AutoNessus alternatives

Looking for an alternative tool to replace AutoNessus? During the review of AutoNessus we looked at other open source tools. Based on their category, tags, and text, these are the ones that have the best match.

Top 3

  1. Seccubus (automation of vulnerability scanning)
  2. Cuckoo Sandbox (malware analysis tool)
  3. InstaRecon (automated digital reconnaissance)

These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to AutoNessus.

Alternatives (by score)

74

Seccubus

Introduction

Supported engines and tools:

  • Nessus
  • OpenVAS
  • Nmap
  • Nikto
  • Medusa
  • Qualys SSL labs
  • SkipFish
  • SSLyze
  • testssl.sh
  • ZAP

Project details

74

Cuckoo Sandbox (cuckoo)

Introduction

In a matter of seconds, Cuckoo Sandbox provides detailed results on what a file does within an isolated environment. This helps with malware analysis and understanding what it exactly tries to achieve. Further analysis can be done, based on the previous actions that were done.

Cuckoo Sandbox was created by Claudio Guarnieri as part of the Google Summer of Code project in 2010.

Project details

Cuckoo Sandbox is written in Python.

Strengths and weaknesses

  • + More than 2000 GitHub stars
  • + The source code of this software is available
  • - Many provided pull requests are still open
  • - Many reported issues are still open

Typical usage

  • Digital forensics
  • Malware analysis

Cuckoo Sandbox review

60

InstaRecon

Introduction

InstaRecon is a security tool that can help with the reconnaissance phase of a penetration test. It can collect a number of data points with limited input.

Project details

InstaRecon is written in Python.

Strengths and weaknesses

  • + The source code of this software is available

    Typical usage

    • Penetration testing
    • Reconnaissance

    InstaRecon review

    52

    Sn1per

    Introduction

    Sn1per is security scanner that can be used during a penetration test to enumerate and scan for vulnerabilities.

    Project details

    Sn1per is written in Python, shell script.

    Strengths and weaknesses

    • + More than 10 contributors
    • + More than 1000 GitHub stars
    • + The source code of this software is available
    • - Unknown project license

    Typical usage

    • Penetration testing
    • Reconnaissance

    Sn1per review

    70

    Viper

    Introduction

    Viper organizes the malware samples and exploits you found over time. It calls itself "Metasploit for malware researchers". Viper has a terminal interface to store, search and analyze files. As it is a framework, is also allows you to create your plugins.

    Project details

    60

    APT2 (apt2)

    Introduction

    APT2 stands for Automated Penetration Testing Toolkit.

    APT2 performs a scan with Nmap or can import the results of a scan from Nexpose or Nessus. The processed results will be used in the second phase. This phase launches exploit and enumeration modules. It helps pentesters to automate assessments and tasks.

    Suggested components to have installed: convert, dirb, hydra, java, john, ldapsearch, msfconsole, nmap, nmblookup, phantomjs, responder, rpcclient, secretsdump.py, smbclient, snmpwalk, sslscan, xwd

    Project details

    APT2 is written in Python.

    Strengths and weaknesses

    • + The source code of this software is available

      Typical usage

      • Penetration testing
      • Security assessment

      APT2 review

      64

      Anchore Engine

      Introduction

      Anchore is a tool to help with discovering, analyzing and certifying container images. These images can be stored both on-premises or in the cloud. The tooling is mainly focused on developer so that perform analysis on their container images. Typical actions include running queries, creating reports, or set up policies for a continuous integration and deployment pipeline.

      Project details

      Anchore Engine is written in Python.

      Strengths and weaknesses

      • + More than 10 contributors
      • + Commercial support available
      • + More than 1000 GitHub stars
      • + The source code of this software is available

        Typical usage

        • System hardening

        Anchore Engine review

        93

        Archery

        Introduction

        Archery is a tool that helps to collect data about vulnerabilities within an environment. Instead of focusing on the actual scanning, it allows managing findings in a web-based interface. This includes options like reporting, searching, and dashboards. It can interact with other tools, including the well-known vulnerability scanners.

        Project details

        Archery is written in Python.

        Strengths and weaknesses

        • + More than 500 GitHub stars
        • + The source code of this software is available

          Typical usage

          • Penetration testing
          • Vulnerability management
          • Vulnerability scanning
          • Vulnerability testing

          Archery review

          64

          CMSeeK

          Introduction

          CMSeeK is a security scanner for content management systems (CMS). It can perform a wide range of functions starting from the detection of the CMS, up to vulnerability scanning. The tool claims to support over 100 different CMS tools, with extensive support for the commonly used ones like Drupal, Joomla, and WordPress.

