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ProjectDiscovery Nuclei

Open-source template-based scanner with a commercial AI testing platform

Overview

Nuclei is an open-source vulnerability scanner developed by ProjectDiscovery that uses simple YAML templates to describe how to detect each vulnerability. Templates are contributed by thousands of security professionals and are published quickly after new vulnerabilities become public, which makes Nuclei popular for checking an estate against trending exploits[24]. The GitHub repository had 32.8 thousand stars when checked[24]. Intruder is one commercial scanner that uses Nuclei as one of its engines[17].

ProjectDiscovery maintains a family of open-source tools, including Subfinder, HTTPx and Naabu, for reconnaissance, and sells a commercial platform called Neo that runs autonomous application and API penetration tests, attack surface discovery and vulnerability workflows, including authenticated tests with SSO and multi-factor authentication[25].

Neo has a free tier with one seat; paid seats cost US$200, US$400 or US$800 per month depending on usage allowance, or US$2,100, US$4,200 or US$8,400 a year, with enterprise plans priced on request[25]. Nuclei itself requires command-line skills and produces only what its templates cover.

ProjectDiscovery Nuclei features

  • YAML template-based detection
  • Community templates for new vulnerabilities
  • Reconnaissance tools Subfinder, HTTPx and Naabu
  • Neo autonomous pentesting
  • Authenticated testing with SSO and MFA
  • CI/CD friendly CLI

ProjectDiscovery Nuclei pricing

Nuclei: free open source. Neo: Free (one seat); pay-as-you-go US$200, US$400 or US$800 per seat per month (annual US$2,100, US$4,200 or US$8,400, saving 12.5%); Enterprise custom.

ProjectDiscovery Nuclei strengths and limitations

Strengths

  • Free and very fast at checking new exploits
  • Large community template library
  • Custom checks easy to write
  • Commercial AI pentesting option

Limitations

  • Command-line only for the open-source tool
  • Coverage limited to available templates
  • No built-in asset management in the free tool
  • Commercial seats are relatively expensive for individuals

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