XSS Hunter alternatives
Looking for an alternative tool to replace XSS Hunter? During the review of XSS Hunter 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
- Damn Small XSS Scanner (cross-site scripting scanner)
- XSSER (Cross-site scripting scanner)
- XSStrike (XSS detection and exploitation suite)
These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to XSS Hunter.
Alternatives (by score)
Damn Small XSS Scanner (DSXS)
Introduction
NoneProject details
Damn Small XSS Scanner is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + The source code of this software is available
- - No releases on GitHub available
Typical usage
- Penetration testing
- Web application analysis
XSSER
Introduction
XXSER helps to get from XSS to Remote Code Execution (RCE). It provides custom tools and payloads integrated with Metasploit's Meterpreter. The goal is to automate as much as possible.
Project details
XSSER is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + The source code of this software is available
- - Minimal or no documentation available
Typical usage
- Penetration testing
- Security assessment
- Web application analysis
XSStrike
Introduction
XSStrike is an XSS detection suite with the goal to reduce the false positives to zero. It can achieve this with its own fuzzing engine. The tool also allows generating custom payloads, which is rare within this line of tools.
Project details
XSStrike is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + More than 5000 GitHub stars
- + Very low number of dependencies
- + The source code of this software is available
Typical usage
- Application fuzzing
- Web application analysis
Pybelt
Introduction
The pybelt toolkit may be useful during a pentest to simplify the process of scanning. It includes options like port scanning, dork checking, cracking and verification of hashes, and scanning for SQL injections.
Project details
Pybelt is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + The source code of this software is available
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
Anchore
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 is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + More than 10 contributors
- + Commercial support available
- + The source code of this software is available
Typical usage
- System hardening
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
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
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
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
Damn Small FI Scanner (DSFS)
Introduction
NoneProject 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 JS Scanner (DSJS)
Introduction
NoneProject 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
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
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
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
- + More than 50 contributors
- + Commercial support available
- + More than 4000 GitHub stars
- + 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
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
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
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
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
portSpider
Introduction
portSpider is a security tool to scan network ranges and find open ports. The goal of the tool is to find vulnerable services.Project details
portSpider is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + The source code of this software is available
Typical usage
- Network scanning
- Vulnerability scanning
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
salt-scanner
Introduction
Salt-scanner is Linux vulnerability scanner based on Salt Open and Vulners audit API. It has Slack notifications and JIRA integration.Project details
salt-scanner is written in Python.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + The source code of this software is available
- - No releases on GitHub available
Typical usage
- Penetration testing
- Security assessment
- Vulnerability scanning
Seccubus
Introduction
Supported engines and tools:
- Nessus
- OpenVAS
- Nmap
- Nikto
- Medusa
- Qualys SSL labs
- SkipFish
- SSLyze
- testssl.sh
- ZAP
Project details
sqlmap
Introduction
The sqlmap is a well-known tool with an amazing number of GitHub stars (10,000+). It is used by many security professionals around the world to test the security of both web applications and the database that stores the data.
Project details
ssh_scan
Introduction
This tool is light on its dependencies, as it only uses Ruby and BinData. The scanner is simple to use, as it is limited in the number of parameters and options. There is also the ability to show the results on the screen or export the data to a JSON file. The latter is great if you want to do further processing of the details, or simply store them for later comparison.
Project details
ssh_scan is written in Ruby.
Strengths and weaknesses
- + More than 10 contributors
- + Many releases available
- + The source code of this software is available
- + Supported by a large company
Typical usage
- Penetration testing
- Security assessment
- System hardening
- Vulnerability scanning
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