          The scans performed by CMSeeK include version detection. It can also do enumeration of users, plugins, and themes. This might be useful to see what users or components are available. The tool includes admin page discovery, file discovery, and directory listing. Anything that might be useful to a penetration test or security assessment, might be displayed.

          Project details

          CMSeeK is written in Python.

          Strengths and weaknesses

          • + The source code of this software is available
          • - Full name of author is unknown

          Typical usage

          • Penetration testing
          • Software exploitation
          • Software identification
          • Vulnerability scanning

          CMSeeK review

          60

          Dagda

          Introduction

          The main reasons to use Dagda is the detection of vulnerable or malicious components within your containerized environment.

          Project details

          Dagda is written in Python.

          Strengths and weaknesses

          • + The source code of this software is available

            Typical usage

            • Malware detection
            • Malware scanning
            • Vulnerability management
            • Vulnerability scanning

            Dagda review

            64

            Damn Small FI Scanner (DSFS)

            Introduction

            None

            Project details

            Damn Small FI Scanner is written in Python.

            Strengths and weaknesses

            • + The source code of this software is available

              Typical usage

              • Security assessment
              • Vulnerability scanning

              Damn Small FI Scanner review

              64

              Damn Small JS Scanner (DSJS)

              Introduction

              None

              Project details

              Damn Small JS Scanner is written in Python.

              Strengths and weaknesses

              • + The source code of this software is available

                Typical usage

                • Penetration testing
                • Security assessment

                Damn Small JS Scanner review

                60

                Jackhammer

                Introduction

                The tool uses RBAC (Role Based Access Control) with different levels of access. Jackhammer uses several tools to do dynamic and static code analysis (e.g. for Java, Ruby, Python, and Nodejs). It checks also for vulnerabilities in libraries. Due to its modular architecture, it can use several scanners out of the box, with options to add your own.

                The Jackhammer project was initially added to GitHub on the 8th of May, 2017.

                Project details

                Jackhammer is written in Ruby.

                Strengths and weaknesses

                • + The source code of this software is available

                  Typical usage

                  • Collaboration
                  • Information sharing

                  Jackhammer review

                  78

                  JoomScan

                  Introduction

                  JoomScan could be used to test your Joomla installation or during security assessments. As it has a primary focus on Joomla, it may provide better results than generic vulnerability scanners.

                  Project details

                  JoomScan is written in Perl.

                  Strengths and weaknesses

                  • + The source code of this software is available

                    Typical usage

                    • Vulnerability scanning
                    • Vulnerability testing

                    JoomScan review

                    64

                    LFI Suite

                    Introduction

                    This tool is a useful addition to the pentesting toolbox of security professionals. It can help discover and exploit any local file inclusion weakness in applications. Upon success, a reverse shell can be used to get access to the system.

                    Project details

                    LFI Suite is written in Python.

                    Strengths and weaknesses

                    • + The source code of this software is available
                    • - Full name of author is unknown

                    Typical usage

                    • Penetration testing
                    • Web application analysis

                    LFI Suite review

                    100

                    Lynis

                    Introduction

                    Lynis is an open-source security auditing tool that is available since 2007 and created by Michael Boelen. Its primary goal is to evaluate the security defenses of systems running Linux or other flavors of Unix. It provides suggestions to install, configure, or correct any security measures.

                    Project details

                    Lynis is written in shell script.

                    Strengths and weaknesses

                    • + The source code is easy to read and understand
                    • + More than 100 contributors
                    • + More than 8000 GitHub stars
                    • + Tool is easy to use
                    • + Available as package (simplified installation)
                    • + Commercial support available
                    • + Used language is shell script
                    • + Very low number of dependencies
                    • + Project is mature (10+ years)
                    • + The source code of this software is available

                      Typical usage

                      • IT audit
                      • Penetration testing
                      • Security assessment
                      • System hardening
                      • Vulnerability scanning

                      Lynis review

                      74

                      Nikto

                      Introduction

                      Nikto helps with performing security scans against web servers and to search for vulnerabilities in web applications.

                      Project details

                      Nikto is written in Perl.

