What Is Vulnerability Scanning?
The automated process of identifying known security weaknesses in systems, networks, and applications. Vulnerability scanners compare your system against databases of known vulnerabilities (CVEs) and misconfigurations to produce a report of findings.
In Laravel Applications
Vulnerability scanning for Laravel includes `composer audit` for dependency CVEs, OWASP ZAP for web application vulnerabilities, and external scanners like StackShield for attack surface monitoring. Each covers a different layer of your application.
Example
Running `composer audit` and finding that your version of symfony/http-foundation has a known vulnerability is vulnerability scanning at the dependency level.
Related Terms
Penetration Testing
A simulated cyberattack performed by security professionals to evaluate the security of a system. Penetration testers (pentesters) attempt to exploit vulnerabilities using the same techniques real attackers would use, then provide a report of findings with remediation guidance.
External Attack Surface Management (EASM)
The continuous process of discovering, monitoring, and managing all internet-facing assets and their security posture from an external perspective. EASM tools scan your applications the way an attacker would, identifying exposed services, misconfigurations, and vulnerabilities visible from the outside.
CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures)
A standardized identifier for publicly known security vulnerabilities. Each CVE entry includes a unique ID (e.g., CVE-2024-1234), a description, and severity rating. The CVE system is maintained by MITRE and used globally to track and reference vulnerabilities.
Monitor Your Laravel Application's Security
StackShield continuously checks your Laravel application from the outside, catching security issues before attackers find them.
Start Free Trial