Top 5 Pentesting Tools Based on 500+ Reviews in 2024

Penetration testing or pentesting is a critical methodology employed by security professionals to evaluate the security of IT infrastructures by safely trying to exploit vulnerabilities. These tests are necessary for identifying weaknesses in a system before a malicious actor does. 

Pentesting tools are software applications used to evaluate the security of computer systems, networks, or web applications by simulating an attack from malicious outsiders. These tools help identify vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit, enabling organizations to strengthen their security measures before a real breach occurs. This article explores the top pentesting tools.

*Ratings are based on B2B review platforms such as G2 and Capterra.

Vendor Selection Criteria

• Employee Size: We focused on companies with over 100 employees, acknowledging the correlation between staff size and company revenue.
• Average Rating: We chose software that maintains an average rating higher than 4/5 across various review platforms.
• Pricing: The software options we included have diverse pricing structures, with their prices listed publicly in the table for easy comparison by potential users, considering both cost and value-influencing factors.

Core features that the chosen penetration testing tools have

Vulnerability Scanning

The selected pentesting tools are primarily equipped with vulnerability scanning capabilities.  

Automated and Manual Testing

These tools support both automated and manual testing methodologies. For example, Burp Suite and OWASP ZAP incorporate features that facilitate detailed manual security assessments, such as intercepting proxies. Invicti, on the other hand, focuses more on automation and aims to remove the need to manually check results while still offering the manual option where you can’t use full automation. 

Reporting and Analysis

All tools offer sophisticated reporting and analysis features. They generate detailed reports highlighting vulnerabilities, evaluating potential impacts, and proposing mitigation strategies. These reports are crucial for maintaining regulatory compliance and improving an organization’s security posture.

Integration with Development Environments

Integration with development environments is a key feature across these tools. They are designed to integrate into various development workflows, enabling DevSecOps practices. This allows development teams to address security issues during the development process itself, fostering a proactive security culture.

Customization and Extensibility

Customization and extensibility are prominent features. These tools allow users to enhance functionalities through plugins or scripts, making them adaptable to specific needs and enhancing their effectiveness in diverse environments.

Support for Multiple Technologies

Lastly, the tools support a wide array of technologies, extending from traditional web and network environments to modern applications like cloud infrastructure, mobile apps, and IoT devices. This versatility ensures comprehensive security coverage across different segments of an organization’s IT landscape.

Decision-Making Factors

• Specific Needs: Automated scanning vs. manual penetration testing prioritization.
• Budget: Commercial products vs. open-source alternatives.
• Integration: Compatibility with existing tools and workflows in your organization.
• Skill Level: Some tools require more technical expertise than others.
• Regulatory Compliance: Certain tools might help in meeting specific industry compliance standards more effectively.

1. Invicti

Invicti emphasizes the automation of web application security by providing dynamic and interactive application security testing (DAST and IAST). A standout feature of Invicti is its Proof-Based Scanning™ technology, which automatically verifies detected vulnerabilities to reduce false positives and provides proof of exploitability, especially for vulnerabilities related to REST, SOAP, and GraphQL APIs. 

It is designed for large enterprises and is scalable enough to handle extensive web applications and APIs across different environments. Users emphasize Invicti’s convinient features, especially its ability to verify access and SSL injection vulnerabilities and its compatibility with a range of security tools. ¹

2. Burp Suite

Burp Suite offers a combination of manual and automated testing tools, making it popular among security professionals who appreciate hands-on control over security testing. It features an intercepting proxy that allows users to monitor and manipulate network traffic between the browser and the internet. Many reviewers have noted the solution’s simple setup, highlighting its easy and straightforward installation process. ²

3. OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)

As an OWASP project, ZAP is open-source and developed by the security community, making it highly accessible and community-driven. It includes an automated scanner that helps find security vulnerabilities in web applications during the development and testing phases. Users cite that OWASP ZAP is user-friendly for beginners.³

Additionally, it supports both active scanning, which attempts to exploit vulnerabilities, and passive scanning, which involves observing network traffic to identify issues.

4. Tenable Nessus

Nessus is primarily known for its vulnerability scanning capabilities. It offers a wide range of plugins that automatically update to address the latest vulnerabilities, providing comprehensive coverage across various devices and software. Users observe that the tool’s plugins are regularly updated to include the latest vulnerabilities and offer suggestions for remediation.⁴

Additionally, Nessus includes features for configuration auditing, compliance checking, and patch management, enhancing its utility to ensure adherence to industry standards and security best practices. 

5. Metasploit by Rapid7

Metasploit is a framework designed for conducting real-world penetration tests. It is best known for its database of exploits, along with capabilities for developing and testing custom exploits.

Additionally, Metasploit specializes in creating and managing payloads that exploit vulnerabilities, enhancing its effectiveness as a penetration testing framework.

What are the types of Pentest Tools?

1. Network Scanners: These tools scan networks to identify active devices, open ports, and services running on servers. They provide information about the operating systems and software versions used within the network. 
2. Vulnerability Scanners: These are automated tools that scan systems, networks, or applications for known vulnerabilities. They typically generate a report detailing vulnerabilities that could potentially be exploited. Popular vulnerability scanners include Nessus, OpenVAS, and Qualys.
3. Web Application Scanners: Specifically designed to test security vulnerabilities in web applications, these tools test for flaws such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other security vulnerabilities found in web applications. OWASP ZAP, Invicti and Burp Suite are prominent examples.
4. Wireless Security Tools: These tools test the security of wireless networks, identifying issues like weak encryption, risks in Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) protocols, and more. Tools like Aircrack-ng and Kismet are widely used in wireless pentesting.
5. Exploitation Tools: After vulnerabilities have been identified, exploitation tools are used to demonstrate how an attacker could exploit them. These tools help in understanding the impact of a vulnerability. Metasploit is one of the most well-known exploitation frameworks.
6. Password Crackers: These tools test the strength of passwords by attempting to crack them. They use techniques such as brute force, dictionary attacks, and rainbow tables. Examples include John the Ripper and Hashcat.
7. Social Engineering Tools: These tools are used to test human security vulnerabilities by simulating phishing attacks, baiting, or other forms of social engineering. Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET) is one such tool.
8. Forensic Tools: These tools are used primarily for investigative purposes after a security breach. These tools help collect evidence, understand how a breach occurred, and identify what data was compromised. Tools like EnCase and Autopsy are used for digital forensics.
9. Configuration Scanners: These tools check for misconfigurations in systems and applications, which can often lead to security vulnerabilities. They assess policies, check compliance with standards, and ensure that best practices are being followed. CIS-CAT and Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer are examples.

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External Links

• 1. “Invicti Review by Amr Abdelnaser ” PeerSpot
• 2. “PortSwigger Reviews” PeerSpot
• 3. “OWASP Review 8838170” G2
• 4. “Tenable Nessus Review 8100291” G2