RE: nikto, n-stealth can crash the web-server?

["Ric Messier" <kilroy () WasHere COM>]

Depends on your definition of crash. Nikto can cause the Apache process to
restart if Apache is not configured correctly. The number of requests coming
in can overwhelm Apache. Again, if Apache is misconfigured, the number of
requests and subsequent spawning of child processes can cause the load
average to spike causing the OS to be unresponsive. 

Ric


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Matthias Heinrich [mailto:matze-heinrich () gmx de]
> Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 2:37 PM
> To: pen-test () security-focus com
> Subject: nikto, n-stealth can crash the web-server?
>
> Hello to all,
>
>
> I'm trying to find out if web-scanners like n-stealth or nikto can
> crash the web-server and why. By searching in the scan-db of nikto I
> found no tests that could cause a buffer overflow or DoS. Maybe the
> flooding of requests itself can cause the server to crash?!
>
> When you ever had the experience that one of the scanners has crashed a
> server I would really like to know which test has caused that. When I'm
> going to test the productive web-servers I must be very sure they are
> still available for the users of the web-applications.
>
> By the way, is there any comparison available for both scanners? They
> really seem to be very similar in what they do?!
>
>
> Thanx, Maze
>
>
>
>
>
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This List Sponsored by: Cenzic

Concerned about Web Application Security? 
Why not go with the #1 solution - Cenzic, the only one to win the Analyst's 
Choice Award from eWeek. As attacks through web applications continue to rise, 
you need to proactively protect your applications from hackers. Cenzic has the 
most comprehensive solutions to meet your application security penetration 
testing and vulnerability management needs. You have an option to go with a 
managed service (Cenzic ClickToSecure) or an enterprise software 
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help you: http://www.cenzic.com/news_events/wpappsec.php 
And, now for a limited time we can do a FREE audit for you to confirm your 
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