Fail2ban alternatives

Looking for an alternative tool to replace Fail2ban? During the review of Fail2ban 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. ArpON (MitM defense tool)
  2. MongoSanitizer (defense against MongoDB injection attacks)
  3. hBlock (ad blocking and tracker/malware protection)

These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to Fail2ban.

Alternatives (by score)

63

ArpON

Introduction

ArpOn protects a system by running as a daemon and guard against a Man in the Middle (MitM) attack due to ARP spoofing, cache poisoning, or an ARP poison routing attack.

The tool works by using three types of inspection to detect a related attack.

  • SARPI (Static ARP Inspection), statically configured networks (without DHCP)
  • DARPI (Dynamic ARP Inspection), dynamically configured networks (with DHCP)
  • HARPI (Hybrid ARP Inspection), statically and dynamically configured networks (with DHCP)

Project details

ArpON is written in C.

Strengths and weaknesses

  • + The source code of this software is available

    ArpON review

    60

    MongoSanitizer (python-mongo-sanitizer)

    Introduction

    Typically this type of tool would be used as an additional defense layer to prevent injection attacks from reaching the database.

    Project details

    MongoSanitizer is written in Python.

    Strengths and weaknesses

    • + The source code of this software is available

      Typical usage

      • Application security
      • Database security

      MongoSanitizer 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

        60

        LogonTracer

        Introduction

        LogonTracer is a tool to investigate malicious logins from Windows event logs with visualization capabilities.

        Project details

        LogonTracer is written in Python.

        Strengths and weaknesses

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

          Typical usage

          • Criminal investigations
          • Digital forensics
          • Learning

          LogonTracer review

          74

          Yosai

          Introduction

          Yosai is a security framework for Python applications and adds authentication, authorization, and session management capabilities. Features include Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), two-factor authentication, and Time-based One-Time Passwords (TOTP). Besides a focus on the authentication and authorization, Yosai enables an audit trail of all relevant events.

          As each framework comes with some overhead, Yosai aims to leverage caching and serialization where possible.

          Project details

          Yosai is written in Python.

          Strengths and weaknesses

          • + The source code of this software is available

            Typical usage

            • Application security
            • Audit logging
            • Identity and access management

            Yosai review

            52

            django-two-factor-auth (Django Two-Factor Authentication)

            Introduction

            A complete Two-Factor Authentication for Django. It leverages the django-otp tooling together with Django's authentication framework.

            Project details

            60

            eapmd5pass

            Introduction

            A tool like this would be most likely used to show the weakness of old authentication protocols, including penetration testing.

            Project details

            eapmd5pass is written in C.

            Strengths and weaknesses

            • + The source code of this software is available

              Typical usage

              • Network analysis
              • Password discovery
              • Penetration testing

              eapmd5pass review

              60

              0d1n

              Introduction

              0d1n is useful to perform brute-force login attempts for authentication forms. It can discover useful directory names by using a predefined list of paths. With options to use a random proxy per request and load CSRF tokens, it is a tool that can be used in different type of assignments.

              Project details

              0d1n is written in C.

              Strengths and weaknesses

              • + The source code of this software is available

                Typical usage

                • Information gathering
                • Penetration testing
                • Security assessment
                • Vulnerability scanning

                0d1n review

                60

                Crowbar

                Introduction

                While most brute forcing tools take a similar approach, Crowbar can use different methods that are not always available in other utilities. For example, Crowbar can use SSH keys, instead of the typical username and password combination. This might be useful during penetration testing when these type of details are discovered.

                Project details

                Crowbar is written in Python.

                Strengths and weaknesses

                • + The source code of this software is available

                  Typical usage

                  • Penetration testing

                  Crowbar review

                  64

                  IKEForce

                  Introduction

                  IKEForce is a command line utility to brute force VPN connections (IPSEC) that allow group name/ID enumeration and XAUTH.

                  Project details

                  IKEForce is written in Python.

                  Strengths and weaknesses

                  • + The source code of this software is available

                    IKEForce review

                    56

                    John the Ripper

                    Introduction

                    John the Ripper is a mature password cracker to find weak or known passwords. It works on Linux and other flavors of Unix and Microsoft Windows.

                    Project details

                    60

                    Patator

                    Introduction

                    Patator is based on similar tools like Hydra, yet with the goal to avoid the common flaws these tools have like performance limitations. The tool is modular and supports different types of brute-force attacks or enumeration of information.

                    Project details

                    Patator is written in Python.

                    Strengths and weaknesses

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

                      Typical usage

                      • Password discovery
                      • Penetration testing
                      • Reconnaissance
                      • Vulnerability scanning

                      Patator review

                      64

                      RouterSploit

                      Introduction

                      RouterSploit is a framework to exploit embedded devices such as cameras and routers. It can be used during penetration testing to test the security of a wide variety of devices. RouterSploit comes with several modules to scan and exploit the devices. The tool helps in all steps, like from credential testing to deploying a payload to perform an exploitation attempt.

                      Project details

                      RouterSploit is written in Python.

