1. What is Skipfish?
Ans:- Skipfish is an open-source web application security scanner designed to identify and report security vulnerabilities in web applications.
2. Who developed Skipfish?
Ans:- Skipfish was developed by Michal Zalewski and is part of the Google Summer of Code project.
3. What platforms does Skipfish support?
Ans:- Skipfish is platform-independent and can be run on various operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS.
4. What type of vulnerabilities can Skipfish detect?
Ans:- Skipfish is capable of detecting a wide range of vulnerabilities, including SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), and more.
5. How does Skipfish differ from other web application security scanners?
Ans:- Skipfish is known for its speed and efficiency. It employs a variety of intelligent techniques to optimize the scanning process, making it faster than many other scanners.
6. What are the key features of Skipfish?
Ans:- Key features of Skipfish include a high-speed crawler, dictionary-based probes, adaptive content discovery, and comprehensive reports on discovered vulnerabilities.
7. How does Skipfish handle authentication in web applications?
Ans:- Skipfish provides support for session handling and authentication mechanisms, allowing it to navigate through authenticated areas of a web application during the scan.
8. Is Skipfish suitable for scanning large web applications?
Ans:- Yes, Skipfish is designed to handle large-scale web applications efficiently. Its speed and optimization make it capable of scanning extensive websites.
9. What is the default scan mode in Skipfish?
Ans:- The default scan mode in Skipfish is comprehensive mode, which includes thorough testing for various vulnerabilities.
10. Can Skipfish be used for security assessments on production systems?
Ans:- While Skipfish can be used for security assessments, it is recommended to use it on non-production systems to avoid potential disruptions.
11. How does Skipfish handle input validation testing?
Ans:- Skipfish performs input validation testing by using a set of predefined probes to identify potential vulnerabilities related to user input.
12. Is Skipfish suitable for both security professionals and beginners?
Ans:- Skipfish is designed to be user-friendly and is suitable for both security professionals and those new to web application security testing.
13. Can Skipfish perform AJAX-based application testing?
Ans:- Skipfish may have limitations in testing AJAX-based applications, as it primarily relies on static analysis and may not interact with dynamic content loaded via AJAX.
14. What is the significance of “Profile” in Skipfish?
Ans:- The “Profile” in Skipfish allows users to customize the scanning process by specifying parameters such as custom headers, cookies, and more.
15. How does Skipfish handle rate limiting on websites?
Ans:- Skipfish employs various strategies to avoid triggering rate-limiting mechanisms on websites, making the scanning process more stealthy.
16. Can Skipfish be integrated with other security tools?
Ans:- Yes, Skipfish supports integration with other security tools and can be used as part of a broader security testing toolkit.
17. What is the role of the Skipfish signature set?
Ans:- The Skipfish signature set consists of predefined rules and patterns used to identify specific vulnerabilities during the scanning process.
18. How does Skipfish handle false positives during scanning?
Ans:- Skipfish provides options to filter or ignore certain findings to reduce false positives. Users can customize the scanning process to improve accuracy.
19. What types of reports does Skipfish generate?
Ans:- Skipfish generates detailed reports in various formats, including HTML and XML, providing comprehensive information about discovered vulnerabilities.
20. Can Skipfish be used for compliance testing?
Ans:- Skipfish is primarily designed for vulnerability assessment rather than compliance testing. However, it can be part of a broader security testing strategy.
21. How does Skipfish handle SSL/TLS-encrypted websites?
Ans:- Skipfish supports scanning SSL/TLS-encrypted websites by establishing secure connections and analyzing the encrypted traffic.
22. What is the significance of “Custom 404” in Skipfish?
Ans:- The “Custom 404” feature in Skipfish allows users to define custom error pages to improve the scanner’s accuracy in identifying non-existent URLs.
23. How does Skipfish handle different HTTP methods during scanning?
Ans:- Skipfish supports various HTTP methods, including GET, POST, and others, allowing it to interact with different parts of a web application.
24. Is Skipfish suitable for scanning RESTful APIs?
Ans:- While Skipfish is designed for web application security testing, it may have limitations when scanning RESTful APIs. Specialized tools may be more appropriate for API testing.
25. What is the role of the Skipfish “heuristics” option?
Ans:- The “heuristics” option in Skipfish enables heuristics-based testing, which involves intelligent analysis to discover potential security issues.
26. How does Skipfish handle session management testing?
Ans:- Skipfish includes probes and techniques to identify and test session management vulnerabilities, such as session fixation or session hijacking.
27. Can Skipfish be used for continuous integration and continuous testing (CI/CT)?
Ans:- Yes, Skipfish can be integrated into CI/CT pipelines to automate web application security testing as part of the development lifecycle.
