Hackers are constantly finding new vulnerabilities and exploiting them for their own gain. To keep your company safe, you need to be proactive in testing the systems that hackers may target. Penetration tests help identify these vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, but it can take time and personnel resources to conduct these tests manually. Fortunately, there are tools available that allow you to automate this process!
In this article, we will dive into what you need to know about these tools so you can decide which one is right for your needs.
What Is Automated Penetration Testing?
Automated penetration testing is a way to test the security of an application by using software that performs tests on its own. There are several automated penetration testing tools to choose from, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. They work by running a series of tests against a system to identify any potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a hacker.
Top Tools For Automated Penetration Testing
There are several open-source and commercial tools available that can help automate the penetration testing process. Some examples include Astra Pentest, Acunetix, Burp Suite Pro, AppSpider Pro, Detectify Crowdsource Reconnaissance Platforms, and Metasploit.
1. Astra Pentest
Astra Pentest is a commercial automated penetration testing tool that scans for vulnerabilities in web applications. It uses a combination of black-box and white-box scanning techniques to identify potential security issues.
Benefits:
- Scans quickly and accurately for vulnerabilities
- Identifies both known and unknown vulnerabilities
- Integrates with other security tools, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems
Drawbacks:
- Can be a bit expensive for smaller organizations
2. Burp Suite Pro
Burp Suite Pro is an open-source automated penetration testing tool that helps find vulnerabilities in web applications. It consists of several different modules that can be used together or separately, including a scanner, intruder, repeater, sequencer, and decoder.
Benefits:
- Wide variety of tools to choose from
- Easy to use and learn
Drawbacks:
- Some modules are only available in the paid version
3. AppSpider Pro
AppSpider Pro is a commercial automated penetration testing tool that scans for vulnerabilities in web applications and mobile apps. It employs both black-box and white-box scanning methods to look for security problems.
Benefits:
- Scans quickly and accurately for vulnerabilities in both web applications and mobile apps
- Identifies both known and unknown vulnerabilities
4. Detectify Crowdsource Reconnaissance Platforms
Detectify Crowdsource Reconnaissance Platforms is a commercial automated penetration testing tool that uses machine learning to scan for vulnerabilities in web applications. It allows users to upload software products and receive automated security reports based on the results of running them through its platform.
Benefits:
- Uses an intelligent crowd-sourcing approach rather than manual input, which means it can find more potential issues with less effort from your team
- Can be run without any prior knowledge about a website or application
Drawbacks:
- Only scans websites built using PHP, Ruby on Rails, NodeJS, Django, Symfony, and .NET Framework
5. Metasploit
Metasploit is an open-source automation framework created by RapidSeven that includes several different types of tools used during various phases of cyber security operations - reconnaissance (information gathering), scanning, exploitation (gaining access to systems through vulnerabilities in software and hardware), command and control communication, post-exploitation (stealing data once inside the system).
Benefits:
- Open source automation framework means it's free for use with many different types of tools.
Drawbacks:
- Requires some knowledge about how these various phases work together.
6. Nessus
Nessus is an open-source vulnerability scanner that features automatic updating. The terminal can be used as a stand-alone program or linked to other security systems.
Benefits:
- Offers continuous updates so you always have the latest information on web application vulnerabilities available at your fingertips.
Drawbacks:
- Can sometimes generate too many false positives when run manually.
7. Netsparker Community Edition
Netsparker Community Edition is a free automated penetration testing tool that helps find vulnerabilities in web applications.
Benefits:
- Each vulnerability is assigned a priority between one and three, with the highest rating being reserved for those that are both severe in terms of impact or criticality and high severity.
Drawbacks:
- The free edition doesn't include all of the features offered by other tools, such as full integration with other software or an easy interface for non-technical users.
8. Nmap Open Source Security Scanner
The Network Mapper is a tool that can be used by anyone to scan networks. It's also called "NMAP" or "Nessus Home Edition."
Benefits:
- Free open-source program
Drawbacks:
- More difficult interface than other automated penetration testing tools
9.NoSQLMap
NoSQLMap is an open-source SQL injection automation tool created specifically for MongoDB databases.
Benefits:
- Automates the process of finding and exploiting SQL injection vulnerabilities in MongoDB databases.
Drawbacks:
- Only works on MongoDB databases OWASP
10. Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP)
The Zed Attack Proxy, or "ZAP," is a free automated penetration testing tool that helps find vulnerabilities in web applications. The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) maintains it.
Benefits:
- Free to use for both personal and commercial purposes.
- Maintained by a well-respected security organization.
Drawbacks:
- Not as user-friendly as some other tools available
How Do Tools For Automated Penetration Testing Help?
Automated penetration testing is critical in identifying possible flaws before they become a problem. Using these tools to test your system regularly will ensure you stay one step ahead of hackers who may exploit them! Stay protected with automated penetration testing.
As we mentioned above, automated penetration testing helps organizations remain proactive in the fight against cybercrime. By regularly testing your systems for vulnerabilities, you can identify issues before they are exploited by hackers. This not only helps to protect your data and infrastructure but also minimizes the damage that can be caused if a hacker does gain access. Automated penetration testing is an important part of any organization's cyber security strategy, so make sure you are using the right tool for the job!
Conclusion
Penetration testing is a valuable tool for organizations of all sizes. By automating the process, you can speed up the process while still ensuring that all potential vulnerabilities are found and fixed. While there are some drawbacks to using automated penetration testing tools, the benefits far outweigh them. Before they become a more serious problem, you may discover and repair security problems with the proper equipment.