vulscan alternatives

Looking for an alternative tool to replace vulscan? During the review of vulscan 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. VScan (vulnerability scanner with Nmap and NSE)
  2. Archery (vulnerability assessment and management)
  3. Bash Scanner (vulnerable package detection for Linux)

These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to vulscan.

Alternatives (by score)

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

    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

      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

        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

            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

                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

                  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

                    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

                    60

                    vulnix

                    Introduction

                    Tools like vulnix help with the detection of known weaknesses in packages by leveraging external resources. It can be used as an additional security layer on top of software patch management.

                    Project details

                    vulnix is written in Python.

                    Strengths and weaknesses

                    • + The source code of this software is available

                      Typical usage

                      • Vulnerability scanning

                      vulnix 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

                        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

                        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

                          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

                            97

                            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

                              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

                                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

                                      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

                                        APT2 (apt2)

                                        Introduction

                                        APT2 stands for Automated Penetration Testing Toolkit.

                                        APT2 performs a scan with Nmap or can import the results of a scan from Nexpose or Nessus. The processed results will be used in the second phase. This phase launches exploit and enumeration modules. It helps pentesters to automate assessments and tasks.

                                        Suggested components to have installed: convert, dirb, hydra, java, john, ldapsearch, msfconsole, nmap, nmblookup, phantomjs, responder, rpcclient, secretsdump.py, smbclient, snmpwalk, sslscan, xwd

                                        Project details

                                        APT2 is written in Python.

                                        Strengths and weaknesses

                                        • + The source code of this software is available

                                          Typical usage

                                          • Penetration testing
                                          • Security assessment

                                          APT2 review

                                          74

                                          Seccubus

                                          Introduction

                                          Supported engines and tools:

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

                                          Project details

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