitor your systems, but most tools on the market aren't enough to protect more complex APIs.

Comparison: Automated Vulnerability Scans vs Manual Pen Tests

Criteria	Automated Vulnerability Scans	Manual Penetration Tests
Speed	Minutes to run across assets	Takes days – weeks
Coverage	Broad (network, web, API)	Deep focus on specific assets
Detection Type	Known CVEs & patterns	Business logic and zero-day issues
Cost	Lower – automated subscription	Higher – human expertise
Frequency	Continuous or scheduled	Periodic (quarterly or annual)

Combining both provides layered defense, as recommended in Penetration Testing Best Practices.

How Automation Made Vulnerability Scans an Industry Norm

When software was on-premises, companies deployed, secured, and updated their software on their own networks. Manual penetration testing was aligned with the release schedules of the vendors. Subsequently, they were scheduled to repeat every year or even as infrequently as every other year.

With cloud and SaaS products, that changed. Software is no longer on-premise with a tightly coupled frontend and backend. Modern apps are mostly cloud-based, relying on APIs to connect to various backends, databases, and subsystems. As a result, unsurprisingly, hackers, red teams, and penetration testers have shifted their focus and TTPs to the API layer, while software developers have been slow to expand their defences to APIs.

Pen-tests performed manually are typically infrequent monitoring activities that leave a large window of opportunity open for cyber-attackers, resulting in data loss and breaches. Manual pen-tests that happen annually, or even quarterly, just can't keep up with software releases or even cyber-attack evolutions. The software in question has already been in production for several months and has been changed numerous times by the time a pen test is performed.

Companies can now run thorough vulnerability checks in minutes instead of hours or days, thanks to the advancements in automation. This speed allows them to continuously check their networks and APIs for vulnerabilities, all while saving valuable development resources.

Automated pen-testing solutions (like ours) provide a pen-testing strategy that is aligned with contemporary web development practices - making sure vulnerabilities get detected and fixed before they get into production.

Expanded Vulnerability Scanning Process and Best Practices

Step 1: Configure the Vulnerability Scanner

Use authenticated scans for deeper coverage.
Ensure scanner credentials follow least-privilege access.
Update plugins and CVE databases weekly (NIST NVD 2024).

Step 2: Evaluate and Prioritise Risks

Rate vulnerabilities using CVSS v3.1 severity.
Prioritise based on asset criticality and exploit likelihood.
Cross-reference with compensating controls and patch availability.

Step 3: Treat Identified Vulnerabilities

Apply security patches promptly.
For unpatchable issues, add WAF rules or access controls.
Document mitigation steps for audit compliance.

Step 4: Re-Run and Validate Fixes

Schedule automated rescans after every major deployment.
Integrate with CI/CD via tools like APIsec Automation Testing.
Track vulnerability ageing metrics (IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023).

Ongoing Best Practices

Scan Frequency: Weekly for high-risk systems, monthly for low-risk.
Database Updates: Keep signatures current to catch new CVEs.
Integration: Embed scanning early in DevSecOps pipelines.
Remediation SLA: Fix critical issues within 72 hours (CISA Binding Operational Directive 23-01).

Industry Statistics and Use Cases

90 % organisations faced API-related attacks in 2023 (Salt Security State of API Security Report 2024).
Enterprises using automated scanning reduced breach costs by 32 % (IBM Cost of a Data Breach 2023).
Continuous scanning adoption increased by 47 % year-over-year (Gartner Cybersecurity Trends 2025).

These numbers highlight why automation and full API coverage are now considered essential for any modern security stack.

Try APIsec for Comprehensive API Security Testing

Now that you fully understand the benefits of vulnerability scanning, you can take proactive steps to reinforce your cybersecurity.

This practice alone can’t fully protect you from a wide spectrum of cyber threats - that’s where APIsec comes into play.

APIsec is the first automated API security testing solution that leverages AI to write and execute thousands of test cases based on the unique structure of your APIs. It ensures full coverage, eliminates human error, and saves valuable developer resources.

To deepen your knowledge, explore these related resources:

If you want to see the difference proactive, automated testing can make, reach out to the APIsec team for a free vulnerability assessment today.

‍