THC Hydra alternatives

Looking for an alternative tool to replace THC Hydra? During the review of THC Hydra 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. Patator (multi-purpose brute-force tool)
  2. hashcat (password recovery tool)
  3. acccheck (SMB password guessing and dictionary attack tool)

These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to THC Hydra.

Alternatives (by score)

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

    78

    hashcat

    Introduction

    Hashcat can be used to discover lost passwords, or as part of a security assignment. For example, it could be trying to crack a password from a password file that was obtained during a penetration test.

    Project details

    hashcat is written in C.

    Strengths and weaknesses

    • + More than 25 contributors
    • + More than 4000 GitHub stars
    • + The source code of this software is available
    • + Well-known tool

      Typical usage

      • Password discovery

      hashcat review

      56

      acccheck

      Introduction

      The acccheck tool performs a password guessing and dictionary attack on SMB services used to share files and printers.

      Project details

      acccheck is written in Perl.

      Strengths and weaknesses

      • + The source code of this software is available
      • - No updates for a while

      Typical usage

      • Password discovery
      • Password strength testing

      acccheck review

      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

        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

        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

            89

            Fail2ban

            Introduction

            Fail2Ban is an intrusion prevention software framework that protects computer servers from brute-force attacks

            Project details

            Fail2ban is written in Python.

            Strengths and weaknesses

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

              Typical usage

              • Network traffic filtering
              • Security monitoring

              Fail2ban 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

                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

                  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

                          100

                          Buttercup for desktop

                          Introduction

                          The typical users have at least a multitude of ten when it comes to passwords. Ensuring that every website has a unique password and remembering, is almost impossible. Passwords managers like Buttercup help with the generation and secure storage of these secrets. It is freely available and open source, making it a good alternative for commercial options.

                          Project details

                          Buttercup for desktop is written in Node.js.

                          Strengths and weaknesses

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

                            Typical usage

                            • Password management

                            Buttercup for desktop review

                            97

                            Confidant

                            Introduction

                            Most applications with a connection to a database or other software component, need some form of authentication. Often the related credentials are stored in a configuration file. A secret manager like Confidant will provide an alternative, by storing the details in a database. Only applications that need to access the secrets are allowed to obtain them. Often system administrators are denied access to them.

                            Project details

                            Confidant is written in Python.

                            Strengths and weaknesses

                            • + More than 1000 GitHub stars
                            • + The source code of this software is available
                            • + Supported by a large company

                              Typical usage

                              • Secrets management
                              • Secure storage

                              Confidant review

                              63

                              KeePassX

                              Introduction

                              The database is encrypted with AES (alias Rijndael) or Twofish encryption algorithm using a 256-bit key. KeePassX uses a database format that is compatible with KeePass Password Safe.

                              Project details

                              KeePassX is written in C++.

                              Strengths and weaknesses

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

                              Typical usage

                              • Secure storage

                              KeePassX review

                              96

                              KeePassXC

                              Introduction

                              KeePassXC is a cross-platform platform to store sensitive data like passwords, keys, and other secrets. It has a graphical user interface and is written in C++.

                              Project details

                              KeePassXC is written in C++.

                              Strengths and weaknesses

                              • + More than 50 contributors
                              • + Runs on multiple platforms
                              • + More than 1000 GitHub stars
                              • + The source code of this software is available

                                Typical usage

                                • Password management
                                • Secure storage

                                KeePassXC review

                                84

                                LaZagne

                                Introduction

                                The LaZagne tool can be a good addition to the toolkit of pentesters or forensic specialists to recover sensitive details from systems. For a pentester, this typically means that limited access has been gained. By trying to find passwords from local applications, the step to other applications or privilege level might be possible. For example, a password that is shared among multiple services, or even finding an administrator password.

                                Project details

                                LaZagne 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

                                  • Data extraction
                                  • Information gathering
                                  • Password discovery
                                  • Password recovery

                                  LaZagne review

                                  60

                                  PassGen

                                  Introduction

                                  PassGen is a tool to help with password dictionary attacks to guess a password. It does not perform the attack but creates the related database.

                                  Project details

                                  PassGen is written in Python.

                                  Strengths and weaknesses

                                  • + The source code of this software is available

                                    Typical usage

                                    • Password discovery
                                    • Password strength testing
                                    • Security assessment

                                    PassGen review

                                    60

                                    Passmgr

                                    Introduction

                                    Passmgr is a simple portable password manager written in Go. It helps with storing secrets, like passwords and API keys.

                                    Project details

                                    64

                                    TeamVault

                                    Introduction

                                    Storing passwords within a team security can be a challenging task. TeamVault is a password manager with the goal to be easy to use, flexible, and adhering to several security principles. These include a solid base for the data encryption, support for folders, and role-based access control (RBAC).

                                    Project details

                                    TeamVault is written in Python.

                                    Strengths and weaknesses

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

                                    Typical usage

                                    • Password management
                                    • Secrets management

                                    TeamVault review

                                    56

                                    mimipenguin

                                    Introduction

                                    The tool requires root permissions to work.

                                    Project details

                                    mimipenguin is written in Python, shell script.

                                    Strengths and weaknesses

                                    • + The source code of this software is available
                                    • - No releases on GitHub available
                                    • - Full name of author is unknown

                                    Typical usage

                                    • Information gathering
                                    • Security assessment

                                    mimipenguin review

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