If you already know what Nessus is and how its basic scans work, this article is for you. As a penetration tester, Nessus isn't just a "vulnerability scanner" — it becomes a strategic intelligence tool to support exploitation, pivoting, and attack chain planning.

Let's explore how professionals use Nessus beyond the basics.

Why Nessus Is More Than a Scanner

When used correctly, Nessus can help you:

  • Identify high-value entry points
  • Detect configuration flaws invisible to Nmap
  • Map out entire service versions with accuracy
  • Prioritize attack vectors for exploitation
  • Chain vulnerabilities logically

Most people just click "Scan" and check results. Professionals interpret, correlate, and exploit.

Advanced Perspective: Nessus as an Attack Chain Enabler

Here's how Nessus fits into a real pentest workflow.

Step 1 — Recon with Nmap First (Pro Tip 1)

Before scanning with Nessus, always perform a targeted Nmap scan to reduce noise:

nmap -sV -sC -Pn 10.10.10.5 -oN nmap_initial.txt

This gives you the starting point — ports, services, and versions.

Step 2 — Import Findings Into Nessus

Nessus performs deeper vulnerability checks when it knows the service fingerprint.

Step 3 — Use Advanced Policies Like:

  • Advanced Network Scan
  • Web Application Tests
  • Credentialed Patch Audit
  • Malware Scan
  • Policy Compliance (CIS, PCI DSS)

Each of these unlocks features hidden from regular users.

Where Nessus Shines in Real Pentest Engagements

  • Internal corporate audits
  • PCI DSS readiness
  • Red team pre-exploitation mapping
  • Web app triage before Burp Suite testing
  • Post-exploitation patch validation

Nessus isn't the whole attack — it's the intel engine behind smarter exploitation.

Wrapping It Up:

If you've only been using Nessus as a "click-and-scan" tool, you're missing out on 70% of its true potential.

Once you combine it with manual recon, authenticated scans, and exploitation frameworks like Metasploit, it becomes an unmatched vulnerability intelligence powerhouse.

🌐 Join Our Cybersecurity Community

We're building a passionate cybersecurity community where learners, professionals, and enthusiasts share knowledge, tools, and writeups.

👉 Interested in joining? Here's the link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FjZ5dhlH3iNDcQk3nFwgIN

💡 Have your own writeups, guides, or experiments? Send them to us! We'll review, publish them on our community Medium account, and give full credit to you. Let's learn and grow together. 🚀

Credits : Dilip Atchuth Kumar Pulamarasetty