List of the Top 17 Penetration Testing Tools for Linux in 2025

Ensure the strength of your cybersecurity measures by testing them against actual threats. Kroll offers top-tier penetration testing services that combine cutting-edge threat intelligence, extensive annual cybersecurity evaluations, and a dedicated team of certified professionals. This forms the basis of our advanced and adaptable methodology.

Invicti, previously known as Netsparker, significantly mitigates the threat of cyberattacks. Its automated application security testing offers unparalleled scalability. As the security challenges your team faces outpace the available personnel, integrating security testing automation into every phase of your Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) becomes essential. By automating security-related tasks, your team can reclaim hundreds of hours each month, allowing for a more efficient workflow. It is crucial to pinpoint critical vulnerabilities and delegate them for remediation. Whether managing an Application Security, DevOps, or DevSecOps initiative, this approach equips security and development teams to stay ahead of their demands. Gaining comprehensive visibility into your applications, vulnerabilities, and remediation efforts is vital to demonstrating a commitment to reducing your organization's risk. Additionally, you can uncover all web assets, including those that may have been neglected or compromised. Our distinctive dynamic and interactive scanning technique (DAST + IAST) enables you to thoroughly explore your applications' hidden areas in ways that other solutions simply cannot achieve. By leveraging this innovative scanning method, you can enhance your overall security posture and ensure better protection for your digital assets.

Security Reporter acts as an all-encompassing solution for penetration testing reporting and collaboration, enhancing every step of the pentesting journey. By automating key tasks, it empowers security teams to increase efficiency and provide actionable recommendations. The platform boasts a wide range of features, including customizable reports, thorough assessments, detailed analytics, and seamless integration with numerous tools. This functionality creates a unified repository of information, which not only speeds up remediation processes but also improves the overall effectiveness of security strategies. With Security Reporter, you can minimize the time dedicated to research and repetitive security assessment tasks. Findings can be documented quickly using templates or by leveraging previous research outcomes. Interacting with clients is straightforward, as users can easily comment on findings, schedule retests, and facilitate discussions. Supporting over 140 integrations, the platform offers unique analytical capabilities and a multilingual function, allowing for the generation of reports in various languages. This flexibility ensures that communication remains effective and clear among diverse teams and stakeholders, ultimately fostering a more collaborative security environment. Furthermore, the user-friendly interface enhances overall user experience, making it easier for teams to adopt and utilize the platform effectively.

Acunetix stands at the forefront of automated web application security testing and has garnered a strong preference among numerous Fortune 500 companies. This tool is adept at identifying and reporting a diverse array of vulnerabilities within web applications. Its advanced crawler is designed to fully accommodate HTML5, JavaScript, and Single-page applications, enabling thorough audits of intricate, authenticated environments. Notably, Acunetix is unique in its capability to automatically identify out-of-band vulnerabilities, setting it apart from other solutions. Users can access Acunetix both online and as an on-premise installation. Moreover, the platform features integrated vulnerability management tools that empower enterprises to efficiently manage, prioritize, and mitigate various vulnerability threats, taking into account the criticality to their business operations. Acunetix also boasts compatibility with widely-used Issue Trackers and Web Application Firewalls (WAFs), ensuring a seamless integration into existing security workflows. Additionally, it is available for use on major operating systems, including Windows and Linux, as well as through online platforms.

In today's fast-paced business environment, software development must keep pace with the demands of the market. However, the current AppSec toolbox often suffers from a lack of integration, leading to complexities that can impede the software development life cycle. By employing Contrast, development teams can alleviate these challenges, as it reduces the complications that frequently affect their productivity. Traditional AppSec methods rely on a one-size-fits-all strategy for identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, resulting in inefficiencies and high costs. In contrast, Contrast optimizes the application of the most effective analysis and remediation techniques, significantly enhancing both efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, disparate AppSec tools can create operational silos, which obstruct the gathering of actionable insights related to the application's attack surface. Contrast addresses this issue by offering centralized observability, essential for risk management and leveraging operational efficiencies, benefiting both security and development teams alike. Furthermore, Contrast Scan, designed specifically for integration within development pipelines, ensures the swift, precise, and cohesive solutions that modern software development demands, ultimately leading to a more agile and responsive approach.

This comprehensive solution is capable of conducting active, passive, and agent-driven evaluations. It provides considerable flexibility in assessing risks tailored to the unique needs of each organization. With its impressive, adaptable, and scalable scanning functionalities, SAINT distinguishes itself from competitors in the industry. Additionally, SAINT has collaborated with AWS to enhance the scanning experience for its users, leveraging AWS's effective scanning tools. Furthermore, SAINT provides Windows scanning agents to its subscribers, ensuring a wider reach. Security teams benefit from the ability to effortlessly schedule scans, customize them extensively, and adjust their configurations using sophisticated options to optimize performance. This level of detail allows organizations to maintain a robust security posture while adapting to evolving threats.

