vulnerability-alerter alternatives

Looking for an alternative tool to replace vulnerability-alerter? During the review of vulnerability-alerter 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. vFeed (vulnerability database and query engine)
  2. SearchSploit (exploit search tool)
  3. VulnFeed (vulnerability feed parser)

These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to vulnerability-alerter.

Alternatives (by score)

78

vFeed

Introduction

vFeed consists of a database and utilities to store vulnerability data. It uses third-party references and data, which then can be used to see if a software component has a known vulnerability. The data itself is enriched by cross-checking it and store additional details about the vulnerabilities.

The vFeed tooling has an API available with JSON output. It can be used by security researchers and practitioners to validate vulnerabilities and retrieve all available details.

Project details

vFeed is written in Python.

Strengths and weaknesses

  • + Commercial support available
  • + The source code of this software is available

    Typical usage

    • Security assessment
    • Vulnerability scanning

    vFeed 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

    64

    VulnFeed

    Introduction

    VulnFeed is a tool that sorts through vulnerability reports, providing a single report that is organized by the applications and services you are interested in.

    Project details

    VulnFeed is written in Python.

    Strengths and weaknesses

    • + The source code of this software is available

      Typical usage

      • Vulnerability management

      VulnFeed review

      74

      OSINT Framework

      Introduction

      The OSINT framework provides a collection of tools to gather and parse public data. The tool is web-based and makes it easy to find tools for a particular task.

      Project details

      OSINT Framework is written in JavaScript.

      Strengths and weaknesses

      • + More than 10 contributors
      • + More than 500 GitHub stars
      • + The source code of this software is available
      • - No releases on GitHub available

      Typical usage

      • OSINT research
      • Footprinting
      • Intelligence gathering
      • Reconnaissance

      OSINT Framework review

      60

      Pompem

      Introduction

      Pompem is written in Python and helps pentesters to search public sources for vulnerability information and a related exploit.

      Sources

      • CXSecurity
      • National Vulnerability Database
      • PacketStorm security
      • Vulners
      • WPScan Vulnerability Database
      • ZeroDay

      Project details

      Pompem is written in Python.

      Strengths and weaknesses

      • + The source code of this software is available

        Typical usage

        • Vulnerability scanning

        Pompem 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

        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

          78

          Pocsuite

          Introduction

          Pocsuite is a remote vulnerability testing and development framework. It can be used by penetration testers and vulnerability researchers.

          Project details

          Pocsuite is written in Python.

          Strengths and weaknesses

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

            Typical usage

            • Vulnerability development
            • Vulnerability testing

            Pocsuite review

            64

            VulnWhisperer

            Introduction

            VulnWhisperer helps with the collection of vulnerability data and its reports. The goal of the tool is to make vulnerability data more actionable. It supports scans and data from products like Nessus, Qualys products, OpenVAS, and Tenable.io.

            Project details

            VulnWhisperer is written in Python.

            Strengths and weaknesses

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

              Typical usage

              • Vulnerability management
              • Vulnerability scanning

              VulnWhisperer 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

                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

                  74

                  Arachni

                  Introduction

                  Arachni is framework written in Ruby with focus on evaluating the security of web applications. Typical users include security professionals and system administrators.

                  The tooling is free and open source. Besides Linux, it also runs on macOS and Microsoft Windows.

                  Project details

                  Arachni is written in Ruby.

                  Strengths and weaknesses

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

                    Typical usage

                    • Penetration testing
                    • Security assessment
                    • Web application analysis

                    Arachni review

                    64

                    Damn Small Vulnerable Web (DSVW)

                    Introduction

                    Damn Small Vulnerable Web (DWVW) is a deliberately vulnerable web application to test your exploitation skills. It provides developers and penetration testers a practice tool. For developers, it is good to see common mistakes and create more secure software. Pentesters will be able to improve vulnerability detection and improving their attacks. Hopefully with the end goal of achieving privilege escalation or unauthorized data retrieval.

                    Project details

                    Damn Small Vulnerable Web is written in Python.

                    Strengths and weaknesses

                    • + The source code of this software is available

                      Typical usage

                      • Application testing
                      • Learning
                      • Skill development
                      • Vulnerability testing

                      Damn Small Vulnerable Web 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

                        81

                        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

                          74

                          Seccubus

                          Introduction

                          Supported engines and tools:

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

                          Project details

                          74

                          Vulnreport

                          Introduction

                          Vulnreport is a platform to deal with penetration test results. The tool formats them and provides actionable findings reports. The platform is strong in focusing on automation, to reduce the time spent by engineers.

                          Project details

                          Vulnreport is written in Ruby.

                          Strengths and weaknesses

                          • + The source code of this software is available

                            Typical usage

                            • Security reviews
                            • Vulnerability management
                            • Vulnerability scanning

                            Vulnreport review

                            100

                            WPScan

                            Introduction

                            WPScan can scan WordPress installations and determine if there are vulnerabilities in a particular installation.

                            Project details

                            WPScan is written in Ruby.

                            Strengths and weaknesses

                            • + More than 25 contributors
                            • + More than 2000 GitHub stars
                            • + The source code of this software is available
                            • - Software usage is restricted (e.g. commercially)

                            Typical usage

                            • Penetration testing
                            • Security assessment
                            • Vulnerability scanning

                            WPScan review

                            78

                            vuLnDAP

                            Introduction

                            VuLnDAP is a tool to show what can happen when a web application becomes vulnerable due to the business logic behind it. This tool uses LDAP, a common authentication protocol, to show such weaknesses. This tool helps penetration testers more about LDAP. At the same time, it provides useful insights to web and software developers to create more secure software.

                            Project details

                            vuLnDAP is written in Golang.

                            Strengths and weaknesses

                            • + The source code of this software is available

                              Typical usage

                              • Application security
                              • Learning
                              • Penetration testing

                              vuLnDAP review

                              100

                              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

                                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

                                  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

                                    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

                                      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

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