The basic workflow of Nessus tool is to Login, Create or Configure the Policy, Run the Scan, and Analyze the Results. Configuring the Policy Policies are the vulnerability tests that you can perform on the target machine.
HomeDebianHow to Install Nessus Scanner on Ubuntu 18.04 / Debian 9
(Last Updated On: January 26, 2019)
How to Install Nessus on Ubuntu 18.04?, How to Install Nessus on Debian 9?. In today’s guide, we’ll discuss the process of Installing Nessus on Ubuntu 18.04 / Ubuntu 16.04 / Debian 9. Nessus is a proprietary vulnerability assessment tool that works for Mobile and Web applications deployed on Premise or in a cloud environment.
Nessus gives you malware detection, scanning of embedded devices, configurations auditing, control systems auditing and compliance checks among other features. Installing Nessus Scanner on Ubuntu 18.04 /Debian 9 is the first step to securing and hardening your Infrastructure and Applications from the “bad guys”.
How to Install Nessus Scanner on Ubuntu 18.04 / Debian 9
Nessus Scanner packages are available on Nessus Downloads page. Confirm the latest Nessus Debian package release before downloading it.
As of this article writing, the available release is Nessus - 8.2.0 . This is what we’ll download and install.
Install Nessus Scanner on Ubuntu 18.04
For Ubuntu 18.04, the package name I’m using is:
Downloaded from:
Install it by running:
Install Nessus Scanner on Debian 9
For Debian 9. downloaded package is named:
Downloaded from:
Install it with dep package manager like below:
Start and enable nessusd service
Start nessusd service:
Then enable the service to start on boot:
Confirm service status using:
Nessus daemon binds to TCP port 8834.
Make sure this port is allowed on firewall if UFW is running:
Configuring Nessus
Visit your Nessus web interface on https://[IP Address|Hostname]:8834 to finish Nessus installation and activation. Create Nessus Administrator Account on the first page.
Before you can use Nessus, you’ll have to obtain an activation code on https://www.tenable.com/products/nessus/activation-code.
For testing purposes, you can go with the “Nessus Home” license.
The License key will be sent to you on email used for signup. Register your Nessus Scanner with emailed activation code.
The Initializing process should start.
Be informed that this could take some time as Nessus download Plugins and prepare the files needed to scan your assets. When done, login with created admin account.
Nessus default page on login should look similar to below.
You should now have Nessus Scanner installed and configured on Ubuntu 18.04 / Debian 9. Our next articles will cover usage of Nessus for scanning different assets in your Infrastructure.
Posted by1 year ago
Archived
Nessus Credentialed Scans
Hello everyone!
Does anyone have any idea on how to create a designated account for Nessus scans? I am currently using the domain admin account (which works just fine) and from my understanding the Nessus account has to have to local admin rights to the systems it scans. I followed the following article provided by Tenable and that didn’t work.
I also created another account that is in the same groups and has the same permissions as the administrator (Working account) and still nothing. I read that I can’t create a local admin account via GPO anymore due to it being X’d out by Microsoft a while ago. Would anyone have anything I can try out? Thanks!