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The real risk isn’t what your website security scan shows. It’s what you ignore.

I still remember the first time I ran a website security scan with Nikto. I felt pretty confident—until the terminal exploded with red flags, outdated server headers, and cryptic warnings. It was like reading a secret language only seasoned hackers spoke.

Back then, I had already embraced FOSS tools as part of my ethical hacking workflow. But no one tells you that knowing how to run a scan and knowing how to interpret one are two very different skill sets.

If you’re using Nikto and only looking for the “high risk” tags, you’re missing the point. This guide is your crash course in understanding the results beneath the surface—because securing a site doesn’t start with more tools. It starts with knowing what your tools are actually telling you.

Ready to stop guessing and start interpreting? Let’s break down your Nikto website security scan like a hacker with a cause.

⚠️ Important: These tools are intended for ethical hacking, security research, and education. Use them only on systems and networks you own or have permission to test. Unauthorized use can lead to serious legal consequences.

Download my FREE Nikto Cheat Sheet Now!

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Table of Contents

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• Understanding Nikto’s Scan Output: A Quick Field-by-Field Breakdown
• The Anatomy of Nikto's Website Security Scan Output
  • Breaking Down the Output
    • 1. Target Information
    • 2. Security Header Issues
    • 3. Sensitive File Detection
    • 4. CGI Directories and Server Headers
    • 5. Scan Timestamps and Performance
  • Sample Commands for Enhanced Output
    • CSV Output
    • HTML Report
• What to Actually Do With Your Website Security Scan Results
• Real-World Example: Annotated Nikto Output You Can Actually Understand
• Now What? Actionable Steps for Common Website Security Scan Findings
• Prioritizing Risks from Nikto’s Output
• Don’t Panic: False Positives and Nikto’s Noisy Nature
• Ethics First: Only Scan What You Own or Are Authorized To
• Where Nikto Fits in a Full Website Security Workflow
• What Your Scan Results Say—And What You Do Next

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Understanding Nikto’s Scan Output: A Quick Field-by-Field Breakdown

When Nikto finishes its scan, it gives you what looks like a stream of cryptic messages. But every line follows a pattern—and once you learn how to read it, you’re not just seeing a list of issues; you’re seeing your server’s blind spots.

Here’s a simplified example of a Nikto output line:

+ Server: Apache/2.4.29 (Ubuntu)
+ The anti-clickjacking X-Frame-Options header is not present.
+ OSVDB-3092: /admin/: This might be an administrative login page.

Let’s break that down:

• Server: Shows the web server software and version. This helps you know if you’re running something outdated or vulnerable (Apache, Nginx, etc.).
• X-Frame-Options header missing: This is a security header that helps prevent clickjacking. If it’s missing, it doesn’t mean you’re doomed—it just means a layer of protection is absent.
• OSVDB-3092: This references a known vulnerability or concern from the now-defunct OSVDB database. It’s informational but useful for deeper research.
• /admin/ path warning: Nikto found a common admin path. Even if it’s password protected, it might be brute-forceable or unintentionally exposed.

💡 FOSS Tip: Because Nikto is open-source, you can even tweak its plugins to ignore noisy results or highlight issues specific to your stack.

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The Anatomy of Nikto’s Website Security Scan Output

Below is a sample Nikto output, followed by an in-depth analysis of its key sections.

Nikto v2.1.6  
+ Target IP: 192.168.1.10  
+ Target Hostname: example.com  
+ Target Port: 80  
+ Start Time: 2024-10-21 10:30:01  
+ Server: Apache/2.4.1 (Unix)  
+ The anti-clickjacking X-Frame-Options header is not present.  
+ The X-XSS-Protection header is not defined. This header can hint to the user agent to protect against cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.  
+ Retrieved /robots.txt – contains 3 entries, which should be manually viewed.  
+ OSVDB-3092: /admin/: This might be an administrative login page.  
+ OSVDB-3092: /cgi-bin/: CGI directory found.  
+ Uncommon header 'x-powered-by' found, with value 'PHP/5.4.45'.  
+ Scan completed at 2024-10-21 10:35:01  

Breaking Down the Output

Below is a detailed breakdown of each section of the scan results, helping you interpret the output for actionable insights.

