Best Core Security Cobalt Strike Alternatives & Competitors in 2026
Top picks: Havoc Framework, Core Security Outflank Security Tooling, Fortra Cobalt Strike — plus 45 more compared.
Security OperationsTop picks: Havoc Framework, Core Security Outflank Security Tooling, Fortra Cobalt Strike — plus 45 more compared.
Security OperationsCore Security Cobalt Strike is a commercial Offensive Security tool developed by Core Security. Security professionals most commonly compare it with Havoc Framework, Core Security Outflank Security Tooling, Fortra Cobalt Strike, Core Security Bundles and Suites, and WebDAV Covert Channel. All 48 alternatives are matched by shared capabilities, tags, and NIST CSF 2.0 coverage.
A closer look at the 8 most relevant alternatives and competitors to Core Security Cobalt Strike, including their key features and shared capabilities.
Open-source C2 framework for red team ops and adversary simulation.
Shares 4 capabilities with Core Security Cobalt Strike: Post Exploitation, C2, Red Team, Evasion
Red team toolkit for EDR evasion, initial access, and post-exploitation.
Shares 4 capabilities with Core Security Cobalt Strike: Post Exploitation, C2, Red Team, Evasion
Threat emulation tool for adversary simulations and red team operations
Shares 3 capabilities with Core Security Cobalt Strike: Post Exploitation, C2, Red Team
Bundled offensive security suites combining pen testing, red teaming, and VM.
Shares 3 capabilities with Core Security Cobalt Strike: Post Exploitation, Red Team, Evasion
A covert channel technique that uses WebDAV protocol features to deliver malicious payloads and establish C2 communication while bypassing security controls.
Shares 3 capabilities with Core Security Cobalt Strike: C2, Red Team, Evasion
A command line tool that generates randomized malleable C2 profiles for Cobalt Strike to vary command and control communication patterns.
Shares 3 capabilities with Core Security Cobalt Strike: C2, Red Team, Evasion
CobaltBus integrates Cobalt Strike with Azure Service Bus to create covert C2 communication channels for red team operations.
Shares 3 capabilities with Core Security Cobalt Strike: C2, Red Team, Evasion
CrossC2 is a cross-platform payload generator that extends CobaltStrike's capabilities to Linux and macOS environments for red team operations.
Shares 3 capabilities with Core Security Cobalt Strike: Post Exploitation, C2, Red Team
Open-source C2 framework for red team ops and adversary simulation.
Red team toolkit for EDR evasion, initial access, and post-exploitation.
Threat emulation tool for adversary simulations and red team operations
Bundled offensive security suites combining pen testing, red teaming, and VM.
A covert channel technique that uses WebDAV protocol features to deliver malicious payloads and establish C2 communication while bypassing security controls.
A command line tool that generates randomized malleable C2 profiles for Cobalt Strike to vary command and control communication patterns.
CobaltBus integrates Cobalt Strike with Azure Service Bus to create covert C2 communication channels for red team operations.
CrossC2 is a cross-platform payload generator that extends CobaltStrike's capabilities to Linux and macOS environments for red team operations.
InvisibilityCloak is a proof-of-concept C# code obfuscation toolkit designed for red teaming and penetration testing to conceal post-exploitation tools from detection.
A cross-platform HTTP/2 Command & Control framework written in Golang for post-exploitation activities and remote system management.
A lightweight Command and Control (C2) implant written in Nim that provides remote access capabilities for penetration testing and red team operations.
A proxy aware C2 framework for penetration testing, red teaming, post-exploitation, and lateral movement with modular format and highly configurable payloads.
Pupy is an open-source, cross-platform C2 framework that provides remote access and control capabilities for compromised systems across Windows, Linux, OSX, and Android platforms.
RedGuard is a C2 front flow control tool that helps evade detection by security systems through traffic filtering and redirection capabilities.
RedWarden is a Cobalt Strike C2 reverse proxy that uses packet inspection and malleable profile correlation to evade detection by security controls during red team operations.
SharpC2 is a C#-based Command and Control framework that provides remote access capabilities for penetration testing and red team operations.
SourcePoint generates customizable C2 profiles for Cobalt Strike servers to enhance evasion capabilities against security defenses.
SILENTTRINITY is a Python-based, asynchronous C2 framework that uses .NET scripting languages for post-exploitation activities without relying on PowerShell.
