portSpider alternatives

Looking for an alternative tool to replace portSpider? During the review of portSpider 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. Masscan (high-performance port scanner)
  3. Nmap (network and vulnerability scanner)

These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to portSpider.

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

    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

      78

      Nmap

      Introduction

      Nmap is short for "Network Mapper". It is a free and open source utility for network discovery and security auditing. It was release in September of 1997 by Gordon Lyon, commonly known under his pseudonym "Fyodor".

      Project details

      Nmap is written in C, C++, Lua, Python.

      Strengths and weaknesses

      • + Project is mature (10+ years)
      • + The source code of this software is available
      • + Well-known author
      • + Well-known tool
      • - Software usage is restricted (e.g. commercially)

      Typical usage

      • Network scanning
      • Vulnerability scanning

      Nmap 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

      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

        Leviathan Framework

        Introduction

        Leviathan is a security tool to provide a wide range of services including service discovery, brute force, SQL injection detection, and exploit capabilities. The primary reason to use this tool is to do massive scans on many systems at once. For example to include a huge network range, country-wide scan, or even full internet scan.

        Project details

        Leviathan Framework is written in Python.

        Strengths and weaknesses

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

          Typical usage

          • Penetration testing
          • Security assessment
          • Service exploitation

          Leviathan Framework review

          63

          Portspoof

          Introduction

          Portspoof is a small utility with the goal to make port scanning by other much harder. It achieves this by showing all configured TCP ports to be in the 'open' state instead of closed or filter. The related ports are also emulating valid services. This way a port scan on the system will reveal many open ports and look to have legitimate services running.

          Project details

          64

          Anchore Engine

          Introduction

          Anchore is a tool to help with discovering, analyzing and certifying container images. These images can be stored both on-premises or in the cloud. The tooling is mainly focused on developer so that perform analysis on their container images. Typical actions include running queries, creating reports, or set up policies for a continuous integration and deployment pipeline.

          Project details

          Anchore Engine is written in Python.

          Strengths and weaknesses

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

            Typical usage

            • System hardening

            Anchore Engine review

            93

            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

              64

              AutoNessus (autonessus)

              Introduction

              This tool is useful to time scans, for example by having it run outside of business hours, and stop when the day starts.

              Note: originally another tool was named AutoNessus. That is now Seccubus.

              Project details

              AutoNessus is written in Python.

              Strengths and weaknesses

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

              Typical usage

              • Vulnerability scanning

              AutoNessus review

              64

              CMSeeK

              Introduction

              CMSeeK is a security scanner for content management systems (CMS). It can perform a wide range of functions starting from the detection of the CMS, up to vulnerability scanning. The tool claims to support over 100 different CMS tools, with extensive support for the commonly used ones like Drupal, Joomla, and WordPress.

              The scans performed by CMSeeK include version detection. It can also do enumeration of users, plugins, and themes. This might be useful to see what users or components are available. The tool includes admin page discovery, file discovery, and directory listing. Anything that might be useful to a penetration test or security assessment, might be displayed.

              Project details

              CMSeeK 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
              • Software exploitation
              • Software identification
              • Vulnerability scanning

              CMSeeK 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

                64

                Damn Small FI Scanner (DSFS)

                Introduction

                None

                Project details

                Damn Small FI Scanner is written in Python.

                Strengths and weaknesses

                • + The source code of this software is available

                  Typical usage

                  • Security assessment
                  • Vulnerability scanning

                  Damn Small FI Scanner review

                  64

                  Damn Small JS Scanner (DSJS)

                  Introduction

                  None

                  Project details

                  Damn Small JS Scanner is written in Python.

                  Strengths and weaknesses

                  • + The source code of this software is available

                    Typical usage

                    • Penetration testing
                    • Security assessment

                    Damn Small JS Scanner review

                    60

                    Jackhammer

                    Introduction

                    The tool uses RBAC (Role Based Access Control) with different levels of access. Jackhammer uses several tools to do dynamic and static code analysis (e.g. for Java, Ruby, Python, and Nodejs). It checks also for vulnerabilities in libraries. Due to its modular architecture, it can use several scanners out of the box, with options to add your own.

                    The Jackhammer project was initially added to GitHub on the 8th of May, 2017.

                    Project details

                    Jackhammer is written in Ruby.

                    Strengths and weaknesses

                    • + The source code of this software is available

                      Typical usage

                      • Collaboration
                      • Information sharing

                      Jackhammer review

                      78

                      JoomScan

                      Introduction

                      JoomScan could be used to test your Joomla installation or during security assessments. As it has a primary focus on Joomla, it may provide better results than generic vulnerability scanners.

                      Project details

                      JoomScan is written in Perl.

                      Strengths and weaknesses

                      • + The source code of this software is available

                        Typical usage

                        • Vulnerability scanning
                        • Vulnerability testing

                        JoomScan review

                        64

                        LFI Suite

                        Introduction

                        This tool is a useful addition to the pentesting toolbox of security professionals. It can help discover and exploit any local file inclusion weakness in applications. Upon success, a reverse shell can be used to get access to the system.

                        Project details

                        LFI Suite 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
                        • Web application analysis

                        LFI Suite 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

                          74

                          Nikto

                          Introduction

                          Nikto helps with performing security scans against web servers and to search for vulnerabilities in web applications.

                          Project details

                          Nikto is written in Perl.

                          Strengths and weaknesses

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

                            Typical usage

                            • Penetration testing
                            • Security assessment
                            • Web application analysis

                            Nikto review

                            88

                            OpenSCAP

                            Introduction

                            The OpenSCAP project provides a wide variety of hardening guides, configuration baselines, and tools to test for vulnerabilities and configuration issues. It uses SCAP as the protocol to store the underlying data.

                            Project details

                            OpenSCAP is written in C.

                            Strengths and weaknesses

                            • + More than 25 contributors
                            • + The source code of this software is available
                            • + Supported by a large company

                              Typical usage

                              • Security assessment
                              • Vulnerability scanning

                              OpenSCAP 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

                                  74

                                  Seccubus

                                  Introduction

                                  Supported engines and tools:

                                  • Nessus
                                  • OpenVAS
                                  • Nmap
                                  • Nikto
                                  • Medusa
                                  • Qualys SSL labs
                                  • SkipFish
                                  • SSLyze
                                  • testssl.sh
                                  • ZAP

                                  Project details

                                  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

                                  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

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