Cuckoo Sandbox alternatives

Looking for an alternative tool to replace Cuckoo Sandbox? During the review of Cuckoo Sandbox 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. Viper (binary analysis tool)
  2. Binary Analysis Next Generation (framework for binary analysis)
  3. Mal Tindex (malware sample analyzer)

These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to Cuckoo Sandbox.

Alternatives (by score)

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

Binary Analysis Next Generation (BANG)

Introduction

BANG is a framework to unpack files recursively and scan them. The files can be firmware, binaries, or malware. The main goal is to scan all files and perform classification and labeling. This way each file can be further analyzed based on the characteristics.

Project details

Binary Analysis Next Generation is written in Python.

Strengths and weaknesses

  • + The source code of this software is available
  • - No releases on GitHub available

Typical usage

  • Binary analysis
  • Malware analysis
  • Malware scanning

Binary Analysis Next Generation review

64

Mal Tindex

Introduction

Mal Tindex is a tool that performs binary analysis on malware samples. It analyzes the binaries it is provided to learn about the specifics of each malware sample that makes them unique. This way data can be gathered that may provide background information. For example, it could provide the attribution of a particular actor or malware campaign.

Project details

Mal Tindex is written in Python.

Strengths and weaknesses

  • + The source code of this software is available

    Typical usage

    • Malware analysis
    • Malware research

    Mal Tindex 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

      60

      MultiScanner

      Introduction

      MultiScanner helps malware analysts by providing a toolkit to perform both automated and manual analysis. The data extracted from the analysis can be easily stored together, including the relevant metadata and samples. It allows enriching the data further by retrieving information from external resources.

      Project details

      Strengths and weaknesses

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

        Typical usage

        • Malware analysis
        • Malware detection
        • Malware scanning

        MultiScanner review

        78

        SSMA

        Introduction

        SSMA is short for Simple Static Malware Analyzer. The tool can perform a set of tests against a malware sample and retrieve metadata from it. SSMA can analyze ELF and PE and analyze its structure. For example, it can retrieve the PE file header information and its sections. Other pieces it can analyze is the usage of packers, anti-debugging techniques, cryptographic algorithms, domains, email addresses, and IP addresses. It can also check if the sample is already detected or blocked by using VirusTotal and the blocklist of malwaredomains.com.

        Project details

        SSMA is written in Python.

        Strengths and weaknesses

        • + The source code of this software is available
        • - No releases on GitHub available

        Typical usage

        • Malware analysis
        • Malware detection
        • Malware scanning
        • Reverse engineering

        SSMA review

        60

        YaraGuardian

        Introduction

        YaraGuardian provides a web-based interface that helps to manage Yara rules. It can be used to search, organize, and bulk-edit rules. The tool also prevents creating duplicate entries, which is a nice additional benefit of this management utility.

        Project details

        YaraGuardian is written in Python.

        Strengths and weaknesses

        • + The source code of this software is available

          Typical usage

          • Malware analysis

          YaraGuardian review

          52

          bingrep

          Introduction

          Searches through binaries and highlights the most important areas with colors.

          Supported binary formats:

          • ELF 32/64, arm, x86, openrisc
          • Mach 32/64, arm, x86
          • PE

          Project details

          60

          yarGen

          Introduction

          The yarGen utility helps with creating YARA rules for malware detection. It can combine both 'goodware' and 'malware', to properly craft the right rules.

          Project details

          64

          AutoNessus (autonessus)

          Introduction

          This tool is useful to time scans, for example by having it run outside of business hours, and stop when the day starts.

          Note: originally another tool was named AutoNessus. That is now Seccubus.

          Project details

          AutoNessus is written in Python.

          Strengths and weaknesses

          • + The source code of this software is available
          • - No releases on GitHub available

          Typical usage

          • Vulnerability scanning

          AutoNessus 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

            74

            Seccubus

            Introduction

            Supported engines and tools:

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

            Project details

            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

            100

            ClamAV

            Introduction

            ClamAV is a popular tool to detect malicious software or malware. While it calls itself an antivirus engine, it probably won't encounter many viruses, as they have become rare. It is more likely to find other forms of malware like worms, backdoors, and ransomware. ClamAV can be used in a few ways, from doing an occasional scan up to scanning in batch. ClamAV does not do on-access scanning but can be combined with other tools to obtain similar functionality. ClamAV is often used to support scanning incoming emails for malicious content.

            Project details

            ClamAV is written in C.

            Strengths and weaknesses

            • + Many maintainers
            • + The source code of this software is available

              Typical usage

              • Malware analysis
              • Malware detection
              • Malware scanning

              ClamAV review

              64

              Diamorphine

              Introduction

              Rootkits are typically considered to be malware, or malicious software. With the intent to hide, this type of software is often used after a breach. Learning about how it works can be useful for security researchers and security professionals.

