Nmap Menu Script

A comprehensive, interactive command-line menu interface for Nmap (Network Mapper) that provides easy access to scanning capabilities, documentation, and best practices.

📋 Table of Contents

• Overview
• Features
• Prerequisites
• Installation
• Usage
• Menu Options
• Examples
• Legal Disclaimer
• Troubleshooting
• Contributing
• License

🔍 Overview

This Python-based interactive menu system simplifies the use of Nmap for network scanning and security auditing. Whether you're a beginner learning about network scanning or a professional conducting security assessments, this tool provides an organized interface to access Nmap's powerful features.

✨ Features

• Interactive Menu System: Easy-to-navigate interface with 28+ options
• Built-in Documentation: Access Nmap command references without leaving the tool
• Automated Scanning: Perform quick, standard, intensive, ping, and custom scans
• Educational Content: Learn about scan types, options, and best practices
• Multiple Scan Types: Support for various Nmap scan modes
• Output Management: Information about saving and formatting scan results
• Security Guidance: Legal and ethical considerations for responsible scanning
• Troubleshooting Help: FAQ and common issue resolution

📦 Prerequisites

Required Software

1. Python 3.6+

   python --version

2. Nmap

   • Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt-get install nmap
   • CentOS/RHEL/Fedora: sudo yum install nmap
   • macOS: brew install nmap
   • Windows: Download from nmap.org

3. Python Nmap Library

   pip install python-nmap

System Requirements

• Operating System: Linux, macOS, or Windows
• RAM: 512MB minimum
• Disk Space: 50MB for Nmap and dependencies
• Network: Internet connection (for scanning external targets)
• Permissions: Root/Administrator privileges for certain scan types

🚀 Installation

Step 1: Clone or Download

# If using git
git clone <repository-url>
cd nmap-menu-script

# Or download main.py directly

Step 2: Install Dependencies

pip install python-nmap

Step 3: Verify Nmap Installation

nmap --version

Step 4: Run the Script

python main.py

💻 Usage

Basic Usage

python main.py

Running with Sudo (for advanced scans)

sudo python main.py

Quick Start Example

1. Run the script
2. Select option 1 to check if Nmap is installed
3. Select option 6 to perform a scan
4. Enter target IP address
5. Choose scan type
6. Review results

📖 Menu Options

Main Menu Structure

Option	Description
1	Check if Nmap is installed
2	Install Nmap (instructions)
3	Nmap Scan Types
4	Nmap Scan Options
5	Nmap Output Formats
6	Perform Nmap Scan
7	Advanced Nmap Options
8	Nmap Scripting Engine Options
9	Timing and Performance Options
10	Firewall Evasion Techniques
11	Output Options
12	Host Discovery Options
13	Port Specification and Scan Order
14	Service and Version Detection
15	OS Detection Options
16	Miscellaneous Options
17	Debugging and Verbosity Options
18	Example Commands
19	References and Documentation
20	Common Use Cases
21	Tips and Best Practices
22	Alternatives and Complementary Tools
23	FAQ and Troubleshooting
24	Changelog and Release Notes
25	Community and Support Resources
26	Legal and Ethics Considerations
27	Future Developments and Roadmap
28	Conclusion and Summary
29	Return to Main Menu
0	Exit

🎯 Examples

Example 1: Quick Port Scan

1. Run: python main.py
2. Select: 6 (Perform Nmap Scan)
3. Enter target: 192.168.1.1
4. Select scan type: 1 (Quick scan)

Example 2: Service Version Detection

1. Run: python main.py
2. Select: 6 (Perform Nmap Scan)
3. Enter target: scanme.nmap.org
4. Select scan type: 2 (Standard scan)

Example 3: Learn About Scan Types

1. Run: python main.py
2. Select: 3 (Nmap Scan Types)
3. Review available scan types
4. Press Enter to return to menu

Example 4: Custom Scan

1. Run: python main.py
2. Select: 6 (Perform Nmap Scan)
3. Enter target: 192.168.1.0/24
4. Select scan type: 5 (Custom scan)
5. Enter arguments: -sV -p 80,443 -T4