Caido serves as an advanced toolkit designed for web security, catering specifically to penetration testers and bug bounty hunters, while also offering a robust solution for security teams seeking an adaptable and effective method to evaluate web applications. This comprehensive tool features a robust interceptor proxy that captures and manipulates HTTP requests, provides replay functionality for endpoint testing, and includes automation tools tailored for managing extensive workflows. With a sitemap visualization feature, users can easily comprehend the structure of web applications, facilitating the mapping and navigation of complex targets. Additionally, the inclusion of HTTPQL allows for efficient traffic filtering and analysis, ensuring that users can quickly access relevant data. The no-code workflow alongside a plugin system empowers users to customize the toolkit to fit their specific testing requirements effortlessly. Caido is constructed on a versatile Client/Server architecture, enabling users to access the toolkit seamlessly from various locations. Its intuitive project-management system streamlines target switching and eliminates the hassle of manual file management, thereby keeping workflows organized and efficient. Furthermore, the toolkit's design promotes collaboration among team members, enhancing the overall effectiveness of security assessments.

Phishing Club is an innovative, self-hosted platform designed for conducting phishing simulations tailored to contemporary security requirements. It empowers organizations to maintain total oversight of their phishing operations via a streamlined, singular binary installation. Notable features include: - A self-hosted framework that guarantees complete data control - Support for multi-tier phishing campaigns that effectively bypass defenses - Automated management of domains and TLS certificates - Versatile delivery options through SMTP or API integration - Unlimited campaigns and recipients with no imposed restrictions This platform is ideal for red teams seeking sophisticated tools, privacy-conscious organizations executing phishing assessments, and security firms delivering phishing-related services. All information is securely housed within your system, bolstered by extensive privacy measures, ensuring that your organizational data remains protected and confidential. In an era where cybersecurity threats are ever-evolving, having a robust simulation tool like Phishing Club can significantly enhance an organization's preparedness against phishing attacks.

Appvance IQ (AIQ) significantly enhances productivity and reduces costs associated with test creation and execution. It provides both AI-powered fully automated tests and third-generation codeless scripting options for developing tests. The scripts generated undergo execution via data-driven functional and performance testing, including app-pen and API assessments for both web and mobile applications. With AIQ's self-healing technology, you can achieve comprehensive code coverage using only 10% of the effort that traditional testing methods demand. Moreover, AIQ identifies critical bugs automatically, requiring very little intervention. There is no need for programming, scripting, logs, or recording, simplifying the overall testing process. Additionally, AIQ readily integrates with your current DevOps frameworks and tools, streamlining your workflow even further. This seamless compatibility enhances the efficiency of your testing strategy and overall project management.

OWASP ZAP, an acronym for Zed Attack Proxy, is a free and open-source penetration testing tool overseen by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). It is specifically designed to assess web applications, providing users with a high degree of flexibility and extensibility. At its core, ZAP functions as a "man-in-the-middle proxy," which allows it to intercept and analyze the communications between a user's browser and the web application, while also offering the capability to alter the content before sending it to the final destination. The tool can operate as a standalone application or as a background daemon process, making it versatile for various use cases. ZAP is suitable for a broad range of users, from developers and novices in security testing to experienced professionals in the field. Additionally, it supports a wide array of operating systems and can run within Docker containers, ensuring that users have the freedom to utilize it across different platforms. To further enhance the functionality of ZAP, users can explore various add-ons available in the ZAP Marketplace, which can be easily accessed from within the ZAP client interface. The tool is continually updated and supported by a vibrant community, which significantly strengthens its effectiveness as a security testing resource. As a result, ZAP remains an invaluable asset for anyone looking to improve the security posture of web applications.

MaxPatrol is engineered to monitor vulnerabilities and ensure adherence to compliance within organizational information systems. Its core functionalities include penetration testing, system assessments, and compliance monitoring, which together offer a holistic view of security across the entire IT landscape. This comprehensive approach provides detailed insights at various levels, including departmental, host, and application, enabling organizations to swiftly identify vulnerabilities and thwart potential attacks. Furthermore, MaxPatrol simplifies the management of IT asset inventories, granting users access to vital information about network resources such as addresses, operating systems, and available services, while also tracking the operational hardware and software and their update statuses. Notably, it continuously observes changes within the IT framework, adeptly detecting the emergence of new accounts and hosts, and adjusting to hardware and software updates seamlessly. The ongoing collection and analysis of data related to the security status of the infrastructure ensures that organizations possess the necessary insights to uphold strong security practices. This proactive stance not only heightens security awareness but also equips teams with the tools to respond swiftly to evolving threats, fostering a culture of vigilance within the organization. Ultimately, MaxPatrol serves as an indispensable ally in navigating the complexities of modern cybersecurity challenges.

