Malice alternatives

Looking for an alternative tool to replace Malice? During the review of Malice 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. YARA (malware identification and classification)
  2. MultiScanner (file scanning and analysis framework)
  3. SSMA (malware analysis tool)

These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to Malice.

Alternatives (by score)

97

YARA

Introduction

YARA is a tool to identify and classify malware samples. It uses textual or binary patterns to match data, combined with a boolean expression to define a match. YARA is multi-platform, can be used via a command-line interface or via Python scripts using the yara-python extension.

Project details

YARA is written in C.

Strengths and weaknesses

  • + More than 50 contributors
  • + More than 2000 GitHub stars
  • + The source code of this software is available

    Typical usage

    • Malware analysis
    • Malware detection
    • Malware scanning

    YARA 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

      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

        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

          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

            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

              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

                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

                  70

                  Loki

                  Introduction

                  Loki is security tool to find so-called indicators of compromise (IOC). It does this by scanning files and then uses pattern matching.

                  Project details

                  Loki is written in Python.

                  Strengths and weaknesses

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

                    Typical usage

                    • Digital forensics
                    • Intrusion detection
                    • Security monitoring

                    Loki 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

                    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

                      97

                      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

                        60

                        bamfdetect

                        Introduction

                        With bamfdetect, malware and bots can be analyzed. It identifies and extracts information and returns data in JSON format.

                        Project details

                        bamfdetect is written in Python.

                        Strengths and weaknesses

                        • + The source code of this software is available

                          Typical usage

                          • Malware analysis
                          • Malware scanning

                          bamfdetect 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

                            85

                            Maltrail

                            Introduction

                            Maltrail monitors for traffic on the network that might indicate system compromise or other bad behavior. It is great for intrusion detection and monitoring.

                            Project details

                            Maltrail 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

                              • Intrusion detection
                              • Network analysis
                              • Security monitoring

                              Maltrail review

                              78

                              Intrigue Core

                              Introduction

                              Intrigue Core provides a framework to measure the attack surface of an environment. This includes discovering infrastructure and applications, performing security research, and doing vulnerability discovery.

                              Intrigue also allows enriching available data and perform OSINT research (open source intelligence). The related scans include DNS subdomain brute-forcing, email harvesting, IP geolocation, port scanning, and using public search engines like Censys, Shodan, and Bing.

                              Project details

                              Intrigue Core is written in Ruby.

                              Strengths and weaknesses

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

                                Typical usage

                                • OSINT research
                                • Asset discovery
                                • Attack surface measurement
                                • Intelligence gathering
                                • Penetration testing
                                • Security assessment

                                Intrigue Core review

                                64

                                MalPipe

                                Introduction

                                MalPipe is a modular malware and indicator collection and processing framework. It is designed to pull information about malware, domains, URLs, and IP addresses from multiple feeds. Finally, it will enrich the collected data and export the results.

                                Project details

                                MalPipe is written in Python.

                                Strengths and weaknesses

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

                                Typical usage

                                • Data enrichment
                                • Data processing
                                • Intrusion detection
                                • Malware analysis
                                • Malware detection

                                MalPipe review

                                78

                                PyREBox

                                Introduction

                                PyREBox is short for Python scriptable Reverse Engineering Sandbox. It provides dynamic analysis and debugging capabilities of a running QEMU virtual machine. The primary usage is the analysis of running processes to perform reverse engineering. PyREBox can change parts of the running system by changing data in memory or within processor registers.

                                Project details

                                PyREBox is written in C++, Python.

                                Strengths and weaknesses

                                • + The source code of this software is available

                                  Typical usage

                                  • Binary analysis
                                  • Malware analysis
                                  • Reverse engineering

                                  PyREBox 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

                                    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

                                    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

                                    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

                                    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

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