28. How frequently is Skipfish updated?
Ans:- The frequency of Skipfish updates may vary. Users are encouraged to check the official repository for the latest releases and updates.
29. What is the recommended scan depth in Skipfish?
Ans:- The recommended scan depth depends on the size and complexity of the web application. Users can adjust the scan depth based on their specific testing requirements.
30. How does Skipfish handle redundancy in scanning?
Ans:- Skipfish employs intelligent algorithms to avoid redundancy in scanning, optimizing the process and preventing unnecessary duplication of efforts.
31. Can Skipfish be used for scanning APIs with JSON or XML content?
Ans:- While Skipfish is primarily designed for web applications, it may be used to some extent for scanning APIs. However, specialized API testing tools are more suitable.
32. What are the prerequisites for using Skipfish?
Ans:- Skipfish has minimal prerequisites, including a C compiler, libidn, and a recent POSIX-compatible system. Detailed instructions are provided in the documentation.
33. How does Skipfish handle handling dynamic content during scanning?
Ans:- Skipfish may have limitations in handling highly dynamic content, as it primarily relies on static analysis. Manual testing may be needed for certain dynamic aspects.
34. What is the role of the “Dictionary-based” option in Skipfish?
Ans:- The “Dictionary-based” option in Skipfish allows users to customize the scanning process by providing their own set of probes and patterns.
35. How does Skipfish handle scanning for hidden directories?
Ans:- Skipfish employs a variety of techniques, including dictionary-based and heuristic methods, to identify hidden directories and URLs during the scanning process.
36. Can Skipfish be used for testing web applications developed with specific technologies?
Ans:- Skipfish is technology-agnostic and can be used to test web applications developed with various technologies and frameworks.
37. How does Skipfish handle scanning for specific vulnerabilities like Heartbleed?
Ans:- Skipfish includes signatures and heuristics to identify certain vulnerabilities, including Heartbleed. Users should ensure they are using the latest version for updated detection capabilities.
38. What is the impact of the “Interactive Mode” in Skipfish?
Ans:- The “Interactive Mode” in Skipfish allows users to interactively explore the scan results, review findings, and customize the scanning process during runtime.
39. How does Skipfish handle handling URL rewrite mechanisms during scanning?
Ans:- Skipfish is designed to understand and handle URL rewrite mechanisms to some extent, allowing it to effectively crawl and test web applications that use such mechanisms.
40. What is the role of the “WSSEP” option in Skipfish?
Ans:- The “WSSEP” (Web Security Service Extension Protocol) option in Skipfish allows users to extend the scanner’s capabilities by implementing custom plugins.
41. Can Skipfish be used for testing mobile applications?
Ans:- Skipfish is primarily designed for web applications and may not be suitable for testing mobile applications. Specialized mobile app security testing tools are recommended.
42. How does Skipfish handle scanning for client-side vulnerabilities?
Ans:- Skipfish primarily focuses on server-side vulnerabilities and may not extensively cover client-side vulnerabilities. Additional tools may be needed for client-side testing.
43. What is the role of the “Non-Interactive Mode” in Skipfish?
Ans:- The “Non-Interactive Mode” in Skipfish allows users to run scans without interaction, using predefined configurations and parameters for automation purposes.
44. How does Skipfish handle scanning for vulnerabilities in JavaScript-based applications?
Ans:- Skipfish may not be well-suited for scanning vulnerabilities specific to JavaScript-based applications. Specialized tools are recommended for testing such applications.
45. What is the impact of the “Quick Mode” in Skipfish?
Ans:- The “Quick Mode” in Skipfish is a faster scanning option that performs a lightweight test to identify common vulnerabilities quickly.
46. How does Skipfish handle handling anti-CSRF tokens during scanning?
Ans:- Skipfish may have limitations in handling anti-CSRF tokens, and manual testing may be necessary to ensure comprehensive coverage of CSRF vulnerabilities.
47. Can Skipfish handle testing for XML-based vulnerabilities?
Ans:- While Skipfish is capable of detecting some XML-based vulnerabilities, specialized tools may be more effective for testing specific XML-related issues.
48. How does Skipfish handle handling custom error pages during scanning?
Ans:- Skipfish includes options for handling custom error pages, allowing users to define how the scanner should interpret and analyze such pages.
49. What is the role of the “Common Files” option in Skipfish?
Ans:- The “Common Files” option in Skipfish includes a set of common files that the scanner will look for during the scanning process, improving coverage.
50. How does Skipfish handle handling input validation on form fields during scanning?
Ans:- Skipfish includes probes and heuristics for testing input validation on form fields, helping identify potential vulnerabilities related to user input validation.
