How to Use Shodan to Find Devices With CVEs (Step-by-Step Guide)

Shodan is like Google—but instead of websites, it searches for internet-connected devices like webcams, routers, servers, etc. But what makes it especially powerful for cybersecurity is this:

🧠 You can use Shodan to find devices exposed to CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures)—in real time.

This guide will show you how to do that, step-by-step, with examples, screenshots, and tips.

📘 Table of Contents

What is Shodan?
What Can You Find With It?
What Makes Shodan Powerful for CVEs?
Setting Up a Free Shodan Account
How to Search for CVEs Using Shodan
Real Search Examples
Exporting and Analyzing Results
How Hackers Use Shodan (Ethically)
Staying Safe if You’re on Shodan
Final Thoughts

1. 🌐 What is Shodan?

Shodan is a search engine for the Internet of Things (IoT). Instead of indexing web pages, it scans and indexes devices connected to the internet.

It shows:

Device type (e.g. Cisco router, IP camera)

IP address

Location

Software version

Ports and services open

AND linked vulnerabilities (CVEs)

2. 🧭 What Can You Find With It?

You can discover:

Unprotected webcams (viewable live)

Databases exposed to the internet

Industrial systems (SCADA, power grids!)

Routers and firewalls running old software

Devices affected by known CVEs

3. 🎯 Why Use Shodan to Find CVEs?

Because Shodan automatically tags devices with known vulnerabilities, if the software version is known to be affected.

Example: A device running Apache HTTP 2.4.49 may be tagged with CVE-2021-41773, a known critical path traversal flaw.

You can filter devices by CVE directly using:

makefile
vuln:CVE-XXXX-YYYY

4. 🛠️ Set Up a Free Shodan Account

To get the most from Shodan, you’ll need to create an account.

Steps:

Go to https://account.shodan.io/register
Enter email and password
Confirm via email
Log in

5. 🔍 How to Search for CVEs Using Shodan

The key operator is:

makefile
vuln:CVE-ID

✅ Basic Example:

makefile
vuln:CVE-2021-41773

→ Lists all devices publicly exposed with this Apache vulnerability.

✅ Combine With Filters:

vbnet
vuln:CVE-2021-41773 country:"US"

Filter by country

You can also filter by port, OS, city, ISP, product name...

6. 🔬 Real Examples (Live Demos)

Here are actual Shodan searches you can try:

🔎 Find Fortinet VPNs Affected by CVE-2018-13379:

vbnet
vuln:CVE-2018-13379 product:"Fortinet"

🔎 Exposed Elasticsearch Servers with CVE-2015-1427:

vbnet
vuln:CVE-2015-1427 product:"Elasticsearch"

🔎 Find Old Cisco Devices with Remote Access Flaws:

vbnet
vuln:CVE-2019-15271 org:"University of"

7. 📁 Exporting and Analyzing Results

With a free account you can view limited results. For more:

Upgrade to Shodan Membership (~$59 lifetime)

Use the Shodan CLI or API

Export results as CSV or JSON for deeper analysis

CLI Setup:

bash
pip install shodan
shodan init YOUR_API_KEY
shodan search vuln:CVE-2021-41773 --limit 100

8. 🧑‍💻 How Hackers Use Shodan (Responsibly)

Ethical hackers (red teamers, pentesters, bug bounty hunters) use Shodan to:

Detect vulnerable systems in client environments

Monitor their own IP ranges for exposure

Hunt for bounty programs running outdated services

⚠️ Never exploit what you find unless authorized. Use Shodan for defensive and educational purposes only.

9. 🛡️ How to Know If You Are on Shodan

You can check your own network’s exposure:

Visit: https://www.shodan.io/host/Your.IP.Address

Use VPNs or firewalls to mask/unpublish sensitive ports

Use a scanner like Nmap or OpenVAS to double-check what’s visible

10. 🧠 Final Thoughts

Shodan is a powerful tool—like a flashlight in a dark internet. If used ethically, it can help you:

Discover security flaws

Track vulnerable devices

Stay one step ahead of attackers

Combine it with CVE knowledge, and you’ve got a real-world cybersecurity edge.

✅ Practice responsibly. ✅ Never attack or test devices you don’t own or have permission to assess. ✅ Use Shodan as a learning tool, not a weapon.

How to Use Shodan to Find Devices With CVEs (Step-by-Step Guide)