A cross-platform post-exploitation HTTP/2 Command & Control framework designed specifically for testing and exploiting containerized environments including Docker and Kubernetes.
A PHP-based command and control framework that maintains persistent web server access through polymorphic backdoors and HTTP header communication tunneling.
AI agent platform for automating offensive security operations and evals.
FourCore ATTACK is an adversary emulation platform to manage cyber risk with evidence
PyBOF is a Python library that enables in-memory loading and execution of Beacon Object Files (BOFs) with support for argument passing and function targeting.
An Azure Function that validates and relays Cobalt Strike beacon traffic based on Malleable C2 profile authentication.
Advanced command and control tool for red teaming and adversary simulation with extensive features and evasion capabilities.
C3 is a framework by WithSecureLabs for rapid prototyping of custom command and control channels that integrates with existing offensive security toolkits.
Covenant is a collaborative .NET command and control framework designed for red team operations and offensive security engagements.
A reconnaissance tool that analyzes expired domains for categorization, reputation, and Archive.org history to identify candidates suitable for phishing and C2 operations.
EvilClippy is a cross-platform tool that creates malicious MS Office documents with hidden VBA macros and evasion techniques for penetration testing and red team operations.
A template-driven framework for creating custom evasion techniques to test Anti-Virus and EDR detection capabilities.
A COM Command & Control framework that uses JScript to provide fileless remote access capabilities on Windows systems through a modular plugin architecture.
Macro_Pack automates the generation and obfuscation of Office documents and scripts for penetration testing and security assessments.
MSBuildAPICaller is an offensive security tool that enables interaction with the MSBuild API to execute arbitrary scripts for red teaming and penetration testing purposes.
A post-exploitation framework designed to operate covertly on heavily monitored environments.
Skyhook is an HTTP-based file transfer tool that uses obfuscation techniques to evade detection by Intrusion Detection Systems.
TikiTorch is a process injection tool that executes code within the address space of other processes using various injection techniques.
Anti-forensics tool for Red Teamers to erase footprints and test incident response capabilities.
PowerSploit is a PowerShell-based penetration testing framework containing modules for code execution, injection techniques, persistence, and various offensive security operations.
A Python framework for building custom Command and Control interfaces that implements Cobalt Strike's External C2 specification for data transfer between frameworks.
A repository documenting AppLocker bypass techniques with verified methods, legacy DLL execution approaches, and a PowerShell module for identifying AppLocker weaknesses.
KeeFarce extracts cleartext password database information from KeePass 2.x processes in memory using DLL injection and .NET runtime manipulation.
A payload creation framework for generating and executing C# code payloads with anti-evasion capabilities for offensive security operations.
A powerful tool for hiding the true location of your Teamserver, evading detection from Incident Response, redirecting users, blocking specific IP addresses, and managing Malleable C2 traffic in Red Team engagements.
InvalidSign is a security research tool that bypasses endpoint solutions by obtaining valid signed files with different hashes to evade signature-based detection mechanisms.
CloudCopy implements a cloud version of the Shadow Copy attack to extract domain user hashes from AWS-hosted domain controllers by creating and mounting volume snapshots.
A post-exploitation framework for attacking AWS infrastructure, enabling attacks on EC2 instances without SSH keypairs and extraction of AWS secrets and parameters.
Customize Empire's GET request URIs, user agent, and headers for evading detection and masquerading as other applications.
Tool for randomizing Cobalt Strike Malleable C2 profiles to evade static, signature-based detection controls.
Common questions security professionals ask when evaluating alternatives and competitors to Core Security Cobalt Strike.
The most popular alternatives to Core Security Cobalt Strike include Havoc Framework, Core Security Outflank Security Tooling, Fortra Cobalt Strike, Core Security Bundles and Suites, and WebDAV Covert Channel. These Offensive Security tools offer similar capabilities and are frequently compared by security professionals evaluating their options.
There are 48 alternatives to Core Security Cobalt Strike listed on CybersecTools, all within the Offensive Security category. Each alternative is matched based on shared capabilities, tags, and NIST CSF coverage areas.
Core Security Cobalt Strike is a commercial Offensive Security tool. It requires a paid license or subscription. Both free and commercial alternatives are available for comparison.
Core Security Cobalt Strike is a Offensive Security tool within the broader Security Operations category. It is used by security professionals for offensive security capabilities and can be compared against 48 similar tools.