                      Strengths and weaknesses

                      • + The source code of this software is available
                      • + Well-known tool

                        Typical usage

                        • Penetration testing
                        • Security assessment
                        • Web application analysis

                        Nikto review

                        78

                        Nmap

                        Introduction

                        Nmap is short for "Network Mapper". It is a free and open source utility for network discovery and security auditing. It was release in September of 1997 by Gordon Lyon, commonly known under his pseudonym "Fyodor".

                        Project details

                        Nmap is written in C, C++, Lua, Python.

                        Strengths and weaknesses

                        • + Project is mature (10+ years)
                        • + The source code of this software is available
                        • + Well-known author
                        • + Well-known tool
                        • - Software usage is restricted (e.g. commercially)

                        Typical usage

                        • Network scanning
                        • Vulnerability scanning

                        Nmap review

                        88

                        OpenSCAP

                        Introduction

                        The OpenSCAP project provides a wide variety of hardening guides, configuration baselines, and tools to test for vulnerabilities and configuration issues. It uses SCAP as the protocol to store the underlying data.

                        Project details

                        OpenSCAP is written in C.

                        Strengths and weaknesses

                        • + More than 25 contributors
                        • + The source code of this software is available
                        • + Supported by a large company

                          Typical usage

                          • Security assessment
                          • Vulnerability scanning

                          OpenSCAP review

                          97

                          OpenVAS

                          Introduction

                          OpenVAS is an open source vulnerability scanner that emerged from when Nessus became closed source in October of 2005.

                          Project details

                          OpenVAS is written in C.

                          Strengths and weaknesses

                          • + The source code of this software is available
                          • + Well-known tool

                            Typical usage

                            • Penetration testing
                            • Security assessment
                            • Vulnerability scanning

                            OpenVAS review

                            97

                            Safety

                            Introduction

                            When having applications deployed in your environment, not all of those may be installed via a package manager. When your infrastructure grows, it becomes even harder to know which tools are properly patched and which ones are not. For Python applications, this is where Safety comes in that can help scan installed software components via pip. It will also look at any of the dependencies that are installed.

                            Project details

                            Safety is written in Python.

                            Strengths and weaknesses

                            • + More than 10 contributors
                            • + The source code of this software is available

                              Typical usage

                              • Penetration testing
                              • Security assessment
                              • Security monitoring
                              • Vulnerability scanning

                              Safety review

                              64

                              Tulpar

                              Introduction

                              Tulpar is a vulnerability scanner that can be used to test new or existing web applications. In the former case, it could be helpful to test a new project before it is deployed into production. This could be done by the developer or a security professional. If some web application is already in production, then it might be a good tool to perform regular testing on known vulnerabilities. In this case, it is typically a pentester or security specialist that does the testing.

                              Project details

                              Tulpar is written in Python.

                              Strengths and weaknesses

                              • + The source code of this software is available
                              • - Minimal or no documentation available

                              Typical usage

                              • Application security
                              • Application testing
                              • Web application analysis

                              Tulpar review

                              64

                              VScan

                              Introduction

                              Vscan is a security tool to perform vulnerability scanning with Nmap. It leverages NSE scripts to provide some flexibility in terms of vulnerability detection and exploitation.

                              Project details

                              VScan is written in shell script.

                              Strengths and weaknesses

                              • + The source code of this software is available

                                Typical usage

                                • Backdoor detection
                                • Vulnerability scanning

                                VScan review

                                64

                                Vane

                                Introduction

                                Vane is a forked project of the now non-free popular WordPress vulnerability scanner WPScan.

                                Project details

                                Vane is written in Ruby.

                                Strengths and weaknesses

                                • + More than 25 contributors
                                • + The source code of this software is available

                                  Typical usage

                                  • Application security
                                  • Web application analysis

                                  Vane review

                                  64

                                  VulnWhisperer

                                  Introduction

                                  VulnWhisperer helps with the collection of vulnerability data and its reports. The goal of the tool is to make vulnerability data more actionable. It supports scans and data from products like Nessus, Qualys products, OpenVAS, and Tenable.io.

                                  Project details

                                  VulnWhisperer is written in Python.

                                  Strengths and weaknesses

                                  • + More than 10 contributors
                                  • + The source code of this software is available

                                    Typical usage

                                    • Vulnerability management
                                    • Vulnerability scanning

                                    VulnWhisperer review

                                    Some relevant tool missing as an alternative to AutoNessus? Please contact us with your suggestion.