Introducing VulnClarify: An Open-Source AI-Powered Web Vulnerability Scanner Designed for Small Organizations and Nonprofits
In the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, small businesses, charitable organizations, and individual developers often face significant hurdles when it comes to conducting thorough web security assessments. High costs and technical complexity of commercial vulnerability scanners can be prohibitive. To address this gap, I am pleased to unveil my final year university project: VulnClarify, an innovative proof-of-concept tool that leverages the power of large language models (LLMs) to assist with web vulnerability detection and clarification.
What is VulnClarify?
VulnClarify is an early-stage, open-source application aimed at democratizing web security testing through artificial intelligence. While it is still in the experimental phase, the tool demonstrates how LLMs can be integrated into vulnerability scanning workflows to enhance understanding and aid in identifying potential security issues. It is designed for easy deployment—running locally on your machine or within a controlled Docker environment—making it accessible even to those with limited technical infrastructure.
Core Features and Capabilities
- AI-Driven Vulnerability Insights: Utilizes large language models to analyze web app responses, helping to flag and interpret common security flaws.
- Accessible Deployment: Comes with a Docker image that simplifies setup, removing the need for complex configurations.
- Interactive Clarification: Provides contextual explanations of detected vulnerabilities, aiding users in understanding and prioritizing remediation efforts.
Motivation Behind the Project
Authentic vulnerability scanners on the market tend to be expensive and often require specialized knowledge to operate effectively. My goal was to explore how AI and AI-powered language models could lower these barriers, enabling smaller organizations and non-profits to better safeguard their digital assets without extensive investment.
How You Can Contribute
- Test the Tool: Download and run the Docker image to see how VulnClarify performs on your web applications.
- Share Feedback: Your insights on usability, detection accuracy, and overall performance are invaluable.
- Participate in Development: Contribute improvements, bug fixes, or new features through GitHub pull requests.
- Suggest Future Integration: Propose additional applications of AI within security tools or workflows that could benefit the community.
Important Considerations
Please keep in mind that VulnClarify is a proof-of-concept—it’s intended for experimental use and may contain bugs or incomplete features. Always conduct testing only on web assets you own or