1. Target Information

• IP Address, Hostname, and Port: Confirms the scanned target, detailing its IP address, hostname, and the port scanned (usually HTTP on 80 or HTTPS on 443).
• Server Information: Reveals that the site is running Apache 2.4.1 on Unix. Older versions may contain known vulnerabilities that need patching.

2. Security Header Issues

• X-Frame-Options Header: Missing this header exposes the site to clickjacking attacks, where users can be tricked into clicking invisible elements.
• X-XSS-Protection Header: The absence of this header can leave the website vulnerable to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

External Resource: Explore more about XSS vulnerabilities at the OWASP XSS page.

3. Sensitive File Detection

• Robots.txt: Detecting this file suggests there might be restricted URLs, providing attackers with clues. Review it manually to ensure sensitive paths are not exposed.
• Administrative Login Pages: Detecting /admin/ indicates a possible entry point for unauthorized access. This should be restricted and monitored to reduce risks.

Related Article: Strengthen your site’s security by reading Tips for Securing Your Termux Environment.

4. CGI Directories and Server Headers

• CGI-Bin Directory: Found scripts in /cgi-bin/ directories can be entry points for attackers if not secured properly.
• ‘X-Powered-By’ Header: This header reveals that PHP 5.4.45 is in use, suggesting outdated software that may have unpatched vulnerabilities.

5. Scan Timestamps and Performance

• Start and End Times: These timestamps provide insight into how long the scan took to complete, helping gauge site performance and identify potential delays.

Sample Commands for Enhanced Output

You can customize Nikto’s output for easier interpretation and reporting. Below are two useful command examples:

CSV Output

nikto -h http://example.com -output nikto_scan.csv  

This command generates a CSV file, making it easy to analyze the data or import it into spreadsheet applications like Excel.

HTML Report

nikto -h http://example.com -output nikto_report.html  

The HTML report provides a visually appealing format, making it easier to share scan results with team members or stakeholders.

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What to Actually Do With Your Website Security Scan Results

Let’s say Nikto tells you this:

+ The X-XSS-Protection header is not defined. This header can hint to the user agent to protect against some forms of XSS.

If you’re a beginner, you might wonder: Okay… but how do I fix that?

Here’s a basic actionable step:

This tiny header tells browsers to block simple cross-site scripting attacks. It’s not foolproof, but it’s one of those “low-effort, high-reward” security wins.

If you’re running Apache, add this to your .htaccess or Apache config:

Header set X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block"

If you’re on Nginx, update your server block:

add_header X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block";

🔐 Ethical Hacking Tip: Always test these changes in a dev or staging environment first. Never scan or modify systems you don’t own or manage. Respect is part of the code.

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Real-World Example: Annotated Nikto Output You Can Actually Understand

When you’re just starting out, Nikto’s terminal dump can feel like digital word salad. Let’s take a common output and walk through it:

+ Target IP: 192.168.1.101
+ Target Hostname: testsite.local
+ Server: Apache/2.4.41 (Ubuntu)
+ Retrieved x-powered-by header: PHP/7.2.24
+ The X-Content-Type-Options header is not set. This could allow the browser to attempt MIME-type sniffing.
+ OSVDB-3268: /icons/ is browsable.
+ OSVDB-3092: /phpmyadmin/: phpMyAdmin installation detected.

Here’s what matters:

• Apache/2.4.41 (Ubuntu): Useful for checking if you’re running a vulnerable version.
• PHP/7.2.24: That version is outdated—flag it.
• Missing security headers: These are low-hanging fruit. You can fix them with a config tweak.
• /icons/ is browsable: That might seem harmless, but public directories can reveal too much about server structure.
• phpMyAdmin detected: This is the kind of thing that script kiddies love to find. Even if it’s password-protected, just its presence increases your risk surface.

💡 Pro tip for beginners: Don’t treat each line like a red alert. Instead, classify issues by type: headers, directories, software versions. Prioritize from there.

