Best Exploit-Challenges Alternatives & Competitors in 2026

ROP Wargame Repository

A collection of Return-Oriented Programming (ROP) challenges designed for practicing binary exploitation techniques and developing offensive security skills.

exploit_me

A deliberately vulnerable ARM/ARM64 application with 14 different vulnerability levels designed for CTF-style exploitation training and education.

SudoCyber

Gamified cybersecurity training platform with hands-on labs and certifications

Hack The Box for Red Teams

Hands-on red team training platform with labs, cyber ranges, and CTF assessments.

CTFGuide

Social learning platform for CTF challenges, labs, and cybersecurity training.

Mellivora

Mellivora Mellivora is a PHP-based CTF engine that provides comprehensive competition hosting capabilities with challenge management, team scoring, and administrative tools for cybersecurity competitions.

CloudGoat

CloudGoat is a vulnerable-by-design AWS deployment tool that creates intentionally insecure cloud environments for hands-on cybersecurity training through capture-the-flag scenarios.

NightShade

NightShade is a Django-based capture the flag framework that enables organizations to create and manage cybersecurity competitions with support for multiple contest formats and multi-tenant architecture.

Haaukins

Haaukins is an automated virtualization platform that provides hands-on cybersecurity education through capture the flag exercises in controlled vulnerable environments.

MotherFucking CTF

A lightweight CTF platform with simple setup and difficulty-based scoring that removes timezone advantages from competitions.

OWASP Juice Shop CTF Extension

A Node.js CLI tool that automates the setup of CTF events using OWASP Juice Shop challenges across multiple CTF frameworks.

Security Scenario Generator (SecGen)

SecGen is an open-source framework that automatically generates vulnerable virtual machines and hacking challenges for cybersecurity education and penetration testing training.

echoCTF

echoCTF is a cybersecurity framework for running Capture the Flag competitions and training exercises on real IT infrastructure.

FBCTF

FBCTF is a platform for hosting Jeopardy and King of the Hill style Capture the Flag competitions with support for various scales and participation models.

HackSys Extreme Vulnerable Driver (HEVD)

A Windows kernel driver intentionally designed with various vulnerabilities to help security researchers practice kernel exploitation techniques.

CTFd

CTFd is a web-based framework for creating and managing Capture The Flag cybersecurity competitions with customizable challenges, scoring systems, and team management capabilities.

HackTheArch

HackTheArch is an open-source Ruby on Rails-based scoring server platform designed for hosting and managing Cyber Capture the Flag competitions with web-based problem management and hint systems.

Labs-Pentest

A comprehensive collection of free online laboratories and platforms for practicing penetration testing, CTF challenges, and cybersecurity skills development.

Root the Box

Root the Box is a real-time CTF scoring engine that provides a configurable platform for cybersecurity training through gamified wargames and competitions.

OVAA (Oversecured Vulnerable Android App)

OVAA is an intentionally vulnerable Android application that aggregates common platform security vulnerabilities for educational and security testing purposes.

BetterMotherFucking CTF

A lightweight CTF platform inspired by motherfuckingwebsite.com that provides simple hosting capabilities for cybersecurity competitions with equal-point scoring and minimal setup requirements.

Boss of the SOC (BOTS) Dataset Version 2

A security dataset and CTF platform available in full (16.4GB) and attack-only (3.2GB) versions, pre-indexed for Splunk to help security professionals practice analysis skills.

Boss of the SOC (BOTS) Dataset Version 3

A pre-indexed Splunk security dataset and CTF platform that provides realistic security data for training, research, and educational purposes for cybersecurity professionals and students.

MemLabs

MemLabs provides CTF-styled memory forensics challenges designed to teach students and security researchers how to analyze memory dumps using tools like Volatility.

0l4bs Cross-site scripting labs

A collection of 20 cross-site scripting challenges covering various XSS attack vectors and filtering bypass techniques for educational purposes.

IronCircle Cybersecurity Training Platform

AI-powered browser-based cybersecurity training platform with labs and certs

TryHackMe Cyber Security Training

Hands-on cybersecurity training platform with gamified labs and challenges

PentesterLab PRO

Online platform offering 700+ hands-on web security exercises and training

Cybexer Cyber Ranges for Finance and Banking

Cyber range platform for finance & banking sector security training

Bastazo Agoge

OT cybersecurity training platform with hands-on simulations and digital twins

ACI Learning Skill Labs

Virtual hands-on IT & cybersecurity lab platform for academic programs.

Hack The Box Cyber Workforce Dev

Enterprise platform for cybersecurity workforce training via hands-on labs & CTFs.

Hack The Box Business

Enterprise platform for cybersecurity team training, labs, and skill gap assessment.

Hack The Box CTF Platform

Gamified CTF platform for hosting cybersecurity team assessments and training.

Hack The Box Hacking Labs

Virtual hacking labs platform with 1,720+ hands-on cybersecurity challenges.

Hack The Box for Blue Teams

Hands-on blue team training platform for SOC, DFIR, and threat intel roles.

Haiku Forge

Platform for building custom game-based cybersecurity training scenarios.

Stealien Cyber Drill System

Web-based cyber hacking defense training platform with CTF-style exercises.

VIP Cyber Defense Training

Cybersecurity training platform for IT pros covering labs, CTFs, and certs.

CybergymIEC Cyber Arena

Cyber defense training platforms & OT security solutions for critical infrastructure.

Container Internals Lab

An educational repository providing structured lab materials and scripts for learning container technologies and their internal mechanisms.

Damn Vulnerable Web Services

An intentionally vulnerable web application containing multiple web service security flaws designed for educational purposes and security testing practice.

Hack This Site

A free, safe, and legal training ground for ethical hackers to test and expand their skills

ThisisLegal.com

Hacker wargames site with forums and tutorials, fostering a learning community.

Simulator

A distributed systems simulator that creates intentionally vulnerable Kubernetes clusters in AWS for security training and attack scenario practice.

MiniCPS

MiniCPS is a framework for real-time Cyber-Physical Systems simulation that supports physical process and control device simulation along with network emulation capabilities.

AHHHZURE

AHHHZURE is an automated deployment script that creates vulnerable Azure cloud lab environments for offensive security training and cloud penetration testing practice.

Gray Hat Hacking v6 Lab 29

A hands-on cybersecurity laboratory environment for Gray Hat Hacking Chapter 29 that creates virtualized Docker and Kali Linux machines using Terraform for practical security training exercises.