⚠️ Legal Disclaimer

IMPORTANT: READ BEFORE USE

You Must:

✅ Only scan networks and systems you own or have explicit written permission to scan

✅ Comply with all local, state, and federal laws regarding network scanning

✅ Follow your organization's security and acceptable use policies

✅ Obtain proper authorization before conducting security assessments

✅ Document all authorized scanning activities

You Must Not:

❌ Scan networks without permission (this may be illegal)

❌ Use this tool for malicious purposes

❌ Scan critical infrastructure without proper authorization

❌ Perform scans that may disrupt services or networks

❌ Use discovered vulnerabilities to harm systems or data

Legal Consequences

Unauthorized network scanning may violate:

• Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) in the United States
• Computer Misuse Act in the United Kingdom
• Similar laws in other jurisdictions

Penalties may include fines, civil liability, and criminal prosecution.

Recommended Practice

Always obtain a signed agreement or scope document before scanning, which includes:

• List of authorized targets
• Approved scanning time windows
• Approved scanning methods
• Contact information for escalation
• Defined reporting procedures

🔧 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"Nmap not found" Error

Solution:

# Verify installation
nmap --version

# If not installed, install Nmap:
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install nmap

# macOS
brew install nmap

"Permission denied" Error

Solution:

# Run with sudo for raw socket access
sudo python main.py

"python-nmap not installed"

Solution:

pip install python-nmap

# Or with pip3
pip3 install python-nmap

Scans Running Very Slowly

Solutions:

• Use timing template: -T4
• Limit port range: -p 1-1000
• Use fast scan option in menu (Option 6, Choice 1)
• Check network connectivity

No Results from Scan

Solutions:

• Verify target is online: ping <target>
• Use -Pn flag to skip host discovery
• Check firewall rules
• Ensure you have network connectivity

Script Crashes During Scan

Solutions:

• Update python-nmap: pip install --upgrade python-nmap
• Update Nmap to latest version
• Check target format (ensure valid IP/hostname)
• Review any custom arguments for syntax errors

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Here's how you can help:

1. Report Bugs: Open an issue with details about the problem
2. Suggest Features: Submit feature requests via issues
3. Submit Pull Requests: Fork, modify, and submit PRs
4. Improve Documentation: Help make the README clearer
5. Share Use Cases: Contribute examples and tutorials

Development Setup

# Clone repository
git clone <repository-url>
cd nmap-menu-script

# Create virtual environment
python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate

# Install dependencies
pip install python-nmap

# Run the script
python main.py

📚 Additional Resources

Official Nmap Resources

• Website: https://nmap.org
• Documentation: https://nmap.org/docs.html
• Book: https://nmap.org/book/
• NSE Scripts: https://nmap.org/nsedoc/

Learning Resources

• Nmap Network Scanning (Official Book)
• Cybrary Nmap Courses
• TryHackMe Nmap Rooms
• HackTheBox Academy

Community

• Mailing Lists: https://nmap.org/mailman/listinfo
• IRC: #nmap on Libera.Chat
• GitHub Issues: https://github.com/nmap/nmap/issues

📄 License

This script is provided "as-is" for educational and authorized security testing purposes only.

Nmap License: Nmap is distributed under the Nmap Public Source License (NPSL). See https://nmap.org/npsl/ for details.

👤 Author

Created for educational purposes and authorized security testing.

🔄 Version History

Version 1.0.0

• Initial release
• 28+ interactive menu options
• Basic and advanced scanning capabilities
• Comprehensive documentation
• Educational content

📞 Support

For issues or questions:

1. Check the Troubleshooting section above
2. Review Nmap documentation at https://nmap.org/docs.html
3. Open an issue on the repository
4. Consult the Nmap community resources

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Remember: Scan responsibly, scan legally, and always get permission first!

Last Updated: 2025