PEDA alternatives

Looking for an alternative tool to replace PEDA? During the review of PEDA 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. radare2 (reverse engineering tool and binary analysis)
  2. Cutter (graphical user interface for radare2)
  3. LIEF (library for analysis of executable formats)

These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to PEDA.

Alternatives (by score)

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

    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

      96

      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

        Manticore

        Introduction

        Manticore is a so-called symbolic execution tool to perform a binary analysis. It supports Linux ELF binaries and Ethereum smart contracts. The tool helps with researching binaries and their behavior. This might be useful to learn how malware works and troubleshooting.

        Project details

        Manticore is written in Python.

        Strengths and weaknesses

        • + More than 25 contributors
        • + More than 1000 GitHub stars
        • + The source code of this software is available

          Typical usage

          • Binary analysis
          • Malware analysis
          • Reverse engineering

          Manticore 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

            Bowcaster

            Introduction

            Bowcaster is a framework to create exploits. It is written in Python and comes with a set of tool and modules to help exploit development.

            Project details

            Bowcaster is written in Python.

            Strengths and weaknesses

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

            Typical usage

            • Exploit development
            • Penetration testing

            Bowcaster review

            60

            BAP (Binary Analysis Platform)

            Introduction

            The main purpose of BAP is to provide a toolkit for program analysis. This platform comes as a complete package with a set of tools, libraries, and related plugins. There are bindings available for C, Python, and Rust.

            Project details

            BAP is written in OCaml.

            Strengths and weaknesses

            • + More than 25 contributors
            • + More than 500 GitHub stars
            • + The source code of this software is available

              Typical usage

              • Binary analysis
              • Malware analysis

              BAP 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

              76

              pyelftools

              Introduction

              This toolkit is used by other software, or standalone. Its main purpose is to parse binary ELF files and DWARF debugging information. This can be useful during malware analysis or troubleshooting issues with programs.

              Project details

              pyelftools is written in Python.

              Strengths and weaknesses

              • + More than 25 contributors
              • + More than 500 GitHub stars
              • + The source code of this software is available

                Typical usage

                • Binary analysis
                • Malware analysis

                pyelftools review

                89

                r2frida

                Introduction

                Both Radare2 and Frida have their own area of expertise. This project combines both, to allow a more extensive analysis of files and processes.

                Project details

                r2frida is written in C, JavaScript.

                Strengths and weaknesses

                • + The source code of this software is available

                  Typical usage

                  • Application testing
                  • Binary analysis
                  • Memory analysis

                  r2frida review

                  74

                  Halcyon IDE

                  Introduction

                  Halcyon IDE provides an interface to develop Nmap scripts (NSE). These scripts can be used to extend the functionality of Nmap and perform more advanced scans on applications and infrastructures. By using an IDE, the development of NSE scripts can be simplified.

                  Project details

                  Halcyon IDE is written in Java.

                  Strengths and weaknesses

                  • + Runs on multiple platforms
                  • + The source code of this software is available

                    Typical usage

                    • Exploit development
                    • Penetration testing
                    • Security awareness

                    Halcyon IDE review

                    60

                    ShellPop

                    Introduction

                    During a penetration test, you might have an opportunity to gain shell access to a system. This tool helps with crafting the required type of reverse or bind shell for the task. PopShell also helps with encoding, staging, or switching between different protocols.

                    Project details

                    ShellPop is written in Python.

                    Strengths and weaknesses

                    • + The source code of this software is available

                      Typical usage

                      • Penetration testing

                      ShellPop review

                      60

                      elf2json

                      Introduction

                      The elf2json converts an ELF binary into JSON output and helping with reverse engineering and malware analysis.

                      Project details

                      64

                      AutoSploit

                      Introduction

                      AutoSploit attempts to automate the exploitation of remote hosts for security assessments. Targets can be collected automatically or manually provided. Automatic sources include Censys, Shodan, and Zoomeye.

                      Project details

                      AutoSploit 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

                        • Service exploitation
                        • System exploitation

                        AutoSploit review

                        74

                        SearchSploit

                        Introduction

                        SearchSploit is a small by OffensiveSecurity to search for exploits and related data in the exploit database (Exploit-DB). This may help penetration testers in their security assignments.

                        Project details

                        SearchSploit is written in shell script.

                        Strengths and weaknesses

                        • + The source code is easy to read and understand
                        • + Tool is easy to use
                        • + Used language is shell script
                        • - Full name of author is unknown

                        Typical usage

                        • Information gathering
                        • Penetration testing
                        • Service exploitation
                        • System exploitation
                        • Vulnerability testing

                        SearchSploit review

                        93

                        angr

                        Introduction

                        Tools like angr are great for performing in-depth analysis of binaries. This could be the analysis of an unknown binary, like a collected malware sample.

                        Project details

                        angr is written in Python.

                        Strengths and weaknesses

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

                          Typical usage

                          • Binary analysis
                          • Malware analysis

                          angr review

                          100

                          Frida

                          Introduction

                          Frida allows developers and researchers to inject custom scripts into black box processes. This way it can provide a hook into any function, allowing to trace executed instructions. The source code is not needed. Frida even allows direct manipulation and see the results. The tool comes with bindings for different programming languages, allowing to interact with processes. Example of the bindings that Frida provides include Python, Swift, .NET, Qt/Qml, and C API.

                          Project details

                          Frida is written in C.

                          Strengths and weaknesses

                          • + More than 10 contributors
                          • + More than 2000 GitHub stars
                          • + Many releases available
                          • + Project is mature (5+ years)
                          • + The source code of this software is available

                            Typical usage

                            • Black-box testing
                            • Reverse engineering

                            Frida 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

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