Vuln. Database APIs for free
By oculus
•
November 2, 2025
Several options provide free access to vulnerability data and security APIs, catering to different needs from general vulnerability information to specific API security testing.
1. Vulnerability & CVE Data APIs:
- National Vulnerability Database (NVD): The NVD provides comprehensive information on Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs). While the official NVD API might have usage restrictions, open-source projects like nvd-api on GitHub offer free, public RESTful APIs to access NVD data.
- CVE Search (CIRCL): This service offers an API to search and retrieve information on CVEs, including details and related resources.
- Vulners: Vulners provides a search engine and API for vulnerabilities, offering a broad database of security advisories and exploits.
2. API Security Testing Tools with Free Tiers:
- 42Crunch: This platform offers a freemium model for API security testing. Users can access their API security testing tools, including operation audits and scans, for free with limitations on monthly usage after registering.
- Akto: Akto is an open-source and commercial DAST and API Security tool that includes automated API discovery and vulnerability scanning in CI/CD environments. The open-source version provides significant functionality.
- ZeroThreat: This tool offers a free vulnerability scanner specifically designed for modern web applications and APIs, focusing on detecting OWASP Top 10 and CWE Top 25 issues.
3. General Cybersecurity APIs (some with free tiers):
- AbuseIPDB: Offers an API to check IP addresses for reported abuse.
- Google Safe Browsing: Provides an API to check URLs against Google's lists of unsafe web resources.
- VirusTotal: Allows analysis of files and URLs for malware and other threats, with a free public API for non-commercial use.
4. Open-Source Vulnerability Scanners (often with API capabilities or integration options):
- OWASP ZAP: A widely used open-source web application security scanner with an extensive API for integration into development workflows.
- OpenVAS: An open-source vulnerability scanner that integrates into the Greenbone Vulnerability Management system, offering a robust solution for network and system vulnerability assessments.
- Nmap: A powerful network discovery and security auditing tool that can be used for vulnerability scanning, and its output can be parsed for integration.
When choosing a free vulnerability API or tool, consider your specific requirements, such as the type of vulnerabilities you need to detect (e.g., web application, network, API-specific), the volume of data or scans required, and the ease of integration into your existing workflows.