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Now What? Actionable Steps for Common Website Security Scan Findings

You’ve got your Nikto results—great. But here’s the trap most beginners fall into: analysis paralysis. Let’s demystify a few of the most common issues Nikto flags and what to do about them:

• Missing Security Headers (like X-Frame-Options or X-Content-Type-Options):
  • 🛠️ Fix: Add them via Apache, Nginx, or your app server.
  • ✅ Why it matters: These headers help protect against XSS, clickjacking, and content-type spoofing.
• Exposed Paths (e.g. /admin/, /phpmyadmin/):
  • 🛠️ Fix: Rename, restrict by IP, or disable in production.
  • ✅ Why it matters: Attackers often scan for known paths to exploit default credentials or known vulns.
• Outdated Software:
  • 🛠️ Fix: Update your Apache/Nginx/PHP via your package manager.
  • ✅ Why it matters: Known vulnerabilities in old versions are low-effort entry points for attackers.

Remember: Nikto doesn’t fix your site. You do. It’s not a magic wand—it’s a flashlight.

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Prioritizing Risks from Nikto’s Output

Nikto can detect numerous issues, but not all require immediate action. Here’s a prioritization guide to help you address them:

• High Priority: Missing headers such as X-Frame-Options or X-XSS-Protection should be fixed immediately, as they expose the site to high-risk attacks.
• Medium Priority: Unrestricted directories like /admin/ or /cgi-bin/ should be secured and monitored.
• Low Priority: Public files like robots.txt provide hints about the site structure but don’t pose direct security risks.

Pro Tip: Regularly perform website security scans to stay ahead of emerging threats and ensure your applications remain protected.

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Don’t Panic: False Positives and Nikto’s Noisy Nature

Here’s the truth: Nikto is aggressive, not polite. It errs on the side of shouting “warning!” for anything remotely fishy. But that also means you’ll see:

• Deprecated warnings
• OSVDB links (which are no longer maintained)
• Low-severity alerts you can safely de-prioritize

👨‍💻 As an ethical hacker, your job is to filter signal from noise.

Nikto is noisy by design—better a false positive than a missed vulnerability. But that doesn’t mean every line needs urgent attention.

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Ethics First: Only Scan What You Own or Are Authorized To

Before you even run Nikto on a domain, remember: scanning without permission is illegal and unethical.

Nikto may be open source, but that doesn’t mean it’s a toy. Here’s your quick checklist for responsible use:

• ✅ You own the domain/server, or…
• ✅ You have written permission to test it, or…
• ✅ You’re in a lab environment (e.g., DVWA, OWASP Juice Shop, etc.)

Anything else? Don’t touch it.
Being FOSS-friendly means being community-respectful too.

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Where Nikto Fits in a Full Website Security Workflow

Nikto is excellent at one thing: quick, surface-level scans for known issues.
But it’s only part of the picture. For a more complete workflow:

• 🔍 Nmap: Use before Nikto to map open ports and identify services.
• 🕸️ Nikto: Scan web servers for outdated software, missing headers, exposed files.
• 🔬 OWASP ZAP or Burp Suite (Community Edition): For deeper web app fuzzing and testing.
• 📊 Manual validation: Always check Nikto results manually before reacting.

💡 FOSS Tip: Combine Nikto with Nmap and ZAP in a bash script or Termux workflow. Automation is power.

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What Your Scan Results Say—And What You Do Next

Nikto doesn’t just spit out a list of issues—it’s giving you a narrative. A story of neglected configurations, forgotten files, and subtle vulnerabilities that could be the foothold for an attacker. Understanding your website security scan means learning to read between the lines and taking action based on real insights, not assumptions.

As ethical hackers and FOSS advocates, our job isn’t just to run tools—it’s to understand them, improve them, and share what we learn with the community.

If this breakdown helped you see your scan results in a new light, don’t stop here.

👉 Subscribe to the DevDigest newsletter for more real-world walkthroughs, open-source tips, and ethical hacking deep dives. Because knowing how to use the tools is just the beginning.

⚠️ Important: These tools are intended for ethical hacking, security research, and education. Use them only on systems and networks you own or have permission to test. Unauthorized use can lead to serious legal consequences.