Greenbone Community Containers

Running the Greenbone Community Edition from containers requires knowledge about:

• Using a terminal

• Using docker

• Running services via docker compose

Additionally, a basic knowledge about the architecture of the Greenbone Community Edition is required to understand the setup.

Note

This guide is intended for users who want to test the newest features and/or want to get familiar with the Greenbone Community Edition. It is not intended for production setups.

Currently the docs support the following distributions

• Debian stable (bookworm)

• Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

• Fedora 35 and 36

• CentOS 9 Stream

Most likely, other Debian derivatives like Mint and Kali will also work with only minor adjustments required.

Introduction

This document provides a guide for running the Greenbone Community Edition from pre-built container images using Docker. It consists of a distributed service architecture, where each service is run in a dedicated container. The orchestration of these services is done via a docker-compose file.

With the Greenbone Community Containers, it is possible to scan your local network independent of the underlying operating system, installed software and tool chains.

Hardware Requirements

Minimal:

• CPU Cores: 2

• Random-Access Memory: 4GB

• Hard Disk: 20GB free

Recommended:

• CPU Cores: 4

• Random-Access Memory: 8GB

• Hard Disk: 60GB free

Prerequisites

Note

Please follow the guide step by step. Later steps might require settings or output of a previous command.

The command sudo is used for executing commands that require privileged access on the system.

Install dependencies

There are a few dependencies required for the following steps like curl, which is required for downloading files from this guide.

Debian/UbuntuFedora/CentOS

Install ca-certificates, curl and gnupg Debian/Ubuntu packages

sudo apt install ca-certificates curl gnupg

Installing Docker

docker is required for running the services within containers. Docker can be installed by running the following commands (taken from the Docker Engine install guide):

DebianUbuntuFedoraCentOS

Uninstall conflicting Debian packages

for pkg in docker.io docker-doc docker-compose podman-docker containerd runc; do sudo apt remove $pkg; done

Set up the Docker repository

sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg
sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg
echo \
  "deb [arch="$(dpkg --print-architecture)" signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/debian \
  "$(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_CODENAME")" stable" | \
  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null
sudo apt update

Install Docker Debian packages

sudo apt install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-compose-plugin

Setup

To allow the current user to run docker and therefore start the containers, they must be added to the docker user group. To make the group change effective, either logout and login again or use su.

Add current user to docker group and apply group changes for the current shell environment

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER && su $USER

For downloading the Greenbone Community Edition docker compose file, a destination directory should be created.

Create download directory

export DOWNLOAD_DIR=$HOME/greenbone-community-container && mkdir -p $DOWNLOAD_DIR

Docker Compose File

Important

Please always ensure to use the latest version of the docker-compose.yml file when following this guide. The file might got updates and important changes since your last download.

To run the Greenbone Community Edition with containers, the following compose file should be used:

Docker Compose File

name: greenbone-community-edition

services:
  vulnerability-tests:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/vulnerability-tests
    environment:
      FEED_RELEASE: "24.10"
    volumes:
      - vt_data_vol:/mnt

  notus-data:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/notus-data
    volumes:
      - notus_data_vol:/mnt

  scap-data:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/scap-data
    volumes:
      - scap_data_vol:/mnt

  cert-bund-data:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/cert-bund-data
    volumes:
      - cert_data_vol:/mnt

  dfn-cert-data:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/dfn-cert-data
    volumes:
      - cert_data_vol:/mnt
    depends_on:
      - cert-bund-data

  data-objects:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/data-objects
    environment:
      FEED_RELEASE: "24.10"
    volumes:
      - data_objects_vol:/mnt

  report-formats:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/report-formats
    environment:
      FEED_RELEASE: "24.10"
    volumes:
      - data_objects_vol:/mnt
    depends_on:
      - data-objects

  gpg-data:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/gpg-data
    volumes:
      - gpg_data_vol:/mnt

  redis-server:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/redis-server
    restart: on-failure
    volumes:
      - redis_socket_vol:/run/redis/

  pg-gvm:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/pg-gvm:stable
    restart: on-failure
    volumes:
      - psql_data_vol:/var/lib/postgresql
      - psql_socket_vol:/var/run/postgresql

  gvmd:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/gvmd:stable
    restart: on-failure
    volumes:
      - gvmd_data_vol:/var/lib/gvm
      - scap_data_vol:/var/lib/gvm/scap-data/
      - cert_data_vol:/var/lib/gvm/cert-data
      - data_objects_vol:/var/lib/gvm/data-objects/gvmd
      - vt_data_vol:/var/lib/openvas/plugins
      - psql_data_vol:/var/lib/postgresql
      - gvmd_socket_vol:/run/gvmd
      - ospd_openvas_socket_vol:/run/ospd
      - psql_socket_vol:/var/run/postgresql
    depends_on:
      pg-gvm:
        condition: service_started
      scap-data:
        condition: service_completed_successfully
      cert-bund-data:
        condition: service_completed_successfully
      dfn-cert-data:
        condition: service_completed_successfully
      data-objects:
        condition: service_completed_successfully
      report-formats:
        condition: service_completed_successfully

