Bowcaster alternatives

Looking for an alternative tool to replace Bowcaster? During the review of Bowcaster 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. PEDA (Python Exploit Development Assistance for GDB)
  2. Halcyon IDE (development interface for Nmap NSE scripts)
  3. ShellPop (toolkit for popping shells)

These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to Bowcaster.

Alternatives (by score)

64

PEDA

Introduction

PEDA is an extension for GDB (GNU DeBugger) to help with the development of exploit code. It can be used by reverse engineers and pentesters.

Project details

PEDA is written in Python.

Strengths and weaknesses

  • + More than 2000 GitHub stars
  • + The source code of this software is available

    Typical usage

    • Debugging
    • Exploit development
    • Reverse engineering

    PEDA review

    74

    Halcyon IDE

    Introduction

    Halcyon IDE provides an interface to develop Nmap scripts (NSE). These scripts can be used to extend the functionality of Nmap and perform more advanced scans on applications and infrastructures. By using an IDE, the development of NSE scripts can be simplified.

    Project details

    Halcyon IDE is written in Java.

    Strengths and weaknesses

    • + Runs on multiple platforms
    • + The source code of this software is available

      Typical usage

      • Exploit development
      • Penetration testing
      • Security awareness

      Halcyon IDE review

      60

      ShellPop

      Introduction

      During a penetration test, you might have an opportunity to gain shell access to a system. This tool helps with crafting the required type of reverse or bind shell for the task. PopShell also helps with encoding, staging, or switching between different protocols.

      Project details

      ShellPop is written in Python.

      Strengths and weaknesses

      • + The source code of this software is available

        Typical usage

        • Penetration testing

        ShellPop review

        78

        radare2

        Introduction

        Radare2 is a popular framework to perform reverse engineering on many different file types. It can be used to analyze malware, firmware, or any other type of binary files. Besides reverse engineering, it can be used for forensics on filesystems and do data carving. Tasks can be scripted and support languages like JavaScript, Go, and Python. Even software exploitation is one of the functions it can be used in.

        Project details

        radare2 is written in C.

        Strengths and weaknesses

        • + More than 500 contributors
        • + More than 8000 GitHub stars
        • + Many releases available
        • + The source code of this software is available

          Typical usage

          • Digital forensics
          • Reverse engineering
          • Software exploitation
          • Troubleshooting

          radare2 review

          64

          AutoSploit

          Introduction

          AutoSploit attempts to automate the exploitation of remote hosts for security assessments. Targets can be collected automatically or manually provided. Automatic sources include Censys, Shodan, and Zoomeye.

          Project details

          AutoSploit is written in Python.

          Strengths and weaknesses

          • + More than 10 contributors
          • + More than 3000 GitHub stars
          • + The source code of this software is available

            Typical usage

            • Service exploitation
            • System exploitation

            AutoSploit review

            74

            SearchSploit

            Introduction

            SearchSploit is a small by OffensiveSecurity to search for exploits and related data in the exploit database (Exploit-DB). This may help penetration testers in their security assignments.

            Project details

            SearchSploit is written in shell script.

            Strengths and weaknesses

            • + The source code is easy to read and understand
            • + Tool is easy to use
            • + Used language is shell script
            • - Full name of author is unknown

            Typical usage

            • Information gathering
            • Penetration testing
            • Service exploitation
            • System exploitation
            • Vulnerability testing

            SearchSploit review

            100

            BetterCAP

            Introduction

            BetterCAP is often used by those who perform penetration testing and security assessments. This tool and framework is in particular useful for attempting man-in-the-middle attacks (MitM).

            Project details

            BetterCAP is written in Golang.

            Strengths and weaknesses

            • + More than 25 contributors
            • + More than 2000 GitHub stars
            • + The source code of this software is available

              Typical usage

              • Bypassing security measures
              • Penetration testing
              • Security assessment

              BetterCAP review

              60

              Kitty

              Introduction

              Kitty is a framework for those who want to do fuzzing unusual targets, like proprietary protocols. Although Kitty itself is not a fuzzing tool, it allows one to build a fuzzing tool.

              Project details

              Kitty is written in Python.

              Strengths and weaknesses

              • + The source code of this software is available

                Typical usage

                • Application fuzzing

                Kitty review

                60

                Malice

                Introduction

                Malice is a malware analysis that wants to provide a free and open source version of VirusTotal. The goal of Malice is to make it usable by both independent researchers up to fortune 500 companies.

                Malice is useful for those that do malware analysis or deal with user-generated files that may contain malware. The framework allows scanning files and directories to see if they are infected.

                Project details

                Malice is written in Golang.

                Strengths and weaknesses

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

                  Typical usage

                  • Malware analysis
                  • Malware detection
                  • Malware research
                  • Malware scanning

                  Malice review

                  74

                  Metasploit Framework

                  Introduction

                  Metasploit is a framework that consists of tools to perform security assignments. It focuses on the offensive side of security and leverages exploit modules.

                  Project details

                  Metasploit Framework is written in Ruby.

                  Strengths and weaknesses

                  • + More than 400 contributors
                  • + More than 9000 stars
                  • + Many maintainers
                  • + The source code of this software is available
                  • + Supported by a large company
                  • + Well-known tool

                    Typical usage

                    • Penetration testing
                    • Security assessment
                    • Vulnerability scanning

                    Metasploit Framework review

                    64

                    OWTF (Offensive Web Testing Framework)

                    Introduction

                    OWTF is short for Offensive Web Testing Framework and it is one of the many OWASP projects to improve security.

                    Project details

                    OWTF is written in Python.

                    Strengths and weaknesses

                    • + More than 25 contributors
                    • + More than 500 GitHub stars
                    • + The source code of this software is available

                      Typical usage

                      • Penetration testing
                      • Security assessment

                      OWTF review

                      78

                      Pocsuite

                      Introduction

                      Pocsuite is a remote vulnerability testing and development framework. It can be used by penetration testers and vulnerability researchers.

                      Project details

                      Pocsuite is written in Python.

                      Strengths and weaknesses

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

                        Typical usage

                        • Vulnerability development
                        • Vulnerability testing

                        Pocsuite 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

                        64

                        fsociety

                        Introduction

                        The fsociety toolkit is a penetration framework containing other security tools. The project states that is includes all the tools that are used in the Mr. Robot tv series.

                        Project details

                        fsociety is written in Python.

                        Strengths and weaknesses

                        • + More than 10 contributors
                        • + More than 2000 GitHub stars
                        • + The source code of this software is available
                        • - Full name of author is unknown

                        Typical usage

                        • Penetration testing
                        • Security assessment

                        fsociety review

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