Nmap alternatives

Looking for an alternative tool to replace Nmap? During the review of Nmap 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. Zenmap (graphical user interface for Nmap)
  2. portSpider (network vulnerability scanner)
  3. VScan (vulnerability scanner with Nmap and NSE)

These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to Nmap.

Alternatives (by score)

63

Zenmap

Introduction

Zenmap is a graphical user interface (GUI) for Nmap. It can be of great help to start a network scan by simply selecting the options you want. Besides Linux, it also runs on Microsoft Windows, macOS, BSD, and other flavors of Unix.

One of the strengths of Zenmap is the ability to store profiles, which can be reused for later scans. The command creator is another one, which helps interactively create the right nmap commands. Recent scans are stored in a searchable database and scan results can be saved and compared.

Project details

Zenmap is written in Python.

Strengths and weaknesses

  • + The source code of this software is available
  • + Well-known tool

    Typical usage

    • Network scanning
    • Penetration testing
    • Port scanning
    • Security assessment

    Zenmap review

    64

    portSpider

    Introduction

    portSpider is a security tool to scan network ranges and find open ports. The goal of the tool is to find vulnerable services.

    Project details

    portSpider is written in Python.

    Strengths and weaknesses

    • + The source code of this software is available

      Typical usage

      • Network scanning
      • Vulnerability scanning

      portSpider review

      64

      VScan

      Introduction

      Vscan is a security tool to perform vulnerability scanning with Nmap. It leverages NSE scripts to provide some flexibility in terms of vulnerability detection and exploitation.

      Project details

      VScan is written in shell script.

      Strengths and weaknesses

      • + The source code of this software is available

        Typical usage

        • Backdoor detection
        • Vulnerability scanning

        VScan review

        63

        DMitry

        Introduction

        This small utility can retrieve information from the WHOIS database, to see who owns an IP address or domain name. Besides that, it can obtain information from the system itself, like the uptime. DMitry also has the option to search for email addresses, perform a TCP port scan, and use modules specified by the user.

        Project details

        DMitry is written in C.

        Strengths and weaknesses

        • + The source code of this software is available

          DMitry review

          60

          Masscan

          Introduction

          Masscan can be compared with other tools like Nmap. Due to its focus on high performance, this tool can be used when many systems have to be scanned at once. It can scan all internet hosts on IPv4 within 5 minutes. This impressive statistic makes the tool loved by those that do security research.

          Project details

          Masscan is written in C.

          Strengths and weaknesses

          • + More than 25 contributors
          • + More than 8000 GitHub stars
          • + The source code of this software is available

            Typical usage

            • Network scanning

            Masscan review

            64

            QuickScan

            Introduction

            Although there are many port scanning utilities, sometimes it is specific functionality that makes a tool really powerful. For example, QuickScan saves the results of a scan, which then can be processed later for follow-up.

            Project details

            QuickScan is written in Python.

            Strengths and weaknesses

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

            Typical usage

            • Network scanning

            QuickScan review

            85

            Archery

            Introduction

            Archery is a tool that helps to collect data about vulnerabilities within an environment. Instead of focusing on the actual scanning, it allows managing findings in a web-based interface. This includes options like reporting, searching, and dashboards. It can interact with other tools, including the well-known vulnerability scanners.

            Project details

            Archery is written in Python.

            Strengths and weaknesses

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

              Typical usage

              • Penetration testing
              • Vulnerability management
              • Vulnerability scanning
              • Vulnerability testing

              Archery 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

                100

                Lynis

                Introduction

                Lynis is an open-source security auditing tool that is available since 2007 and created by Michael Boelen. Its primary goal is to evaluate the security defenses of systems running Linux or other flavors of Unix. It provides suggestions to install, configure, or correct any security measures.

                Project details

                Lynis is written in shell script.

