Add state field in XML 'script' node: an indicator of completion status of NSE script

[yilangli]

Hi community,

I have a Nmap feature idea that would like to share. Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[Problem Statement]
There are cases when NSE scripts either don't run, abort by defined RULEs, or timeout. Without such indication from output, it's hard to find out the reason why the NSE script not being executed. It's impossible to quantify the results, understand impact, prioritize investigation, and drive resolution, especially when having batch scanning against a large number of endpoints.
 
[Proposal]: example of XML output
Alway keep the 'script' xml node in output if the NSE script requested and have the state field of NSE scripts in output. For example - adding state field in script node:
<script id="<NSE_SCRIPT_ID>" state="Completed/Timedout/Filtered by prerule/Filtered by hostrule/Filtered by portrule/Filtered by postrule/<OTHERS>" output="<EMPTY>/<NSE_OUTPUT>"/>

Please let me know your thoughts, Thank you.