Mastering Nmap for Website Security

Whether you’re just starting out in cybersecurity or working on bug bounties, one tool remains legendary: Nmap. But here’s the catch — most people just scratch the surface.

Let’s explore how to go beyond basic scanning and use Nmap like a pro for websites.

💡 What Makes Nmap So Powerful?

Think of Nmap as your digital reconnaissance drone.
It can:

Reveal hidden services on a website
Detect outdated or misconfigured tech
Run vulnerability checks using powerful scripts
Help bypass firewalls (yes, ethically 😉)

⚙️ Advanced Nmap Examples That Go Beyond the Usual

1. 🧠 Full Recon in One Line

nmap -sC -sV -A -T4 example.com

This runs:

Default scripts
Version detection
OS info
Traceroute
A great way to start when looking at unknown web assets.

2. 🎯 Target Just the Web Ports

nmap -p 80,443 --script http-enum example.com

This will enumerate:

Web services
Login pages
CMS software (WordPress, Joomla)
Super useful when doing surface mapping of a site.

3. 🧭 Find Hidden Subdomains

nmap --script dns-brute example.com

Great for expanding your target list during a bug bounty or red teaming exercise.

4. 🕵️‍♂️ Firewall Bypass (Stealth Mode)

nmap -D RND:10 -T2 -Pn example.com

Use decoys to mask your real IP and avoid basic WAF detection.
Perfect when testing corporate targets in simulation labs.

5. 💣 Vulnerability Hunting with NSE Scripts

nmap --script http-sql-injection -p 80 example.com

This checks for classic SQL injection issues directly — no Burp Suite needed!

🚀 Must-Try Nmap Scripts for Web Scanning

Script	What It Does
`http-methods`	Detects risky HTTP methods (e.g., PUT, DELETE)
`http-csrf`	Checks for CSRF vulnerabilities
`http-auth-finder`	Reveals password-protected pages
`http-headers`	Shows leak-prone HTTP headers
`http-php-version`	Identifies outdated PHP versions