                Strengths and weaknesses

                • + The source code is easy to read and understand
                • + More than 100 contributors
                • + More than 8000 GitHub stars
                • + Tool is easy to use
                • + Available as package (simplified installation)
                • + Commercial support available
                • + Used language is shell script
                • + Very low number of dependencies
                • + Project is mature (10+ years)
                • + The source code of this software is available

                  Typical usage

                  • IT audit
                  • Penetration testing
                  • Security assessment
                  • System hardening
                  • Vulnerability scanning

                  Lynis review

                  97

                  OpenVAS

                  Introduction

                  OpenVAS is an open source vulnerability scanner that emerged from when Nessus became closed source in October of 2005.

                  Project details

                  OpenVAS is written in C.

                  Strengths and weaknesses

                  • + The source code of this software is available
                  • + Well-known tool

                    Typical usage

                    • Penetration testing
                    • Security assessment
                    • Vulnerability scanning

                    OpenVAS review

                    97

                    Safety

                    Introduction

                    When having applications deployed in your environment, not all of those may be installed via a package manager. When your infrastructure grows, it becomes even harder to know which tools are properly patched and which ones are not. For Python applications, this is where Safety comes in that can help scan installed software components via pip. It will also look at any of the dependencies that are installed.

                    Project details

                    Safety is written in Python.

                    Strengths and weaknesses

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

                      Typical usage

                      • Penetration testing
                      • Security assessment
                      • Security monitoring
                      • Vulnerability scanning

                      Safety review

                      64

                      Tulpar

                      Introduction

                      Tulpar is a vulnerability scanner that can be used to test new or existing web applications. In the former case, it could be helpful to test a new project before it is deployed into production. This could be done by the developer or a security professional. If some web application is already in production, then it might be a good tool to perform regular testing on known vulnerabilities. In this case, it is typically a pentester or security specialist that does the testing.

                      Project details

                      Tulpar is written in Python.

                      Strengths and weaknesses

                      • + The source code of this software is available
                      • - Minimal or no documentation available

                      Typical usage

                      • Application security
                      • Application testing
                      • Web application analysis

                      Tulpar review

                      64

                      Vane

                      Introduction

                      Vane is a forked project of the now non-free popular WordPress vulnerability scanner WPScan.

                      Project details

                      Vane is written in Ruby.

                      Strengths and weaknesses

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

                        Typical usage

                        • Application security
                        • Web application analysis

                        Vane review

                        100

                        Vuls

                        Introduction

                        Vuls is a vulnerability scanner for Linux and FreeBSD. It is written in Go, agentless, and can use a remote login to find any software vulnerabilities. It has multiple levels of scanning, from a fast scan up to a deep scan with extensive analysis.

                        Project details

                        Vuls is written in Golang.

                        Strengths and weaknesses

                        • + More than 50 contributors
                        • + More than 5000 GitHub stars
                        • + The source code of this software is available

                          Typical usage

                          • System hardening
                          • Vulnerability scanning

                          Vuls review

                          60

                          Whitewidow

                          Introduction

                          Whitewidow is a security tool to perform automated SQL vulnerability scans. It can be used during penetration tests or for security assessments.

                          Project details

                          Whitewidow is written in Ruby.

                          Strengths and weaknesses

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

                            Typical usage

                            • Application security
                            • Penetration testing
                            • Vulnerability scanning

                            Whitewidow review

                            78

                            vulscan

                            Introduction

                            Vulscan is a vulnerability scanner which uses the well-known Nmap tool. By enhancing it with offline data from VulDB, it allows for detecting vulnerabilities. The database itself based on information from multiple sources.

                            Project details

                            vulscan is written in Lua.

                            Strengths and weaknesses

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

                            Typical usage

                            • Penetration testing
                            • Security assessment
                            • Vulnerability scanning
                            • Vulnerability testing

                            vulscan review

                            64

                            w3af

                            Introduction

                            W3af is an open source web application attack and audit framework and helps in scanning for vulnerabilities. The tool comes with both a graphical user interface (GUI) and command line utility. Some of the project files include a copyright line of 2006. That gives a good idea on the maturity of the project, and it is one of the rare tools that is still maintained after so many years.

