15 Best Penetration Testing Tools in 2023

Penetration testing tools are essential for businesses and organizations to ensure the security of their IT infrastructure.

These tools provide a comprehensive way to identify potential vulnerabilities in a network, system, or application before a cybercriminal exploits them.

Penetration testing tools are a critical part of any organization’s cybersecurity strategy.

By using these tools, businesses can proactively identify vulnerabilities and mitigate risks before cybercriminals exploit them.

Understanding the functionality of these tools can help organizations make informed decisions about which ones to use and how to incorporate them into their security protocols.

There are many different penetration testing tools out there and here I have gathered the 15 best penetration testing tools for you.

1. Metasploit

Metasploit is an open-source penetration testing framework that allows security professionals to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in a system or network

The tool was developed by Rapid7 and is widely used by cybersecurity professionals and penetration testers to simulate real-world attacks and assess the security posture of an organization.

Here it provides a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to use, even for those with little or no coding experience.

Metasploit Features:

• Open source
• Easy to use
• Testing framework
• Ideal for security professionals
• Exploit vulnerabilities
• Real-world attacks
• Little coding experience needed

2. Invicti 

Invicti Security is a cybersecurity company that provides a suite of web application security solutions, including its flagship product, Acunetix.

Acunetix is a web vulnerability scanner that allows organizations to detect and remediate vulnerabilities in their web applications.

It was founded in 2017 by a group of cybersecurity experts with the aim of making web application security accessible to businesses of all sizes.

Invicti Features:

• Cybersecurity company
• Ideal for web applications
• Detect vulnerabilities
• Founded in 2017
• Make more secure web applications
• Ideal for all businesses

3. Intruder

The intruder is a cloud-based vulnerability scanner that allows organizations to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in their IT infrastructure.

The tool was founded in 2015 by a team of cybersecurity experts with the aim of making vulnerability scanning more accessible and affordable for businesses of all sizes.

It uses a combination of automated scanning and manual testing to identify vulnerabilities in a system or network.

Intruder Features:

• Cloud-based
• Vulnerability scanner
• Identify vulnerabilities
• Ideal for IT instrastrues
• Cybersecurity experts
• Manual testing
• Combination of automated scanning

4. NMAP

Nmap (Network Mapper) is a free and open-source network exploration and security auditing tool that allows security professionals and network administrators to identify and map the topology of a network and scan for vulnerabilities.

The tool was developed by Gordon Lyon (also known as Fyodor) and was first released in 1997.

It uses various techniques, including port scanning, version detection, and OS fingerprinting, to gather information about hosts and services on a network.

NMAP Features:

• Free to use
• Open source network
• Security audition tool
• Ideal for professionals
• Port scanning
• Version detections
• OS fingerprinting

5. Wireshark

Wireshark is a powerful and versatile tool that provides security professionals and network administrators with a comprehensive way to analyze network traffic and troubleshoot network issues.

Its flexibility, customization options, and advanced features make it a popular choice for users of all levels of experience.

With Wireshark, organizations can identify and resolve network issues, monitor network traffic, and maintain the integrity of their networks.

Wireshark Features:

• Powerful tool
• Versatile to use
• Ideal for security professionals
• Network administrators preferred it
• Analyze network traffic
• Customization options
• Monitor traffic

6. Burp Suite

Burp Suite is a powerful and widely used web application security testing tool that allows security professionals and developers to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in web applications.

Its comprehensive set of features, intuitive user interface, and flexible customization options make it a popular choice among security professionals.

One unique feature of Burp Suite is its ability to intercept and modify web traffic in real time.

Burp Suite Features:

• Widely used
• Easy to use
• Ideal for web applications
• Ideal for security professionals
• Intercept and modify traffic
• Real-time
• Flexible customization options

7. Astra

Astra is a modern and comprehensive web application security testing tool that offers both manual and automated security testing features.

The tool is designed to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in web applications and provide developers with detailed reports on security issues that must be addressed.

The best thing about this one is its support for modern web application frameworks such as Ruby on Rails, AngularJS, and ReactJS.

Astra Features:

• Ideal for web applications
• Manual testing
• Automated security testing
• Remediate vulnerabilities
• Detailed reports
• Support frameworks
• Scan PWA apps

8. Cobalt Strike

Cobalt Strike is a powerful penetration testing tool that allows security professionals to simulate advanced cyber attacks against their own network infrastructure.