  gsa:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/gsa:stable
    restart: on-failure
    ports:
      - 127.0.0.1:9392:80
    volumes:
      - gvmd_socket_vol:/run/gvmd
    depends_on:
      - gvmd
  # Sets log level of openvas to the set LOG_LEVEL within the env
  # and changes log output to /var/log/openvas instead /var/log/gvm
  # to reduce likelyhood of unwanted log interferences
  configure-openvas:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/openvas-scanner:stable
    volumes:
      - openvas_data_vol:/mnt
      - openvas_log_data_vol:/var/log/openvas
    command:
      - /bin/sh
      - -c
      - |
        printf "table_driven_lsc = yes\nopenvasd_server = http://openvasd:80\n" > /mnt/openvas.conf
        sed "s/127/128/" /etc/openvas/openvas_log.conf | sed 's/gvm/openvas/' > /mnt/openvas_log.conf
        chmod 644 /mnt/openvas.conf
        chmod 644 /mnt/openvas_log.conf
        touch /var/log/openvas/openvas.log
        chmod 666 /var/log/openvas/openvas.log

  # shows logs of openvas
  openvas:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/openvas-scanner:stable
    restart: on-failure
    volumes:
      - openvas_data_vol:/etc/openvas
      - openvas_log_data_vol:/var/log/openvas
    command:
      - /bin/sh
      - -c
      - |
        cat /etc/openvas/openvas.conf
        tail -f /var/log/openvas/openvas.log
    depends_on:
      configure-openvas:
        condition: service_completed_successfully

  openvasd:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/openvas-scanner:stable
    restart: on-failure
    environment:
      # `service_notus` is set to disable everything but notus,
      # if you want to utilize openvasd directly, remove `OPENVASD_MODE`
      OPENVASD_MODE: service_notus
      GNUPGHOME: /etc/openvas/gnupg
      LISTENING: 0.0.0.0:80
    volumes:
      - openvas_data_vol:/etc/openvas
      - openvas_log_data_vol:/var/log/openvas
      - gpg_data_vol:/etc/openvas/gnupg
      - notus_data_vol:/var/lib/notus
    # enable port forwarding when you want to use the http api from your host machine
    # ports:
    #   - 127.0.0.1:3000:80
    depends_on:
      vulnerability-tests:
        condition: service_completed_successfully
      configure-openvas:
        condition: service_completed_successfully
      gpg-data:
        condition: service_completed_successfully
    networks:
      default:
        aliases:
          - openvasd

  ospd-openvas:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/ospd-openvas:stable
    restart: on-failure
    hostname: ospd-openvas.local
    cap_add:
      - NET_ADMIN # for capturing packages in promiscuous mode
      - NET_RAW # for raw sockets e.g. used for the boreas alive detection
    security_opt:
      - seccomp=unconfined
      - apparmor=unconfined
    command:
      [
        "ospd-openvas",
        "-f",
        "--config",
        "/etc/gvm/ospd-openvas.conf",
        "--notus-feed-dir",
        "/var/lib/notus/advisories",
        "-m",
        "666",
      ]
    volumes:
      - gpg_data_vol:/etc/openvas/gnupg
      - vt_data_vol:/var/lib/openvas/plugins
      - notus_data_vol:/var/lib/notus
      - ospd_openvas_socket_vol:/run/ospd
      - redis_socket_vol:/run/redis/
      - openvas_data_vol:/etc/openvas/
      - openvas_log_data_vol:/var/log/openvas
    depends_on:
      redis-server:
        condition: service_started
      gpg-data:
        condition: service_completed_successfully
      vulnerability-tests:
        condition: service_completed_successfully
      configure-openvas:
        condition: service_completed_successfully

  gvm-tools:
    image: registry.community.greenbone.net/community/gvm-tools
    volumes:
      - gvmd_socket_vol:/run/gvmd
      - ospd_openvas_socket_vol:/run/ospd
    depends_on:
      - gvmd
      - ospd-openvas

volumes:
  gpg_data_vol:
  scap_data_vol:
  cert_data_vol:
  data_objects_vol:
  gvmd_data_vol:
  psql_data_vol:
  vt_data_vol:
  notus_data_vol:
  psql_socket_vol:
  gvmd_socket_vol:
  ospd_openvas_socket_vol:
  redis_socket_vol:
  openvas_data_vol:
  openvas_log_data_vol:

Download

It is possible to just copy and paste the docker compose file. Alternatively, it can be downloaded with the following command directly:

Downloading docker-compose file

curl -f -O -L https://greenbone.github.io/docs/latest/_static/docker-compose.yml --output-dir "$DOWNLOAD_DIR"

Description

The following table describes the provided containers of the docker compose file and their services in detail.

