Is this legal? Do I need permission?

AttackVector performs passive security scanning only — we analyze publicly available information like HTTP headers, SSL certificates, and technology fingerprints. We do NOT perform active exploitation. However, you should only scan websites you own or have explicit authorization to test.

How does AttackVector compare to traditional pentesting?

Traditional penetration tests cost $5,000–$50,000+ and take weeks. AttackVector provides instant AI-powered scanning starting at $79/mo. While it doesn't replace a full manual pentest for compliance purposes, it catches 80% of common vulnerabilities at 1% of the cost.

What does the free tier include?

The free scan includes SSL/TLS certificate analysis, HTTP security headers audit, technology stack detection, your top 3 vulnerabilities, and an overall security grade (A-F). Upgrade to Pro to unlock all vulnerabilities, CVE matching, and AI remediation guides.

How do the AI agents work?

AttackVector uses a pipeline of specialized AI agents: Recon Agent discovers endpoints, Fingerprint Agent detects your tech stack, Scanner Agent checks for misconfigurations, CVE Matcher cross-references the NVD database, and Report Writer generates human-readable findings with fix instructions.

How often should I scan my site?

We recommend scanning after every deployment and at least weekly. Pro subscribers get continuous monitoring with weekly automatic re-scans. New CVEs are published daily, so regular scanning is essential.

Can AttackVector scan internal/private networks?

No. For security reasons, AttackVector only scans publicly accessible URLs. We block requests to private IP ranges (localhost, 10.x.x.x, 192.168.x.x, etc.).

What is automated penetration testing?

Automated penetration testing uses AI and software tools to simulate cyberattacks on your systems, identifying vulnerabilities without requiring a human security consultant. AttackVector automates recon, fingerprinting, vulnerability scanning, CVE matching, and report generation — delivering results in seconds instead of weeks.

How much does a penetration test cost?

Traditional manual penetration tests cost between $5,000 and $50,000+ per engagement. AttackVector provides AI-powered pentesting starting with a free tier, with Pro plans at $79/mo and Premium at $199/mo — making enterprise-grade security accessible to startups and small businesses.

What vulnerabilities does AttackVector detect?

AttackVector detects OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities including SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), CSRF, broken authentication, security misconfigurations, sensitive data exposure, and more. Pro and Premium plans add CVE matching against the National Vulnerability Database, DNS security auditing, API security testing, and frontend pentesting.

Is AI pentesting as good as manual penetration testing?

AI pentesting catches 80% of common vulnerabilities instantly and is ideal for continuous monitoring. Manual pentesting is still recommended for compliance audits (PCI DSS, SOC 2) and testing complex business logic. AttackVector is best used as a complement — providing continuous coverage between annual manual pentests.

What is a CVE and how does CVE scanning work?

CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) is a standardized system for identifying known security vulnerabilities. AttackVector detects your technology stack (frameworks, libraries, servers) and cross-references them against the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) with 50,000+ CVE entries to find known exploits affecting your software versions.

How do I check if my website is secure?

Enter your website URL at attackvector.tech/scan to get a free instant security assessment. You'll receive a security grade (A-F), SSL/TLS analysis, HTTP security headers audit, technology detection, and your top vulnerabilities — all in seconds with no signup required.

What is OWASP Top 10 and why does it matter?

The OWASP Top 10 is the industry standard list of the most critical web application security risks, published by the Open Worldwide Application Security Project. It includes injection attacks, broken authentication, sensitive data exposure, XML external entities, broken access control, security misconfigurations, XSS, insecure deserialization, using components with known vulnerabilities, and insufficient logging. AttackVector scans for all 10 categories.

Does AttackVector test APIs for vulnerabilities?

Yes. Pro and Premium plans include API discovery and API security testing. AttackVector automatically discovers API endpoints, then tests for SQL injection, command injection, authentication bypass, IDOR, rate limiting issues, CORS misconfigurations, and mass assignment vulnerabilities in your APIs.

What is a DNS security audit?

A DNS security audit examines your domain's DNS configuration for security issues including missing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records (email spoofing protection), DNSSEC validation, zone transfer vulnerabilities, dangling DNS records, and subdomain takeover risks. AttackVector includes comprehensive DNS auditing in Pro and Premium plans.

How does AI-powered vulnerability scanning work?

AttackVector deploys multiple specialized AI agents in parallel: a Recon Agent maps your attack surface, a Fingerprint Agent identifies your technology stack, a Scanner Agent tests for misconfigurations and vulnerabilities, a CVE Matcher finds known exploits in your software, and a Report Agent generates human-readable findings with step-by-step remediation guides.

OWASP Top 10 Explained — The Most Critical Web Application Security Risks

The Importance of the OWASP Top 10

Web app vulnerabilities are not minor concerns. The 2017 Equifax breach exposed 147 million records due to a failure to patch a known vulnerability (CVE-2017-5638). The OWASP Top 10 prioritizes the most critical risks in web applications, aiming to make the web safer by educating developers and security pros.

1. Broken Access Control

Unauthorized data access is a serious issue. Facebook's 2019 breach allowed attackers to access over 419 million user records. How to test: Use Burp Suite to check if restricted pages can be accessed without proper authorization.

2. Cryptographic Failures

The Heartbleed bug was a cryptographic failure that exposed sensitive data by allowing attackers to read server memory. Secure encryption is vital. What not to do: Avoid outdated or weak encryption algorithms like MD5.

3. Injection

SQL injections remain relevant due to their impact. The 2014 TalkTalk breach cost the company £60 million. Here's how to test: Use sqlmap to identify exploitable injection points.

4. Insecure Design

Insecure design flaws affect system architecture. The MOVEit breach demonstrated how insecure default settings can expose sensitive data.

5. Security Misconfiguration

Misconfigurations are easy targets. The 2019 Capital One breach involved an exposed S3 bucket leading to data theft. To test: Regularly scan your infrastructure with tools like nmap for open ports and default credentials.

6. Vulnerable and Outdated Components

The Equifax breach exemplifies the dangers of outdated components. Failing to update Apache Struts led to disaster. What to do: Maintain a detailed inventory of components and update them regularly.

7. Identification and Authentication Failures

Weak authentication opens doors for attackers. Testing tip: Use brute-force tools like Hydra to test the strength of your authentication mechanisms.

8. Software and Data Integrity Failures

Supply chain attacks, such as SolarWinds, highlight the risk of blindly trusting third-party software. Action step: Verify the integrity of updates and third-party software using checksums.

9. Security Logging and Monitoring Failures

Without logging, you're flying blind. The 2013 Target breach could have been mitigated with prompt attention to security alerts. How to improve: Implement comprehensive logging and real-time monitoring using tools like Splunk.

10. Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)

SSRF attacks can trick servers into making unauthorized requests. Testing method: Use ffuf to identify SSRF vulnerabilities by fuzzing URL parameters.

AttackVector's Approach

At AttackVector, we map scan findings directly to the OWASP categories in our Pro tier deep pentests. This means when you run a scan, you'll see exactly how your app stacks up against the top 10 risks, complete with actionable remediation steps.