It is designed to help organizations test their security posture and identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by real-world attackers.

Here it comes with the ability to simulate real-world attack scenarios using advanced techniques such as social engineering and spear-phishing.

Cobalt Strike Features:

• Popular tool
• Penetration tool
• Ideal for security professionals
• Stimulate cyber attacks
• Helps network infrastructure
• Identify vulnerability
• Simulate real-world attack

9. Hexway

Hexway is a comprehensive cybersecurity company that offers a range of services and tools to help organizations protect their systems and data from potential threats.

One unique offering from Hexway is its Threat Detection and Response (TDR) platform, which uses advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms to detect and respond to potential threats in real-time.

The Hexway TDR platform is unique in that it combines multiple data sources, such as network traffic, system logs, and user behavior, to identify potential threats and provide actionable insights.

Hexway Features:

• User freindly
• Range of services
• Protect systems
• Protect from potential threats
• Advance machine learning
• Artificial algorithms
• Real-time potentials threats

10. Core Impact

If you’re looking for a powerful and versatile penetration testing tool, then Core Impact may be just what you need

Core Impact is a commercial-grade tool that allows security professionals to simulate real-world attack scenarios against their network infrastructure.

It allows users to identify vulnerabilities that may not be detected by standard security solutions and gain a deeper understanding of their organization’s security posture.

Core Impact Features:

• Versatile tool
• Easy to use
• Commercial grade tool
• Ideal for security professionals
• Take care of real-world attacks
• Detect security solution

11. BeEF

BeEF, short for Browser Exploitation Framework, is a powerful open-source penetration testing tool that allows security professionals to test the security of web browsers and web applications.

One unique feature of BeEF is its ability to exploit vulnerabilities in web browsers and use them to control and manipulate the victim’s web browser.

It can be used to identify vulnerabilities in web applications that can be exploited by attackers to gain access to sensitive information or take control of the victim’s computer.

BeEF Features:

• Know as framework
• Open source
• Penetration tool
• Ideal for security professionals
• Secure web browsers
• Exploit vulnerabilities

12. Aircrack

If you’re looking for a powerful and versatile tool to test the security of your wireless network, then Aircrack-ng may be just what you need.

It is a free, open-source software suite that allows security professionals to assess the security of wireless networks by analyzing packets and cracking passwords.

Here it can be used to crack passwords for encrypted wireless networks, allowing users to identify weak or easily guessable passwords that could be exploited by attackers.

Aircrack Features:

• Powerful tool
• Easy to use
• Open source
• Secure wireless network
• Analyze packers
• Crack passwords
• Encrypt wireless data

13. Ettercap

When it comes to network security testing, Ettercap takes a unique and powerful approach.

As an open-source software suite, Ettercap provides network security professionals with a wide range of features and capabilities that allow for in-depth analysis, monitoring, and testing of network security.

Here it comes with the ability to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, allowing security professionals to intercept network traffic and gain insights into the communication between systems

Ettercap Features:

• Open source
• Free to use
• Ideal for network security professionals
• In-depth analysis
• Powerful tool
• Easy to use
• Test network security

14. Kali Linux

Kali Linux is a powerful and versatile operating system designed for network security testing and ethical hacking.

It is a Debian-based Linux distribution that includes a wide range of pre-installed tools and utilities for penetration testing, digital forensics, and network analysis.

Here it also includes a range of digital forensics tools that allow users to analyze and recover data from compromised systems.

Kali Linux Features:

• Versatile tool
• Operating system
• Ideal for penetration testing
• Ethical hacking
• Debian based tool
• Pre-installed tools
• Analyze and recover data

15. Cain & Abel

Last but not the least, Cain & Abel is a popular and powerful tool for network security testing and password recovery.

Here it also provides a range of other useful features, such as VoIP analysis, wireless network cracking, and network authentication testing.

It is highly customizable, with a range of configuration options and settings that allow users to tailor the software to their specific needs.

Cain & Abel Features:

• Powerful tool
• Ideal for penetration
• Helps in password recovery
• Range of features
• VoIP analysis
• Wireless network cracking