# sullo/nikto

Nikto web server scanner

Repository: https://github.com/sullo/nikto
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/nikto
Language: Perl
License: NOASSERTION
License Family: other
Last push: 2026-08-18T04:01:08+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 89/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 98, release rhythm 71, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 5030, "days_push": 15, "days_rel": 33, "gap_med": 169, "n_releases_24m": 2}
- flags: no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 10684, forks 1453 (observed 2026-08-28T04:10:43.756585+00:00)

## What it is
Nikto is a Perl-based command-line web server scanner that tests servers for dangerous files, outdated software, misconfigurations, and known vulnerabilities. It supports IDS evasion techniques, multiple output formats, and can run as a Docker container.

## Use cases
- scan a web server for vulnerabilities
- find dangerous files and outdated software on a website
- test web server misconfigurations
- run a pentest scan on a target host
- check a server for default credentials and insecure files
- evade IDS detection while scanning a website

## When to choose
- you need a classic, battle-tested command-line web vulnerability scanner
- you want IDS evasion options and flexible output formats
- you want to run scans easily via Docker

## When to avoid
- you need a full modern dynamic application security testing (DAST) suite
- you want a GUI-based scanner
- you need authenticated deep crawling of complex single-page applications

## Facets
- artifact type: cli-tool
- maturity: active
- function: penetration-testing, vulnerability-scanning, security
- domain: security, penetration-testing, web-development
- platform: windows, cli
- tags: web-server-scanner, vulnerability-scanner, pentesting, web-security, ids-evasion, linux, macos, docker, perl

## Member repositories
- sullo/nikto (main) score 89

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:10:43.756585+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T17:18:11.214441+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/sullo/nikto (fetched 2026-08-28T04:10:43.756585+00:00, sha 507a1716fca6)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.