13 Best Security Penetration Testing Tools The Pros Use

March 17, 2019 No comments

Are you seeking the best penetration testing tool for your needs? We have you covered.

Penetration testing tools are software applications used to check for network security threats.

Each application on this list provides unique benefits. Easy comparison helps you determine whether the software is the right choice for your business.

Let’s dive in and discover the latest software options on the market.

definition of pen testingWhat Is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing, also known as pen testing, is a means computer securities experts use to detect and take advantage of security vulnerabilities in a computer application. These experts, who are also known as white-hat hackers or ethical hackers, facilitate this by simulating real-world attacks by criminal hackers, who are known as black-hat hackers.

In effect, conducting penetration testing is similar to hiring security consultants to attempt a cybersecurity attack of a security facility to find out how real criminals might do it. The results are used by organizations to make their applications more secure.

How Penetration Tests Work

First, penetration testers must learn about the computer systems they will be attempting to breach. Then, they typically use a set of software tools to find vulnerabilities. Penetration testing may also involve social engineering hacking, in which testers will try to gain access to a system by tricking a member of an organization into giving them this access.

Penetration testers provide the results of their tests to the organization, which are then responsible for implementing changes that either resolve or mitigate the vulnerabilities.

different types of penetration testingTypes of Penetration Tests

Penetration testing can consist of one or more of the following types of tests:

White Box Tests

A white box test is one in which organizations provide the penetration testers with a variety of security information relating to their systems, to help them better find vulnerabilities.

Blind Tests

A blind test, which is also known as a black box test, is one in which organizations provide the penetration testers with no security information about the system being penetrated, in the hope that this will lead to exposing vulnerabilities that would not be detected otherwise.

Double-Blind Tests

A double-blind test, which is also known as a covert test, is one in which not only do organizations not provide penetration testers with security information, they also do not inform their own computer security of the tests. Such tests are typically highly controlled by those managing them.

External Tests

An external test is one in which penetration testers attempt to find vulnerabilities remotely. Because of the nature of these types of tests, they are usually performed on external-facing applications such as websites.

Internal Tests

An internal test is one in which the penetration testing takes place within an organization’s premises. These tests typically focus on security vulnerabilities that someone working from within an organization could take advantage of.

Top Penetration Testing Software & Tools

1. Netsparker

Netsparker Security Scanner is a popular automatic web application for penetration testing. The software can identify everything from cross-site scripting to SQL injection. Developers can use this tool on websites, web services, and web applications.

The system is powerful enough to scan anything between 500 and 1000 web applications at the same time. You will be able to customize your security scan with attack options, authentication and URL rewrite rules.

Benefits:

  • Scan 1000+ web applications in less than a day!
  • Add multiple team members for collaboration and easy shareability of findings.
  • Automatic scanning ensures limited set up is necessary.
  • Proof-based scanning Technology guarantees accurate detection.

2. Wireshark

Once known as Ethereal 0.2.0, Wireshark is an award-winning network analyzer with 600 authors. With this software, you can quickly capture and interpret network packets. The tool is open source and available for various systems including Windows, Solaris, FreeBSD, and Linux.

Benefits:

  • Provides both offline analysis and live-capture.
  • Capturing data packets allows you to explore various traits including source and destination protocol.
  • Offers the ability to investigate the smallest details for activities throughout a network.
  • Optional adding of coloring rules to the pack for rapid, intuitive analysis.

3. Metasploit

Metasploit is the most used penetration testing framework in the world.

It is useful for checking security and pinpointing flaws, setting up a defense. An Open source software, this tool will allow a network administrator to break in and identify fatal weak points. Beginner hackers use this tool to build their skills. The tool provides a way to replicates websites for social engineers.

Benefits:

  • Easy to use with GUI clickable interface and command line.
  • Users access to the latest exploit code.
  • You can use this to explore older vulnerabilities within your infrastructure.
  • Available on Mac Os X, Windows and Linux.
  • Can be used on servers, networks, and applications.

4. BeEF

This is a pen testing tool and is best suited for checking a web browser. Adapted for combatting web-borne attacks and could benefit mobile clients. BeEF stands for Browser Exploitation Framework and uses GitHub to locate issues. BeEF is designed to explore weakness beyond the client system and network perimeter. Instead, the framework will look at exploitability within the context of just one source, the web browser.

Benefits:

  • You can use client-side attack vectors to check security posture.
  • Connects with more than one web browser and then launch directed command modules.