SCYTHE is a platform designed for adversary emulation that caters to the needs of the cybersecurity consulting sector and enterprises. It enables Red, Blue, or Purple teams to swiftly create and simulate authentic adversarial campaigns in a matter of minutes. By utilizing SCYTHE, organizations can consistently evaluate their exposure to risk and their overall risk posture. This platform transcends mere vulnerability assessment by facilitating a transition from Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures to Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs). It is critical for organizations to recognize the potential for breaches and to focus on evaluating and enhancing their alerting controls. Campaigns are systematically aligned with the MITRE ATT&CK framework, which serves as the industry standard and a universal language for Cyber Threat Intelligence among Blue and Red teams. Adversaries often exploit various communication channels to infiltrate compromised systems within an organization’s network, and SCYTHE provides the capability to assess both preventive and detective controls across these diverse channels. This comprehensive approach ensures that organizations can stay vigilant and prepared against evolving threats.

Kali Linux is an open-source distribution based on Debian, crafted specifically for a range of information security tasks such as penetration testing, security research, computer forensics, and reverse engineering. Although any Linux distribution can be modified to include penetration testing tools, this often necessitates significant setup and configuration time. Kali Linux is designed to alleviate much of this burden, allowing security professionals to concentrate on their work immediately. Users can utilize Kali from nearly any platform, including mobile devices, Docker, ARM architectures, Amazon Web Services, the Windows Subsystem for Linux, virtual machines, or even directly on hardware. The presence of metapackages that are tailored for specific security operations, along with a well-documented ISO customization process, makes it easy to create a version of Kali that meets individual requirements. This adaptability makes Kali a suitable option for both seasoned experts and those new to the field, as the extensive documentation provides essential support for all users. Furthermore, the vibrant community engaged with Kali Linux plays a crucial role in its ongoing development, continuously enhancing the resources and tools available to its user base. This collaborative effort not only improves the software but also fosters a sense of belonging among its users.

Gophish serves as a powerful, open-source phishing toolkit that streamlines the evaluation of an organization's susceptibility to phishing attacks. Users can easily craft or upload convincing phishing templates with Gophish, leveraging its robust web interface that includes a complete HTML editor for straightforward customization directly in the browser. When a campaign is initiated, phishing emails are automatically sent in the background, and users can choose to schedule campaigns for whenever they prefer. Results are made available almost instantly and can be exported for reporting purposes. The platform's appealing web interface enhances the overall user experience, making it a breeze to import existing websites and emails, enable email open tracking, and execute various functions with just one click. Furthermore, Gophish updates results in real-time, allowing users to observe a timeline for each recipient that details email openings, link clicks, credential submissions, and other interactions. Each element of Gophish is designed for smooth and efficient operation, while its intuitive setup and accessible design create an environment where achieving significant results feels remarkably easy. This user-friendly approach not only streamlines the phishing testing process but also encourages a greater awareness of potential vulnerabilities within the organization, ultimately empowering users to take proactive measures against these threats. By offering such features, Gophish enables organizations to enhance their security posture effectively.

Hexway Hive & Apiary enables seamless teamwork and the creation of comprehensive reports that facilitate actionable insights. Additionally, it fosters stronger connections with clients, enhancing overall customer satisfaction.

We assist organizations in establishing trust by implementing genuine security measures and validating these with a SOC 2 report. Oneleet’s comprehensive platform simplifies the complexities of cybersecurity, allowing businesses to concentrate on providing value to their customers. Initially, we engage in a discussion to understand your specific security issues, compliance requirements, and existing infrastructure. Following this, we will develop a tailored security strategy that aligns with your current stage. Additionally, we guide you through the SOC 2 audit process with an independent CPA. With all necessary resources consolidated in one location, Oneleet ensures that your path to compliance is smooth and efficient, ultimately fortifying your organization’s security posture. Our commitment is to empower you with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the compliance landscape effectively.

BlackArch Linux is a tailored distribution based on Arch Linux, specifically created for the needs of security researchers and penetration testers. It offers users the option to install tools either singularly or in batches, allowing for significant customization. This distribution seamlessly integrates with standard Arch installations, ensuring compatibility. The BlackArch Full ISO provides a comprehensive array of window managers, while the BlackArch Slim ISO is pre-loaded with the XFCE Desktop Environment. Users opting for the full ISO receive an entire BlackArch system along with the complete set of tools available from the repository at the time of its release. In contrast, the slim ISO offers a streamlined setup that includes a selection of frequently used tools and system utilities ideal for penetration testing. Furthermore, the netinstall ISO serves as a minimalistic image for users who want to start their systems with just essential packages. Additionally, BlackArch functions as an unofficial user repository for Arch, enhancing its overall functionality. For a simplified installation experience, users may choose the Slim medium that features a graphical user interface installer, making the setup process more straightforward. This adaptability and user-friendly approach position BlackArch Linux as an enticing option for security professionals in search of a robust environment for penetration testing. Moreover, the extensive range of tools available on BlackArch continues to evolve, catering to the ever-changing landscape of security challenges.