Project Introduction: testssl.sh
Overview
Testssl.sh is a free and open-source command line tool designed to help users inspect various server's abilities in supporting TLS/SSL ciphers, protocols, and identify any cryptographic vulnerabilities. It is a handy utility for system administrators, security professionals, and developers to evaluate the security posture of their systems against potential threats associated with Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).
Key Features
- Clear Reporting: Testssl.sh provides easily interpretable output to quickly identify secure or insecure configurations.
- Machine-Readable Formats: The results can be outputted in formats suitable for machine processing, such as CSV and two JSON formats.
- Ease of Use: No installation or configuration is necessary. The tool is ready-to-use on a range of operating systems including Linux, OS X, BSD systems, and Windows (via MSYS2, Cygwin, or WSL).
- Docker Support: A Dockerfile is available for those who prefer containerized execution. Users can also find an official testssl.sh container build on Docker Hub.
- Flexible Testing: Users can conduct tests on any SSL/TLS-enabled service, not limited to web servers running on port 443.
- Customizable: Command line options allow users to tailor tests and results output to their particular needs.
- Secure and Private: Results are visible only to the user conducting the test, ensuring confidentiality.
- Fully Open Source: The project is completely transparent, with the code openly available for review and contribution.
Compatibility and Installation
Testssl.sh is compatible across various operating systems, including all Linux and BSD distributions. It has minimal dependencies, primarily requiring bash version 3.2 or above, along with basic utilities like sed and awk. For those using systems with minimal support for bash, such as OpenBSD, pre-installation of bash might be necessary.
To get started with testssl.sh, users can simply clone the GitHub repository. For those preferring a containerized approach, the software can be pulled directly from Docker Hub.
Safety and Reliability
Testssl.sh is a standalone CLI tool, but users are cautioned to run it at their own risk as it comes with no warranty. The developers have implemented best-practice security measures but cannot guarantee absolute security. Users considering running testssl.sh as a service should apply additional security measures to mitigate risks.
Current Status
As the project is in the release candidate phase for version 3.2, users can expect stable releases with minor bugfixes along the 3.0.X line. However, support for older versions like 2.9.5 has been phased out, focusing now on 3.0.x and above.
Getting Help and Contributing
The project documentation and resources are available for those new to the tool or those seeking detailed guidance. Users can contribute to the development of testssl.sh through GitHub, with details outlined in the CONTRIBUTING.md file. Bug reports are vital to improving the project and should be submitted via the GitHub issue tracker, with comprehensive information for efficient troubleshooting.
Related Projects and Extensions
Several related projects and plugins enhance testssl.sh's functionality:
- Web Frontend: Interfaces like webnettools and testssl.sh-webfrontend.
- Privacy Checkers and Mass Scanners: Tools like privacyscore.org and testssl.sh-masscan.
- Integration Plugins: Nagios/Icinga plugins for monitoring SSL health and GitHub Actions for continuous integration.
- Batch Processing Tools: Daemons for executing testssl.sh in batch processes or handling result files for alerts.
This comprehensive suite of features and extensions makes testssl.sh an invaluable asset for maintaining robust network security practices.