Qualys VMDR
Risk-based vulnerability management with automated prioritization and patching.
Nettacker
Automated, modular framework for fast, ethical penetration testing
A Python‑based framework that automates reconnaissance, vulnerability scanning, and credential testing across multiple protocols, delivering multithreaded performance and flexible reporting for security professionals.
Overview
Overview
OWASP Nettacker is a Python‑driven automation platform for penetration testing and information gathering. It targets security analysts, red‑team operators, and DevSecOps engineers who need repeatable, scalable scans of networks, web applications, APIs, IoT devices, and cloud assets.
Capabilities & Deployment
The tool offers a modular architecture where each task—port scanning, sub‑domain enumeration, service detection, vulnerability checks, or brute‑force attacks—is a plug‑in that can be combined via CLI, REST API, or the web UI. Multi‑protocol support (HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SSH, SMB, SMTP, ICMP, TELNET, XML‑RPC) and multithreaded execution accelerate large‑scale assessments. Results are stored in a built‑in SQLite database, enabling drift detection and historical comparison, and can be exported as HTML, JSON, CSV, or plain text. Nettacker runs natively or inside Docker, simplifying installation and integration into CI/CD pipelines.
Use Cases
Whether mapping an attack surface, supporting bug‑bounty recon, or continuously monitoring compliance, Nettacker provides the flexibility and speed required for modern security workflows.
Highlights
Modular architecture lets you enable or disable individual scan modules
Multi‑protocol, multithreaded scanning accelerates large‑scale assessments
Exportable reports in HTML, JSON, CSV, and plain‑text formats
Built‑in SQLite database with drift detection for historical comparisons
Pros
- Highly extensible via independent modules
- Supports a wide range of network protocols
- Fast parallel execution reduces scan time
- Multiple output formats simplify integration with other tools
Considerations
- Requires Python environment knowledge for custom module development
- Large scans can generate extensive data, needing storage management
- Advanced configuration may have a learning curve for newcomers
- Limited to SQLite for local storage; external DB integration not native
Managed products teams compare with
When teams consider Nettacker, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.
Looking for a hosted option? These are the services engineering teams benchmark against before choosing open source.
Fit guide
Great for
- Security teams needing automated, repeatable penetration testing
- Bug bounty hunters who want to scale reconnaissance tasks
- DevSecOps pipelines that require continuous vulnerability monitoring
- Organizations looking to track asset changes over time
Not ideal when
- Users seeking a fully managed SaaS scanning service
- Environments that require native integration with enterprise DBs
- Beginners without any command‑line or Docker experience
- Scenarios demanding real‑time, on‑the‑fly alerting
How teams use it
Penetration Testing
Automates reconnaissance, service discovery, and vulnerability checks to produce repeatable test reports.
Bug Bounty Recon
Scales sub‑domain enumeration, directory brute‑forcing, and credential testing to accelerate target identification.
CI/CD Compliance Monitoring
Integrates into pipelines to detect new hosts, open ports, or vulnerabilities via drift detection.
Shadow IT Asset Discovery
Uses historical scan data to uncover unmanaged hosts and services appearing in the network.
Tech snapshot
Python67%
CSS22%
JavaScript11%
Dockerfile1%
Makefile1%
Frequently asked questions
Which protocols can Nettacker scan?
It supports HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SSH, SMB, SMTP, ICMP, TELNET, and XML‑RPC.
How do I run Nettacker without installing dependencies?
Use the official Docker image (`owasp/nettacker`) and invoke scans via the container’s CLI.
Can I integrate Nettacker into automated pipelines?
Yes, the REST API and CLI can be called from CI/CD tools, and scan results can be exported for further processing.
What formats are available for scan reports?
Reports can be generated in HTML, JSON, CSV, or plain‑text.
Is there a built‑in database for storing scan history?
Nettacker uses a local SQLite database to store past scans and supports drift detection for change monitoring.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 4,774
- Watchers
- 4,774
- Forks
- 984
LicenseApache-2.0
Repo age8 years old
Last commit2 days ago
Primary languagePython
Last synced yesterday