                      Strengths and weaknesses

                      • + More than 50 contributors
                      • + More than 6000 GitHub stars
                      • + The source code of this software is available

                        Typical usage

                        • Penetration testing
                        • Self-assessment
                        • Software testing
                        • Vulnerability scanning

                        RouterSploit review

                        78

                        THC Hydra (thc-hydra)

                        Introduction

                        THC Hydra is a brute-force cracking tool for remote authentication services. It supports many protocols, including telnet, FTP, LDAP, SSH, SNMP, and others.

                        Project details

                        THC Hydra is written in C.

                        Strengths and weaknesses

                        • + More than 25 contributors
                        • + More than 1000 GitHub stars
                        • + Project is mature (10+ years)
                        • + The source code of this software is available

                          Typical usage

                          • Penetration testing
                          • Security assessment

                          THC Hydra review

                          60

                          WPForce

                          Introduction

                          This toolkit is fairly new and consists of WPForce and Yertle. As the name implies, the first component has the focus on brute force attacking of login credentials. When admin credentials have been found, it is Yertle that allows uploading a shell. Yertle also has post-exploitation modules for further research.

                          Project details

                          WPForce 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
                          • Security assessment
                          • Vulnerability scanning

                          WPForce review

                          52

                          WPSeku

                          Introduction

                          With WPSeku a WordPress installation can be tested for the presence of security issues. Some examples are cross-site scripting (XSS), sql injection, and local file inclusion. The tool also tests for the presence of default configuration files. These files may reveal version numbers, used themes and plugins.

                          Project details

                          WPSeku is written in Python.

                          Strengths and weaknesses

                          • + The source code of this software is available
                          • - Unknown project license

                          Typical usage

                          • Penetration testing
                          • Security assessment
                          • Vulnerability scanning

                          WPSeku review

                          60

                          Wfuzz

                          Introduction

                          Wfuzz is a fuzzing tool written in Python. Tools like Wfuzz are typically used to test web applications and how they handle both expected as unexpected input.

                          Project details

                          Wfuzz is written in Python.

                          Strengths and weaknesses

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

                            Typical usage

                            • Application fuzzing
                            • Application security
                            • Application testing
                            • Web application analysis

                            Wfuzz review

                            60

                            aiodnsbrute (Async DNS Brute)

                            Introduction

                            When a project requires resolving or guessing host names, then this tool is a great addition to the toolkit. It focuses on 'fast' by using asynchronous operations. The list of names to try is provided with a wordlist.

                            Project details

                            aiodnsbrute is written in Python.

                            Strengths and weaknesses

                            • + Very low number of dependencies
                            • + The source code of this software is available

                              Typical usage

                              • Network scanning
                              • Penetration testing

                              aiodnsbrute review

                              60

                              dirsearch

                              Introduction

                              Dirsearch is a tool to guide security professionals to find possible information leaks or sensitive data. It does this by looking for directory and file names.

                              Project details

                              dirsearch is written in Python.

                              Strengths and weaknesses

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

                                Typical usage

                                • Information gathering
                                • Penetration testing
                                • Security assessment

                                dirsearch review

                                85

                                django-axes

                                Introduction

                                This tool may be used by developers that work with the Django framework. It adds a security layer on top of the application by looking at login attempts and track them.

                                Project details

                                django-axes is written in Python.

                                Strengths and weaknesses

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

                                  Typical usage

                                  • Application security

                                  django-axes review

                                  93

                                  Cowrie

                                  Introduction

                                  Cowrie is a honeypot to emulate SSH and telnet services. It can be used to learn attack methods and as an additional layer for security monitoring.

                                  Project details

                                  Cowrie is written in Python.

                                  Strengths and weaknesses

                                  • + More than 50 contributors
                                  • + More than 1000 GitHub stars

                                    Typical usage

                                    • Information gathering
                                    • Learning
                                    • Security monitoring
                                    • Threat discovery

                                    Cowrie review

                                    56

                                    Dockpot

                                    Introduction

                                    Using an SSH honeypot is a good way to learn about common attacks on the SSH service. It can provide insights on the number of scans and probes on the network.

                                    Project details

                                    Dockpot is written in Python.

                                    Strengths and weaknesses

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

                                    Typical usage

                                    • Learning
                                    • Threat discovery

                                    Dockpot review

                                    64

                                    HonSSH

                                    Introduction

                                    HonSSH is a high-interaction SSH honeypot to collect information about attackers that target the SSH service.

                                    Project details

                                    HonSSH is written in Python.

                                    Strengths and weaknesses

                                    • + The source code of this software is available
                                    • - Unknown project license

                                    Typical usage

                                    • Learning
                                    • Threat discovery

                                    HonSSH review

                                    63

                                    Kojoney

                                    Introduction

                                    Kojoney is a mix of the Spanish word cojon (s/c/k/) and honey.

                                    Project details

                                    67

                                    OpenSSH

                                    Introduction

                                    OpenSSH is a much-used connectivity tool for remote administration of Linux systems. It uses the SSH protocol and encrypts all traffic to eliminate eavesdropping, connection hijacking, and other related attacks.

                                    Project details

                                    Some relevant tool missing as an alternative to Fail2ban? Please contact us with your suggestion.