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THE PRACTITIONER’S TOOLKIT

The right tool.
For the right task.

A broad, curated directory of established tools and newer options for professional security testing. Find the official documentation, understand the purpose and choose what fits your brief.

75tools & references13task categories22 Oct 2026content review

Showing 75 of 75 resources

Curated by task. Not a ranked popularity list.

DiscoveryOpen source

dnsx

Resolve and inspect DNS records across a target list.

In practice

Use approved names and record the resolver and observation time.

Official resource ↗: dnsx
DiscoveryFree & paid

Shodan

Research publicly observed internet services and historical exposure.

In practice

Search results may be stale; confirm ownership before direct testing.

Official resource ↗: Shodan
DiscoveryFree & paid

Maltego

Explore relationships between investigation data and infrastructure.

In practice

Review transform data sources, terms and handling of client information.

Official resource ↗: Maltego
DiscoveryOpen source

BBOT

Automate modular reconnaissance and asset discovery.

In practice

Review modules, recursion and scope expansion before starting a scan.

Official resource ↗: BBOT
NetworkOpen source

Nmap

Discover ports, identify services and run selected protocol checks.

In practice

Review licence terms, scripts, timing and the exact target list.

Official resource ↗: Nmap
NetworkOpen source

Naabu

Identify open ports for follow-up service assessment.

In practice

Limit targets and scan rate; validate results with a protocol-specific check.

Official resource ↗: Naabu
NetworkOpen source

curl

Send controlled requests and inspect service responses.

In practice

Keep TLS verification enabled and avoid putting secrets in command history.

Official resource ↗: curl
Web & APIOpen source

ZAP

Proxy, inspect and scan web applications.

In practice

Passive review and active scanning have different effects; select the correct mode.

Official resource ↗: ZAP
Web & APIFree & paid

Caido

Inspect and replay traffic in a web auditing workspace.

In practice

Check project boundaries, plugins and storage before loading client traffic.

Official resource ↗: Caido
Web & APIOpen source

httpx

Probe HTTP services and collect response metadata.

In practice

This is ProjectDiscovery httpx; do not confuse it with the Python library.

Official resource ↗: httpx
Web & APIOpen source

ffuf

Perform controlled web fuzzing and content discovery.

In practice

Set a suitable wordlist and request rate; check false-positive filters.

Official resource ↗: ffuf
Web & APIOpen source

sqlmap

Assess suspected SQL injection using automated techniques.

In practice

Use a narrow approved test; avoid data extraction or write actions by default.

Official resource ↗: sqlmap
Web & APIOpen source

Nikto

Check web servers for known exposures and configuration issues.

In practice

Expect active requests and validate every reported issue manually.

Official resource ↗: Nikto
Web & APIFree & paid

Postman

Build and organise repeatable API request collections.

In practice

Review synchronisation and shared workspaces before storing client tokens or requests.

Official resource ↗: Postman
ScannersOpen source

Nuclei

Run targeted checks using reviewed templates.

In practice

Pin templates; review request behaviour, code execution and out-of-band interactions.

Official resource ↗: Nuclei
Identity & internalOpen source

NetExec

Assess network services and identity access across approved systems.

In practice

Credential use and remote execution need explicit scope and attempt limits.

Official resource ↗: NetExec
Identity & internalOpen source

Impacket

Work with network protocols through Python tools and libraries.

In practice

Select each tool deliberately; many actions authenticate or execute remotely.

Official resource ↗: Impacket
Identity & internalOpen source

Certipy

Assess Active Directory Certificate Services configuration and permissions.

In practice

Certificate requests and authentication tests require specific client approval.

Official resource ↗: Certipy
Identity & internalOpen source

PEASS-ng

Identify possible local privilege escalation conditions.

In practice

Review script behaviour and collected data before execution on a client host.

Official resource ↗: PEASS-ng
Identity & internalOpen source

Chisel

Tunnel connections through an approved test path.

In practice

Agree routing, authentication and boundaries; log and remove every temporary tunnel.

Official resource ↗: Chisel
Passwords & test dataOpen source

Hashcat

Assess the strength of approved password hashes offline.

In practice

Agree acquisition and retention; recovered passwords are sensitive client data.

Official resource ↗: Hashcat
Passwords & test dataOpen source

SecLists

Select wordlists and test inputs for security assessments.

In practice

Choose a relevant subset rather than sending every list to every target.

Official resource ↗: SecLists
Cloud & codeFree & paid

Prowler

Review cloud security configuration against supported checks.

In practice

A cloud review needs defined accounts, roles and permissions beyond an external test.

Official resource ↗: Prowler
Cloud & codeOpen source

Trivy

Inspect supported images, files and repositories for security issues.

In practice

Record scanner and database versions; findings still need applicability checks.

Official resource ↗: Trivy
MobileOpen source

MobSF

Support static and dynamic analysis of mobile applications.

In practice

Use approved application builds and isolate potentially unsafe files.

Official resource ↗: MobSF
MobileOpen source

Frida

Inspect application behaviour through dynamic instrumentation.

In practice

Use authorised devices and builds; record any changes to the test environment.

Official resource ↗: Frida
Standards & researchReference

PTES

A reference structure for the penetration testing lifecycle.

In practice

Use lifecycle principles and check technical examples against current vendor guidance.

Official resource ↗: PTES
Standards & researchReference

CISA KEV

Check the catalogue of vulnerabilities known to be exploited.

In practice

Treat inclusion as prioritisation context and verify applicability to the client asset.

Official resource ↗: CISA KEV
Standards & researchReference

NIST NVD

Research CVE records, technical references and scoring information.

In practice

Check the affected product and vendor advisory; database entries may change.

Official resource ↗: NIST NVD
CHOOSE DELIBERATELY

Build a toolkit.
Keep a clear method.

The guide is free. Some listed tools have paid editions, usage limits or account requirements. Check the official licence and terms before client work.

Read the procedures ↗

Before using a tool

  • Confirm it supports the exact task and approved target.
  • Check the official release, maintenance, dependencies and licence.
  • Review default scope, concurrency, plugins and template behaviour.
  • Check where data, telemetry and interaction callbacks go.
  • Trial unfamiliar behaviour in an isolated lab.
  • Validate findings and keep raw evidence with the tool version.

Internal, cloud and mobile resources support separately scoped assessments. Listing a tool here does not make those areas part of an external network test.

A reviewed directory, not a live update feed.

Descriptions and primary links were reviewed for this edition on 22 October 2026. Versions, licensing and availability can change. No tool or paid service is required simply because it appears here. Suggest a correction or addition ↗