Container	Service	Description
redis-server	Redis Server	A redis server with an adjusted config. Used to store VT data and scan results by the scanner.
pg-gvm	postgresql	A PostgreSQL database cluster setup for use with gvmd. The actual data is stored in the psql_data_vol volume.
gvmd	gvmd	A container for gvmd that uses unix sockets in volumes to communicate with the PostgreSQL database and ospd-openvas scanner. The downloaded feed data is stored in the gvmd_data_vol volume. To verify the feed data, the GPG keyring from the gpg_data_vol is used.
gsa	gsad	A container running the gsad web server for providing the web application GSA. The web interface is available at localhost on port 9392. For communication with gvmd, a unix socket in a volume is used.
ospd-openvas	ospd-openvas	A container providing the vulnerability scanner. The VT data from the feed is stored in the vt_data_vol volume. To verify the feed data, the GPG keyring from the gpg_data_vol is used. The connection to the redis server is established via a unix socket in a volume.
gvm-tools		A container providing the gvm-tools CLI to query and control gvmd and ospd-openvas.
gpg-data		A container that copies a GPG keyring with Greenbone’s public signing keys into the gpg_data_vol volume on startup. It exits afterwards.
vulnerability-tests		A container that copies vulnerability tests (VTs) into the vt_data_vol volume on startup. Shows the license and exits afterwards.
notus-data		A container that copies vulnerability information for notus-scanner into the notus_data_vol volume on startup. Shows the license and exits afterwards.
scap-data		A container that copies CVE and CPE data into the scap_data_vol volume on startup. Shows the license and exits afterwards.
cert-bund-data		A container that copies CERT-Bund data into the cert_data_vol volume on startup. Shows the license and exits afterwards.
dfn-cert-data		A container that copies DFN-CERT data into the cert_data_vol volume on startup. Shows the license and exits afterwards.
data-objects		A container that copies scan configs, compliance policies and port lists into the data_objects_vol volume on startup. Shows the license and exits afterwards.
report-formats		A container that copies report formats into the data_objects_vol volume on startup. Shows the license and exits afterwards.
configure-openvas		A container for setting up the configuration for OpenVAS Scanner
openvas		A container that shows the logs of OpenVAS Scanner
openvasd	openvasd	A container for openvasd. It is providing notus, a static vulnerability engine, functionality.

Starting the Greenbone Community Containers

Using the docker compose file, the container images can be downloaded (pulled) and the containers can be started in the background.

Downloading the Greenbone Community Containers

docker compose -f $DOWNLOAD_DIR/docker-compose.yml pull

Starting the Greenbone Community Containers

docker compose -f $DOWNLOAD_DIR/docker-compose.yml up -d

To get a continuous stream of the log output of all services, run the following command:

Show log messages of all services from the running containers

docker compose -f $DOWNLOAD_DIR/docker-compose.yml logs -f

The log stream can be stopped by pressing Ctrl-C.

Setting up an Admin User

Warning

By default, a user admin with the password admin is created. This is insecure and it is highly recommended to set a new password.

To update the administrator user with a password of your choice instead of the generated password, the following command can be used:

Updating password of administrator user

docker compose -f $DOWNLOAD_DIR/docker-compose.yml \
    exec -u gvmd gvmd gvmd --user=admin --new-password='<password>'

Note

Please be aware if your password includes special characters like $ it needs to be quoted in single quotes.

Starting the Vulnerability Management

After the services have started and all feed data has been loaded, the Greenbone Security Assistant web interface – GSA – can be opened in the browser.

Opening Greenbone Security Assistant in the browser

xdg-open "http://127.0.0.1:9392" 2>/dev/null >/dev/null &

The browser will show the login page of GSA and after using the credentials created before, it is possible to start with vulnerability scanning.

Greenbone Security Assistant after logging in for the first time

Setup and Start Script

Note

Please remember to follow the instructions described in the Prerequisites first.

As a quick solution we provide all the commands above in a single script. This script can be downloaded with the following command directly:

Downloading setup and start script to the current working dir

curl -f -O https://greenbone.github.io/docs/latest/_static/setup-and-start-greenbone-community-edition.sh && chmod u+x setup-and-start-greenbone-community-edition.sh

To execute the script following command needs to be run

Run setup and start script

./setup-and-start-greenbone-community-edition.sh