Metasploit vs Cobalt Strike

Struggling to choose between Metasploit and Cobalt Strike? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Metasploit is a Security & Privacy solution with tags like exploitation, vulnerability-testing, offensive-security.

It boasts features such as Exploit database, Payload database, Auxiliary modules, Evasion modules, Post-exploitation modules, Scripting engine and pros including Comprehensive and frequently updated exploit database, Large collection of payloads, Modular architecture, Built-in evasion techniques, Powerful CLI and scripting capabilities, Active community support.

On the other hand, Cobalt Strike is a Security & Privacy product tagged with penetration-testing, red-team, exploit, cybersecurity, network-security.

Its standout features include Beacon payload generation, Command and control, Scriptable post-exploitation, Social engineering attacks, Malleable C2 profiles, Network profiling and host enumeration, and it shines with pros like Powerful post-exploitation capabilities, Evasion techniques to avoid detection, Flexible communication protocols, Integrates with Metasploit, Customizable to mimic real attacks.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Metasploit

Metasploit

Metasploit is an open source penetration testing framework that helps security professionals find, exploit, and validate vulnerabilities. It includes a database of known exploits and payloads that can be used to simulate attacks against systems to test their security.

Categories:
exploitation vulnerability-testing offensive-security

Metasploit Features

  1. Exploit database
  2. Payload database
  3. Auxiliary modules
  4. Evasion modules
  5. Post-exploitation modules
  6. Scripting engine

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Comprehensive and frequently updated exploit database

Large collection of payloads

Modular architecture

Built-in evasion techniques

Powerful CLI and scripting capabilities

Active community support

Cons

Can be complex for beginners

Requires familiarity with penetration testing concepts

Exploits can be unreliable and may crash targets

Legal and ethical concerns around offensive security testing


Cobalt Strike

Cobalt Strike

Cobalt Strike is a commercial penetration testing tool used to simulate adversarial attacks against networks. It helps testers find vulnerabilities and gain access similar to real-world threats.

Categories:
penetration-testing red-team exploit cybersecurity network-security

Cobalt Strike Features

  1. Beacon payload generation
  2. Command and control
  3. Scriptable post-exploitation
  4. Social engineering attacks
  5. Malleable C2 profiles
  6. Network profiling and host enumeration

Pricing

  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Powerful post-exploitation capabilities

Evasion techniques to avoid detection

Flexible communication protocols

Integrates with Metasploit

Customizable to mimic real attacks

Cons

Expensive licensing model

Steep learning curve

Can only be used legally for penetration testing

Advanced features require additional licensing