Cross-Site Scripting takes advantage of vulnerability points to launch attacks. The attacks are often severe and may result in permanent closure of a company’s website and its total operations. Therefore, there is a need to launch an XSS vulnerability scanner in business to ensure that you are ever safe from any XSS attack. An XSS scanner would be a great investment for business, as it sort of assures you of your security vulnerability status.
Pros of an XSS Vulnerability Scanner Tool
The benefits of the cross-site scripting scanner too are as follows.
1.Quick results
As expected, a tool that has been designed to carry out its functions automatically is fast in its operations. XSS vulnerability scanner is automated. Hence, it does its scanning job quickly, enabling you to receive your results in a fast and timely manner. You can always be certain of receiving the outcome of your security situation any time you desire.
2.Repeatable
Given that the XSS scanner is automated, rewinding the whole process of vulnerability scanning is possible. You may decide on running the XSS vulnerability scan on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, and receive an update on variations plus susceptibilities discovered.
The fact that the XSS scan is repeatable enables you to carry out the process again if you feel like the scanner may not have detected the XSS vulnerability attack you may be thinking has been launched on your application or website.
3.User-friendly
The clear interface present in almost all XSS vulnerability scanning tools makes the scanners simple to utilize. Hence, there is minimal stumbling block to system administrators or any other parties that may be utilizing the tools.
However, you may require the services of a specialist to be able to interpret the results of the scan, given that the results may contain specialist specifics. Hence, it necessitates the hiring of a security specialist who will be responsible for inferring the results and acting on them.
4.Continuous monitoring
Vulnerability scanners can serve you best, especially in keeping constant check of your websites plus applications. In the event of major deployments, the XSS scanner comes in handy. Also, it benefits the system administrators who can be sure of receiving constant awareness of the infrastructure’s status.
Cons of an XSS Vulnerability Scanner Tool
The drawbacks include the disadvantages and include the following.
1.Will not discover close to all vulnerabilities
Cross scripting scanning tools are capable of missing XSS susceptibilities. Hence, you cannot be completely certain of your systems’ safety as they are prone to XSS vulnerabilities. Hackers do not stop looking for loopholes in company websites or applications that they can exploit to their advantage. Hence, the undetected vulnerability points can act as a gateway for the hackers to cause damage.
There are two main probable reasons for the scanner not detecting some vulnerability could be because some XSS vulnerabilities could have surfaced immediately the scan was over, or that the susceptibility is too complicated for any automated tool to detect.
Therefore, the scanner tools cannot be completely reliable for vulnerability detection, meaning you should not be too sure of the results you receive.
2.Constant update necessary
The XSS scanner requires constant updating to make it extremely reliable. Continuous update of the scanning tools enables them to discover the latest or more recent XSS vulnerabilities. Failing to update an XSS scanner tool means that it will not perform its tasks optimally.
False positives
The false positives often result from the inability to interpret the findings of the XSS scanning tools. If you do not have a security specialist to interpret the results, you cannot recognize the detected vulnerabilities, and hence the interpretation of the results takes too much time. Moreover, if you are not able to eliminate the detected due to the inability to recognize them, false positives build up causing the scanner tool to derail on its functions. That way, its effectiveness in vulnerability detection diminishes.
A company that owns a huge IT infrastructure with too many servers plus services could suffer too many false positives given the complex nature of its operations and comprehension of the results of the scan.
Effect of vulnerability unclear
Understanding and interpreting the meaning of the vulnerabilities for business can be hard. The scanning tool cannot illustrate or disclose how the vulnerability is likely to impact various businesses in general. This makes the automated XSS scanner tool inefficient.
Conclusion
The pros and cons have become clear. When buying the XSS vulnerability scanner tool, know the benefits and drawbacks to expect from it so that you can devise means to overcome or enhance them.
