Install OpenVAS on CentOS 7: A Step-by-Step Guide
Setting up OpenVAS (Open Vulnerability Assessment System) on CentOS 7 can significantly enhance your network security by detecting vulnerabilities. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to install OpenVAS and configure OpenVAS, ensuring you have a robust security scanning tool running on your CentOS 7 machine. By the end, you’ll be able to start scanning and protecting your network from potential security threats.
Prerequisites: CentOS 7 with 2 GB RAM and 2 CPUs
Before proceeding with the installation, ensure your CentOS 7 VM has at least 2 GB of RAM and 2 CPU cores. You can adjust these resources based on the scale of your deployment.
Step 1: Update Your System
Start by logging into your CentOS 7 VM as the root user. Then, run the following command to ensure your system is up-to-date:
yum update
This command will update all the necessary system packages to their latest versions.
Step 2: Set Up the Atomicorp Repository
Atomicorp provides a comprehensive repository of security packages, and we’ll use it to install OpenVAS. First, run the following command to set up the Atomicorp repository:
wget -q -O - http://www.atomicorp.com/installers/atomic | sh
Once the script completes, you will be prompted to accept the Atomicorp terms and conditions. Type “Yes” to proceed, and then confirm again to enable the repository.
Step 3: Install OpenVAS
With the repository set up, you can now install OpenVAS using the following command:
yum install openvas
This command installs OpenVAS and all its necessary dependencies from the Atomicorp repository.
Step 4: Configure OpenVAS
Now that OpenVAS is installed, we can configure it. Run the following command to begin the setup process:
openvas-setup
This step involves updating various databases and configuring OpenVAS for the first time.
Step 4.1: Update NVT, CERT, and SCAP Databases
During the setup process, OpenVAS will update the Network Vulnerability Tests (NVT), CERT, and SCAP databases. This ensures that your scans will be based on the latest vulnerability definitions.
Step 4.2: Configure GSAD (Greenbone Security Assistant)
In the next step, you’ll configure the Greenbone Security Assistant Daemon (GSAD). GSAD is the web-based interface for managing OpenVAS scans. By default, OpenVAS will allow connections from any IP address. You can configure specific IPs or leave it open depending on your security requirements.
Step 4.3: Set Up Admin User for GSAD
You will now set up a username and password for the GSAD web interface. This account will be used to log in and configure your OpenVAS scans.
Step 5: Access Greenbone Security Assistant
Once the setup is complete, you can access the OpenVAS interface via any web browser. Simply navigate to the following URL, replacing your_server_ip with the actual IP address of your server:
https://your_server_ip:9392/
Login using the username and password you created during the setup process.
Conclusion on Install OpenVAS and Configuration
OpenVAS provides powerful vulnerability scanning capabilities to ensure your network is secure from potential threats. By following these steps, you’ve successfully installed and configured OpenVAS on CentOS 7. Now, you can begin running vulnerability scans to protect your infrastructure from cyberattacks.
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