PassGen alternatives
Looking for an alternative tool to replace PassGen? During the review of PassGen 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
- not24get (password quality checker)
- acccheck (SMB password guessing and dictionary attack tool)
- mimipenguin (password extractor)
These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to PassGen.
Alternatives (by score)
not24get
Introduction
API: pwdCheckModule object in ppolicy.
Executable: "check password script" in Samba suite (not24get_check)
This module is a wrapper around libpasswdqc, the library that powers the pam_passwdqc module.
Project details
not24get is written in C.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + The source code of this software is available
Typical usage
- Password strength testing
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
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
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
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
pwdlyser
Introduction
The pwdlyser tool can help during penetration tests and security assignments to analyze cracked passwords and their strength.Project details
pwdlyser is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + The source code of this software is available
Typical usage
- Password strength testing
- Penetration testing
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Passmgr
Introduction
Passmgr is a simple portable password manager written in Go. It helps with storing secrets, like passwords and API keys.Project details
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
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
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
mimipy
Introduction
The mimipy tool is based on the work of mimipenguin and ported to Python. It can extract passwords from memory or overwrite them to prevent capture.
Project details
mimipy is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + The source code of this software is available
Typical usage
- Data extraction
- Information gathering
- Security assessment
pass (password-store)
Introduction
The pass utility is also known as password-store. It uses GPG and Unix directories to store passwords and others secrets.Project details
pass-rotate
Introduction
This tool makes it easier to rotate your passwords one at a time or in bulk. For example, when security events or as a routine to do a regular rotation of passwords.
Project details
pass-rotate is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + The source code of this software is available
Typical usage
- Password management
pick
Introduction
Tools like pick are used to store passwords and secrets safely.
Project details
pick is written in Golang.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + Very low number of dependencies
- + The source code of this software is available
Typical usage
- Data security
- Secure storage
Some relevant tool missing as an alternative to PassGen? Please contact us with your suggestion.