FAQ

Why did the Nessus file analyzer return an error - has host bits set?

Take a look at the example line log:

[2025-01-30 15:05:29.395186] [action=info] [source_file_name=ERROR Parsing [1/1] nessus files]
[2025-01-30 15:05:29.395186] [action=info] [source_file_name=192.168.11.0/23 has host bits set]

The part “has host bits set” says that you have put into the Nessus target field the wrong target address - 192.168.11.0/23 :

1Address:   192.168.11.0          11000000.10101000.0000101 1.00000000
2Netmask:   255.255.254.0 = 23    11111111.11111111.1111111 0.00000000
3Wildcard:  0.0.1.255             00000000.00000000.0000000 1.11111111
4=>
5Network:   192.168.10.0/23       11000000.10101000.0000101 0.00000000 (Class C)
6Broadcast: 192.168.11.255        11000000.10101000.0000101 1.11111111
7HostMin:   192.168.10.1          11000000.10101000.0000101 0.00000001
8HostMax:   192.168.11.254        11000000.10101000.0000101 1.11111110
9Hosts/Net: 510                   (Private Internet)

If your Netmask is /23 and your network address is 192.168.10.0 and your goal is to scan the whole network, you should put into Nessus target field - 192.168.10.0/23 :

1Address:   192.168.10.0          11000000.10101000.0000101 0.00000000
2Netmask:   255.255.254.0 = 23    11111111.11111111.1111111 0.00000000
3Wildcard:  0.0.1.255             00000000.00000000.0000000 1.11111111
4=>
5Network:   192.168.10.0/23       11000000.10101000.0000101 0.00000000 (Class C)
6Broadcast: 192.168.11.255        11000000.10101000.0000101 1.11111111
7HostMin:   192.168.10.1          11000000.10101000.0000101 0.00000001
8HostMax:   192.168.11.254        11000000.10101000.0000101 1.11111110
9Hosts/Net: 510                   (Private Internet)

If your Netmask is /24 and your goal was to scan the whole network, you should put into Nessus target field - 192.168.11.0/24 :

1Address:   192.168.11.0          11000000.10101000.00001011 .00000000
2Netmask:   255.255.255.0 = 24    11111111.11111111.11111111 .00000000
3Wildcard:  0.0.0.255             00000000.00000000.00000000 .11111111
4=>
5Network:   192.168.11.0/24       11000000.10101000.00001011 .00000000 (Class C)
6Broadcast: 192.168.11.255        11000000.10101000.00001011 .11111111
7HostMin:   192.168.11.1          11000000.10101000.00001011 .00000001
8HostMax:   192.168.11.254        11000000.10101000.00001011 .11111110
9Hosts/Net: 254                   (Private Internet)

If you aimed to scan only one IP address, you should put it into the Nessus target field - 192.168.11.0 (without mask /23).

To pars data without issues:

  1. Set scan again with, e.g., 192.168.10.0/23 or 192.168.11.0 or 192.168.11.0/24.

  2. Then try to pars your .nessus file again using nessus-file-analyzer.

Tip

Use https://jodies.de/ipcalc to make sure that you use correct the IP Address and Netmask.