Open-source alternatives to Shad0w

Empire is a post-exploitation command-and-control (C2) framework designed for red team operations. It deploys and manages agents written in PowerShell, Python, C#, Go, and C across Windows, Linux, and macOS, using encrypted communication channels over HTTP, HTTPS, and SMB. The framework executes over 400 built-in modules for reconnaissance, privilege escalation, credential theft, and lateral movement, and provides a modular engine for authoring custom attack modules. What sets Empire apart is its multi-language agent deployment system, which allows operators to choose implants that suit each

PoshC2 is a proxy aware C2 framework used to aid penetration testers with red teaming, post-exploitation and lateral movement.

Stitch is a command and control framework and post-exploitation toolkit designed for managing multiple remote systems from a central server. It functions as a remote administration tool and payload builder, enabling the execution of commands and the deployment of agents across different operating systems. The project features a cross-platform builder for generating custom executable agents with configurable network bindings and boot behaviors. It utilizes encrypted communication channels to secure traffic between the controller and remote clients, and it supports the execution of dynamic scri

This project is a curated collection of tools, scripts, and technical guides designed to enhance offensive security operations using Cobalt Strike. It serves as a resource hub for managing command and control infrastructure and deploying security engagements. The collection includes toolkits for evading endpoint detection and response systems, alongside libraries for automating red team tasks such as reconnaissance and host enumeration. It provides resources for developing post-exploitation frameworks, specifically focusing on the creation of reflective libraries and memory-resident code. Th

Nishang is a PowerShell-based offensive security framework designed for red teaming and penetration testing on Windows targets. It functions as a post-exploitation toolkit and payload generator to automate attacks and manage remote targets. The project provides specialized capabilities for bypassing security controls, such as disabling the Antimalware Scan Interface and employing in-memory execution to avoid disk-based detection. It includes a variety of stealthy command and control mechanisms, utilizing non-standard channels like DNS TXT records, ICMP traffic, and webmail for communication a

Empire is a command and control framework and post-exploitation toolkit used for network penetration testing. It serves as a centralized platform for coordinating remote agent communication and automating the delivery of security testing payloads to target systems. The project provides a suite of modules for host reconnaissance, lateral movement, and credential harvesting across corporate environments. It functions as a remote administration tool to maintain persistence and execute commands on compromised hosts. The framework incorporates capabilities for agent orchestration and the executio

NimPlant - A light first-stage C2 implant written in Nim|Rust and Python

The framework is a comprehensive penetration testing platform designed for the development, testing, and execution of security exploits. It serves as a research toolkit and automated assessment environment, enabling security professionals to identify and validate vulnerabilities within networked systems and infrastructure through repeatable, standardized procedures. The platform distinguishes itself through a modular architecture that supports reflective payload injection, allowing for the execution of code directly in memory without writing to disk. It utilizes an asynchronous event loop to

dnscat2 is a DNS tunneling tool and covert command and control server that encapsulates encrypted traffic within DNS queries and responses. It functions as an encrypted DNS proxy designed to bypass network firewalls and establish communication paths when standard outbound ports are blocked. The project enables the creation of covert network channels by acting as an authoritative nameserver. It supports remote command execution through interactive shells and provides a mechanism for tunneling TCP network traffic to reach restricted remote hosts. The system includes capabilities for multiplexe

Havoc is a post-exploitation framework used for red team operations. It provides a centralized command and control system for managing remote agents through persistent network connections and customizable communication profiles. The framework focuses on security evasion and stealth, utilizing indirect syscall execution, return address spoofing, and hardware-breakpoint patching to bypass endpoint detection and response tools. It includes a payload generation workflow to create executable shellcode or DLLs for initial remote access. The system covers a broad range of operational capabilities,

Mythic is a red teaming framework and command and control server designed for managing post-exploitation activities. It provides a centralized system for issuing tasks and receiving telemetry from agents deployed across diverse target platforms and operating systems. The platform features a collaborative operator interface that allows multiple security researchers to coordinate operations and track target activity within a shared environment. It supports the deployment and updating of diverse agent payloads through a multi-platform payload manager. The framework utilizes a plugin-based archi

Covenant is a .NET-based command and control framework designed for red team operations and adversary simulation. It serves as a collaborative platform for coordinating security assessments, managing remote implants, and executing tasks on compromised systems through a centralized server. The project is distinguished by its dynamic payload generator, which compiles and obfuscates executable binaries and scripts on the fly to bypass detection. It further separates itself through a collaborative environment that allows multiple authenticated operators to share a synchronized state, track operat

C3 (Custom Command and Control) is a tool that allows Red Teams to rapidly develop and utilise esoteric command and control channels (C2). It's a framework that extends other red team tooling, such as the commercial Cobalt Strike (CS) product via ExternalC2, which is supported at release. It…

Empire is a post-exploitation framework and command and control server designed to manage remote access agents. It provides a centralized system for coordinating these agents and executing specialized scripts across target systems. The project functions as a security evasion tool by adapting network communication patterns to bypass firewalls and monitoring tools. It utilizes a multi-language agent runtime and a modular plugin architecture to execute payloads across different operating systems. The framework covers a broad range of operational capabilities, including remote agent orchestratio

This project is a technical guide and reference for internal network penetration testing. It serves as a collection of procedures for exploiting and navigating private corporate networks during security assessments. The repository provides specialized manuals and cheat sheets focused on active directory attacks, lateral movement, and privilege escalation. It includes a post-exploitation playbook for maintaining system persistence and clearing forensic traces. The documentation covers a broad range of security capabilities, including initial access, network pivoting and tunneling, and interna

WEASEL is a small in-memory implant using Python 3 with no dependencies. The beacon client sends a small amount of identifying information about its host to a DNS zone you control. WEASEL server can task clients to execute pre-baked or arbitrary commands.

Proof of concept MacOS post exploitation tool written in Swift. Designed as a POC for blue teams to build macOS detections. Author: Cedric Owens

BeEF is a modular security testing environment designed for browser exploitation and web application auditing. It functions as a platform for security professionals to evaluate client-side defenses by injecting persistent scripts into web browsers, establishing a bidirectional communication channel for remote command execution and data exfiltration. The framework distinguishes itself through its ability to use compromised browser sessions as proxies to conduct internal network reconnaissance, effectively bypassing perimeter security controls. It utilizes an event-driven control interface and

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Weaponized web shell

Tool to deploy a post-exploitation prompt at any time