              Project details

              Diamorphine is written in C.

              Strengths and weaknesses

              • + The source code of this software is available

                Typical usage

                • Learning

                Diamorphine review

                74

                LMD

                Introduction

                LMD uses MD5 file hashes and HEX pattern matches to define the malware signatures. These are used to detect malware.

                Project details

                LMD is written in shell script.

                Strengths and weaknesses

                • + The source code of this software is available

                  Typical usage

                  • Malware scanning

                  LMD review

                  74

                  Malscan

                  Introduction

                  Malscan is a tool to scan for malicious software (malware) such as viruses, worms, and backdoors. Its goal is to extend ClamAV with more scanning modes and signatures. It targets web servers running Linux, but can also be used on mail servers and desktops.

                  Project details

                  Malscan is written in shell script.

                  Strengths and weaknesses

                  • + Used language is shell script
                  • + The source code of this software is available

                    Typical usage

                    • Malware protection
                    • Malware scanning

                    Malscan review

                    59

                    Rootkit Hunter (rkhunter)

                    Introduction

                    Rootkit Hunter is a small utility to find suspicious rootkit components. Other known backdoors or malicious software can also be discovered, especially if it has the goal to hide.

                    The tool uses different ways to hunt, like using predefined directory locations and comparing the output of system utilities. Another method is by requesting a specific output and see if this output is altered, therefore tricking rootkits to reveal themselves.

                    Project details

                    Rootkit Hunter is written in shell script.

                    Strengths and weaknesses

                    • + Used language is shell script
                    • + Project is mature (10+ years)
                    • + The source code of this software is available

                      Typical usage

                      • Malware detection
                      • Malware scanning

                      Rootkit Hunter review

                      59

                      chkrootkit

                      Introduction

                      The chkrootkit tool consists of multiple parts that may detect the presence of rootkit parts of rootkit behavior on a system.

                      Some areas that are checked include:

                      • interface in promiscuous mode
                      • lastlog deletions
                      • wtmp deletions
                      • wtmpx deletions
                      • signs of LKM trojans
                      • utmp deletions

                      Project details

                      chkrootkit is written in C, shell script.

                      Strengths and weaknesses

                      • + Used language is shell script
                      • + Project is mature (10+ years)
                      • - Long time between releases

                      Typical usage

                      • Malware detection
                      • Malware scanning

                      chkrootkit review

                      97

                      hBlock

                      Introduction

                      For the privacy-aware users, tools like hBlock can be helpful to block malicious domains, malware, advertisements, and trackers. Trackers could be pixels added to websites to track which pages you visited, which might invade your privacy.

                      Project details

                      hBlock is written in shell script.

                      Strengths and weaknesses

                      • + Used language is shell script
                      • + The source code of this software is available

                        Typical usage

                        • Malware protection
                        • Privacy enhancement
                        • Provide anonymity

                        hBlock review

                        64

                        Cutter

                        Introduction

                        Cutter is a graphical user interface for radare2, the well-known reverse engineering framework. It focuses on those who are not familiar enough with radare2, or rather have a graphical interface instead of the command-line interface that radare2 provides.

                        Project details

                        Cutter is written in C++, Qt.

                        Strengths and weaknesses

                        • + More than 50 contributors
                        • + More than 3000 GitHub stars
                        • + The source code of this software is available

                          Typical usage

                          • Binary analysis
                          • Malware analysis
                          • Reverse engineering

                          Cutter review

                          96

                          LIEF

                          Introduction

                          LIEF is short for Library to Instrument Executable Formats.

                          Project details

                          LIEF is written in Python.

                          Strengths and weaknesses

                          • + The source code of this software is available

                            Typical usage

                            • Binary analysis
                            • Malware analysis
                            • Reverse engineering

                            LIEF review

                            78

                            TheHive

                            Introduction

                            TheHive is scalable and a complete platform to deal with security incidents. It allows for collaboration between those responsible for dealing with such incidents and related events. It can even use the data of the MISP project, making it easier to start analyzing from there.

                            Project details

                            TheHive is written in Scala.

                            Strengths and weaknesses

                            • + More than 10 contributors
                            • + More than 500 GitHub stars
                            • + The source code of this software is available

                              Typical usage

                              • Digital forensics
                              • Incident response
                              • Intrusion detection

                              TheHive 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

                                78

                                Infection Monkey

                                Introduction

                                This tool is useful for security assessments to test for weaknesses within the network. By automating the exploitation phase as much as possible, it will help finding any weak targets within the boundaries of the data center.

                                Project details

                                Infection Monkey is written in Python.

                                Strengths and weaknesses

                                • + More than 25 contributors
                                • + More than 5000 GitHub stars
                                • + The source code of this software is available

                                  Typical usage

                                  • Password discovery
                                  • Service exploitation
                                  • System exploitation

                                  Infection Monkey review

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