5. John The Ripper Password Cracker

Lastly, this penetration tool can be used to tackle traditional passwords. This is one of the most prominent vulnerabilities. Attackers may use passwords to steal credentials and enter sensitive systems. John the Ripper is the essential tool for password cracking and provides a range of systems for this purpose. The pen testing tool is a free open source software.

Benefits:

  • Automatically identifies different password hashes.
  • Discovers password weaknesses within databases.
  • Includes a customizable cracker.
  • Allows users to explore documentation online. This includes a summary of changes between separate versions.

6. Aircrack

Aircrack NG is designed for cracking flaws within wireless connections. This tool is supported on various OS and platforms with support for WEP dictionary attacks. It offers an improved tracking speed compared to most other penetration tools and supports multiple cards and drivers. While the software seemed to be abandoned in 2010, Aircrack was updated again in 2019. The software is typically used for network scanning, security assessment, and hardware security.

Benefits:

  • You can use this tool to capture packets and export data.
  • It is designed for testing wifi devices as well as driver capabilities.
  • In terms of attacking you can perform de-authentication, establish fake access points and perform replay attacks.

7. Acunetix Scanner

Acutenix is an automated testing tool you can use to complete a penetration test. The tool is capable of auditing complicated management reports and issues with compliance. The software can handle a range of network vulnerabilities. Acunetix is even capable of including out-of-band vulnerabilities.

Benefits:

  • The tool covers over 4500 weaknesses including SQL injection as well as XSS.
  • Can crawl hundreds of thousands of web pages without delay.
  • Ability to run locally or through a cloud solution.

8. Burp Suite Pen Tester

There are two different versions of the Burp Suite for developers. The free version provides the necessary and essential tools needed for scanning activities. Or, you can opt for the second version if you need advanced penetration testing. This tool is ideal for checking web-based applications. There are tools to map the tack surface and analyze requests between a browser and destination servers.

Benefits:

  • Capable of automatically crawling web-based applications.
  • Available on Windows, OS X, Linux, and Windows.

9. Ettercap

The Ettercap suite is designed for ‘man in the middle’ attacks. Using this application, you will be able to build the packets you want and perform specific tasks. The software can send invalid frames and complete techniques which are more difficult through other options.

Benefits:

  • This tool is ideal for deep packet sniffing as well as monitoring and testing LAN.
  • Ettercap supports active and passive dissection of protections.
  • You can complete content filtering on the fly.
  • The tool also provides settings for both network and host analysis.

10. W3af

W3af web application attack and audit framework is focused on finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in all web applications. Three types of plugins are provided for attack, audit, and discovery. With this software, these plugins interact. In doing so, one plugin can locate different URLS. The software then passes these on to the audit tool to check for flaws in the security.

Benefits:

  • Easy to use for amateurs and powerful enough for developers.
  • It can complete automated HTTP request generation and raw HTTP requests.
  • Capability to be configured to run as a MITM proxy.

11. Nessus

Nessus has been used as a security penetration testing tool for twenty years. 27,000 companies utilize the application worldwide. The software is one of the most powerful testing tools on the market with over 45,000 CEs and 100,000 plugins. Ideally suited for scanning IP addresses, websites and completing sensitive data searches. You will be able to use this to locate ‘weak spots’ in your systems.

Benefits:

  • Ideal for locating and identify missing patches as well as malware.
  • The system only has .32 defects per every 1 million scans.
  • You can create customized reports including types of vulnerabilities by plugin or host.

12. Kali

Kali advanced penetration testing software is only available on Linux machines. Many experts believe this is the best tool for both injecting and password snipping. However, you will need skills in both TCP/IP protocol to gain the most benefit. An open source project, Kali Linux provides tool listings, version tracking, and meta-packages.

Benefits:

  • With 64 bit support, you can use this tool for brute force password cracking.
  • It can be integrated with other penetration testing tools including Wireshark and Metasploit.

13. X-Force Red

X-force Red is designed to check for weak spots across the network. The software uses both advanced state analysis and automated security testing to check for issues. Using this system, you can enable development as well as QA to complete testing through the SDLC process.

Benefits:

  • Using the internet scanner, you will be able to identify over 13000 different network devices.
  • Automatic scan function to check for vulnerabilities.
  • With this tool, you will be provided with code examples and a task list to fix issues quickly.
  • Provides scan-specific explanations for each issue which needs to be addressed.

Conclusion

Finding the right penetration testing software doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The tools listed above represent some of the best options for developers in 2019.

Are you worried about security, or are you just keen to provide clients with the top security software?