Skip to main content

Software in Penetration Testing Tools

21 tools
Pricing
Platform
ToolPricing
Arjun

HTTP parameter discovery suite that finds hidden query and POST parameters on web endpoints.

Open Source
BeEF

Browser exploitation framework for the assessment of web client and social-engineering security controls through hooked browser sessions.

Free / Commercial
Caido

Lightweight web security auditing proxy offering HTTP traffic interception and workflow automation.

Free / Commercial
Chisel

TCP and UDP tunnel over HTTP secured with SSH, shipped as a single Go executable.

Open Source
Evil-WinRM

WinRM shell for Linux and Windows that supports authorized remote management, file transfers, and PowerShell execution during security reviews.

Open Source
ffuf

Fast web fuzzer written in Go for recursive directory discovery, content enumeration, and brute force scans of HTTP request parameters at scale.

Open Source
gobuster

Fast Go-based directory, DNS, and virtual host brute forcer with multiple modes for web application attack surface discovery.

Open Source
Impacket

Python library of classes and example tools for the construction, parsing, and interaction with Windows and Active Directory network protocols.

Free
Ligolo-ng

Tunneling and pivoting tool that creates reverse TUN interfaces without SOCKS or port forwarding.

Open Source
Masscan

Asynchronous TCP port scanner, rated by its author at up to 10 million packets per second, for large-scale asset and network discovery in authorized environments.

Open Source
Metasploit Framework

Penetration testing framework used to verify vulnerabilities, manage security assessments, and generate payloads.

Free / Commercial
mitmproxy

Interactive HTTPS proxy for intercepting, inspecting, modifying, and replaying HTTP traffic.

Open Source
NetExec

Network service assessment tool for automating authentication checks, credential sprays, and Active Directory evaluations.

Open Source
Nmap

Network discovery scanner and port auditor for discovering live hosts, open ports, running services, and OS fingerprints.

Free / Commercial
PEASS-ng

LinPEAS, WinPEAS, and macPEAS scripts that audit Linux, Windows, and macOS systems for privilege escalation paths and exposed credentials.

Free / Commercial
Responder

LLMNR, NBT-NS, and mDNS poisoner that captures network credentials and runs rogue authentication servers during authorized internal assessments.

Open Source
RustScan

Modern Rust-based port scanner that maps open ports quickly and feeds results into Nmap for detailed follow-up service enumeration.

Open Source
SearchSploit

Command-line search tool for the Exploit Database that searches a local copy of exploits, shellcodes, and papers for disclosed vulnerabilities.

Open Source
SecLists

The security tester's wordlist collection: usernames, passwords, fuzzing payloads, and discovery lists.

Open Source
sqlmap

Automated penetration testing tool that detects and exploits SQL injection flaws to assess database security configurations.

Free / Commercial
wafw00f

Web application firewall fingerprinting tool that identifies WAF products protecting a target.

Open Source

About Penetration Testing Tools

Penetration testing tools help authorized security engineers validate vulnerabilities, test authorization boundaries, and verify defensive controls. The category includes intercepting HTTP proxies like Burp Suite, ZAP, and Caido that sit between a browser and web server to inspect and modify requests during web application testing. Exploitation frameworks like Metasploit provide exploit modules for validating vulnerabilities in controlled conditions. Port and service discovery tools like Nmap, Masscan, and RustScan enumerate open ports and running services across target networks. Web fuzzing and scanning tools like ffuf, Nuclei, and Dalfox probe web applications for hidden content, XSS, and misconfigurations. Post-exploitation tools like Cobalt Strike, Mythic, Sliver, and NetExec help testers simulate adversary behavior after initial access, testing detection coverage and response playbooks. The category is broad because penetration testing spans the full attack lifecycle: reconnaissance, initial access, privilege escalation, lateral movement, and data exfiltration. Tools in this category are used only against systems where the tester has written authorization, and the defensive value comes from identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before real attackers exploit them.

Covered Topics

Intercepting HTTP ProxiesNetwork Exploitation FrameworksPort & Service DiscoveryWeb Application FuzzingPost-Exploitation Simulation

In This Catalog

  • This category lists 21 tools: 14 open source, 6 free / commercial, and 1 free.
  • By platform, 21 run on Linux, 17 on Windows, and 20 on macOS.
  • The most common license among the open-source tools is MIT (4 tools).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Penetration Testing Tools?→

Penetration testing and security assessment tools used by authorized engineers to inspect traffic, validate vulnerabilities, and test authorization boundaries.

What topics does the Penetration Testing Tools category cover?→

Intercepting HTTP Proxies, Network Exploitation Frameworks, Port & Service Discovery, Web Application Fuzzing, Post-Exploitation Simulation

Which Penetration Testing tools are open source?→

14 of the 21 tools in this category are open source: Arjun, Chisel, Evil-WinRM, ffuf, gobuster, Ligolo-ng, Masscan, mitmproxy, NetExec, and Responder, and 4 more.

Related