Security Education

What is a Vulnerability Scan?

A vulnerability scan is an automated security test that finds weaknesses in your application before attackers do. Learn how it works and why every developer needs one.

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Definition

A vulnerability scan (also called security scan or vuln scan) is an automated process that examines applications, networks, or systems for known security weaknesses. The scanner compares your application against a database of known vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and security best practices, then generates a report of findings.

What Do Vulnerability Scanners Check?

Security Misconfigurations
  • Missing security headers
  • Insecure cookie settings
  • Debug mode enabled
  • Default credentials
Authentication Issues
  • Weak password policies
  • Missing email verification
  • Session management flaws
  • Auth bypass vulnerabilities
Database Security
  • Missing RLS policies
  • SQL injection
  • Exposed database endpoints
  • Unprotected backup files
Sensitive Data Exposure
  • Exposed API keys
  • Hardcoded secrets
  • Source map leakage
  • Information disclosure
Web Vulnerabilities
  • Cross-site scripting (XSS)
  • CORS misconfigurations
  • Clickjacking
  • CSRF vulnerabilities

How Does a Vulnerability Scan Work?

1
Discovery
The scanner identifies the target application's endpoints, pages, forms, and APIs that need to be tested.
2
Testing
Automated tests probe each component for known vulnerabilities, sending crafted requests and analyzing responses.
3
Analysis
Results are analyzed to identify true vulnerabilities versus false positives, and severity is assessed.
4
Reporting
A report is generated listing vulnerabilities, their severity, affected components, and remediation guidance.

Types of Vulnerability Scanning

Static Analysis (SAST)

Analyzes source code without executing it

Pros
  • Finds issues early in development
  • Covers all code paths
  • No running app needed
Cons
  • Higher false positives
  • Misses runtime issues
  • Language-specific

Dynamic Analysis (DAST)

Tests the running application from outside

Pros
  • Finds runtime vulnerabilities
  • Language agnostic
  • Tests real behavior
Cons
  • Needs running app
  • May miss some code paths
  • Can't see source code

Interactive Analysis (IAST)

Combines static and dynamic approaches

Pros
  • Lower false positives
  • Full coverage
  • Real-time results
Cons
  • Requires instrumentation
  • Performance impact
  • More complex setup

Benefits of Vulnerability Scanning

Find Issues Before Attackers
Discover vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them
Save Time and Money
Automated scans are faster and cheaper than manual penetration testing
Continuous Protection
Run scans regularly to catch new vulnerabilities as code changes
Meet Compliance Requirements
Regular vulnerability scanning is required by many security standards

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a vulnerability scan?

A vulnerability scan is an automated security test that examines your application for known security weaknesses. It checks for issues like misconfigurations, outdated software, exposed credentials, and common vulnerabilities (XSS, SQL injection, etc.). The scan produces a report of findings with severity ratings and remediation guidance.

How long does a vulnerability scan take?

Scan duration varies based on application size and scan depth. A basic scan of a small web application typically takes 5-15 minutes. Comprehensive deep scans can take 30 minutes to several hours. VAS provides results within minutes for most vibe-coded applications.

Is a vulnerability scan the same as a penetration test?

No. A vulnerability scan is automated and identifies known vulnerabilities. A penetration test involves human security experts attempting to exploit vulnerabilities, chain attacks together, and find complex security issues. Scans are faster and cheaper; pentests are more thorough but expensive. Many organizations use scans regularly and pentests periodically.

How often should I run vulnerability scans?

Best practice is to scan: 1) After every significant code change, 2) Before every production deployment, 3) At least monthly for production applications, 4) After adding new dependencies or integrations. For vibe-coded apps, scan after each AI-assisted coding session.

Can vulnerability scans damage my application?

Reputable vulnerability scanners are designed to be non-destructive. They test for vulnerabilities without actually exploiting them. However, aggressive scanning can increase server load. VAS is designed to be safe for production applications and uses non-invasive testing methods.

Do vulnerability scans find all security issues?

No scanner catches everything. Automated scans excel at finding known vulnerability patterns, misconfigurations, and common issues. They may miss business logic flaws, complex attack chains, or zero-day vulnerabilities. Scans are part of a defense-in-depth strategy that includes code review, penetration testing, and security monitoring.

Related Security Resources

Vulnerability Scan vs PentestHow Often to ScanWhat is DAST?What is SAST?

Last updated: January 16, 2026