#readwise # Nmap Scripting Engine  ## Metadata - Author: [[nmap.org]] - Full Title: Nmap Scripting Engine - URL: https://nmap.org/book/man-nse.html ## Summary The Nmap Scripting Engine (NSE) allows users to create and share scripts using the Lua programming language for various networking tasks. It supports tasks like network discovery, version detection, and vulnerability detection. Users can choose from existing scripts or write their own, but should be cautious when running third-party scripts. NSE categorizes scripts to help users find the right ones, and it offers various options for executing and managing these scripts. ## Highlights `--script-help <filename>|<category>|<directory>|<expression>|all[...]` Shows help about scripts. For each script matching the given specification, Nmap prints the script name, its categories, and its description. The specifications are the same as those accepted by `--script`; so for example if you want help about the `ftp-anon` script, you would run `nmap --script-help ftp-anon`. In addition to getting help for individual scripts, you can use this as a preview of what scripts will be run for a specification, for example with `nmap --script-help default`. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jpw6dmhae0ftwsv4c00pfjc4)) ^39gw08 ---