                            Project details

                            w3af is written in Python.

                            Strengths and weaknesses

                            • + Tool is modular and extendable
                            • + More than 2000 GitHub stars
                            • + The source code of this software is available

                              Typical usage

                              • Application security
                              • Application testing
                              • Penetration testing
                              • Vulnerability scanning
                              • Web application analysis

                              w3af review

                              60

                              BDA (Big Data Audit)

                              Introduction

                              BDA is a vulnerability scanner for big data tools like Hadoop and Spark. It searches for configuration weaknesses and reports them. Hadoop and Spark are one of the few applications that encounter a lot of data. So by securing these applications, a big leap can be made as it covers a lot of data.

                              Project details

                              BDA is written in Python.

                              Strengths and weaknesses

                              • + The source code of this software is available

                                Typical usage

                                • Application testing
                                • Vulnerability scanning
                                • Vulnerability testing

                                BDA review

                                60

                                Bash Scanner

                                Introduction

                                Bash Scanner is a security tool that does a quick scan to see if there are vulnerable packages. It uses an external service to validate.

                                Project details

                                Bash Scanner is written in shell script.

                                Strengths and weaknesses

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

                                  Typical usage

                                  • Security assessment
                                  • Security monitoring

                                  Bash Scanner 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

                                    JexBoss

                                    Introduction

                                    JexBoss is a security tool to verify and exploit vulnerabilities in JBoss applications. It can be used for security assignments and pentests.

                                    Project details

                                    JexBoss is written in Python.

                                    Strengths and weaknesses

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

                                    Typical usage

                                    • Application security
                                    • Application testing
                                    • Penetration testing
                                    • Vulnerability scanning

                                    JexBoss review

                                    74

                                    Wapiti

                                    Introduction

                                    Wapiti is typically used to audit web applications.

                                    Project details

                                    Wapiti is written in Python.

                                    Strengths and weaknesses

                                    • + Project is mature (10+ years)
                                    • + The source code of this software is available
                                    • + Well-known tool

                                      Typical usage

                                      • Application fuzzing
                                      • Vulnerability scanning
                                      • Web application analysis

                                      Wapiti review

                                      64

                                      Yasuo

                                      Introduction

                                      Yasuo is a Ruby script that scans for vulnerable and exploitable third-party web applications. There are many remotely exploitable vulnerabilities for web applications and their front-end components. Yasuo helps to make it easier to scan for the weaknesses like remote code execution (RCE), SQL injections, and file inclusions.

                                      Project details

                                      Yasuo is written in Ruby.

                                      Strengths and weaknesses

                                      • + The source code of this software is available

                                        Typical usage

                                        • Penetration testing
                                        • Vulnerability scanning
                                        • Web application analysis

                                        Yasuo review

                                        60

                                        arch-audit

                                        Introduction

                                        Arch-audit is a small utility that scans the system for known vulnerabilities on Arch Linux. It can be used by users of the Linux distribution to know when to update and what packages have weaknesses. With Arch Linux being a rolling distribution, this may improve the interval or timing of software patching.

                                        Project details

                                        arch-audit is written in Rust.

                                        Strengths and weaknesses

                                        • + The source code of this software is available

                                          Typical usage

                                          • Software management
                                          • Vulnerability scanning

                                          arch-audit review

                                          68

                                          flunym0us

                                          Introduction

                                          Flunym0us is a security scanner for WordPress and Moodle installations. The tool tests the security of the installation by performing enumeration attempts.

                                          Project details

                                          flunym0us is written in Python.

                                          Strengths and weaknesses

                                          • + The source code of this software is available

                                            Typical usage

                                            • Vulnerability scanning
                                            • Web application analysis

                                            flunym0us review

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