Best Fortra Cobalt Strike Alternatives & Competitors in 2026
Top picks: Core Security Outflank Security Tooling, Core Security Cobalt Strike, PoshC2 — plus 45 more compared.
Security OperationsTop picks: Core Security Outflank Security Tooling, Core Security Cobalt Strike, PoshC2 — plus 45 more compared.
Security OperationsFortra Cobalt Strike is a commercial Offensive Security tool developed by Fortra. Security professionals most commonly compare it with Core Security Outflank Security Tooling, Core Security Cobalt Strike, PoshC2, CrossC2, and Havoc. 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 Fortra Cobalt Strike, including their key features and shared capabilities.
Red team toolkit for EDR evasion, initial access, and post-exploitation.
Shares 4 capabilities with Fortra Cobalt Strike: Post Exploitation, C2, Red Team, Lateral Movement
Post-exploitation threat emulation platform for red team operations.
Shares 3 capabilities with Fortra Cobalt Strike: Post Exploitation, C2, Red Team
A proxy aware C2 framework for penetration testing, red teaming, post-exploitation, and lateral movement with modular format and highly configurable payloads.
Shares 4 capabilities with Fortra Cobalt Strike: Post Exploitation, C2, Red Team, Lateral Movement
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 Fortra Cobalt Strike: Post Exploitation, C2, Red Team
Havoc is a malleable post-exploitation command and control framework that provides a client-server architecture with payload generation, customizable C2 profiles, and team collaboration capabilities for red team operations.
Shares 3 capabilities with Fortra Cobalt Strike: Post Exploitation, C2, Red Team
A cross-platform HTTP/2 Command & Control framework written in Golang for post-exploitation activities and remote system management.
Shares 3 capabilities with Fortra Cobalt Strike: Post Exploitation, C2, Red Team
A lightweight Command and Control (C2) implant written in Nim that provides remote access capabilities for penetration testing and red team operations.
Shares 3 capabilities with Fortra Cobalt Strike: Post Exploitation, C2, Red Team
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.
Shares 3 capabilities with Fortra Cobalt Strike: Post Exploitation, C2, Red Team
Red team toolkit for EDR evasion, initial access, and post-exploitation.
Post-exploitation threat emulation platform for 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.
CrossC2 is a cross-platform payload generator that extends CobaltStrike's capabilities to Linux and macOS environments for red team operations.
Havoc is a malleable post-exploitation command and control framework that provides a client-server architecture with payload generation, customizable C2 profiles, and team collaboration capabilities for red team operations.
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.
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.
A post-exploitation framework designed to operate covertly on heavily monitored environments.
SharpC2 is a C#-based Command and Control framework that provides remote access capabilities for penetration testing and red team operations.
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.
Bundled offensive security suites combining pen testing, red teaming, and VM.
AI agent platform for automating offensive security operations and evals.
FourCore ATTACK is an adversary emulation platform to manage cyber risk with evidence
A covert channel technique that uses WebDAV protocol features to deliver malicious payloads and establish C2 communication while bypassing security controls.
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.
A command line tool that generates randomized malleable C2 profiles for Cobalt Strike to vary command and control communication patterns.
C3 is a framework by WithSecureLabs for rapid prototyping of custom command and control channels that integrates with existing offensive security toolkits.
CobaltBus integrates Cobalt Strike with Azure Service Bus to create covert C2 communication channels for red team operations.
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.
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 COM Command & Control framework that uses JScript to provide fileless remote access capabilities on Windows systems through a modular plugin architecture.
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.
SourcePoint generates customizable C2 profiles for Cobalt Strike servers to enhance evasion capabilities against security defenses.
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.
KeeFarce extracts cleartext password database information from KeePass 2.x processes in memory using DLL injection and .NET runtime manipulation.
A comprehensive repository of open-source security tools organized by attack phases for red team operations, adversary simulation, and threat hunting purposes.
A PHP-based command and control framework that maintains persistent web server access through polymorphic backdoors and HTTP header communication tunneling.
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.
CLI cheatsheet for Red Specter's 30-tool offensive security platform.
AI-assisted vulnerability research and advanced offensive cyber tooling firm.
Offensive security firm offering AI pentesting, credential monitoring & compliance.
R&D firm providing cyber defense & operational tech for DoD and DHS.
AI agent for in-depth binary analysis and reverse engineering assistance.
Boutique security firm offering red team, OSINT, and adversary simulation services.
MCP server enabling AI agents to autonomously run 150+ security tools
A specification/framework for extending default C2 communication channels in Cobalt Strike
GraphSpy is a browser-based post-exploitation tool for Azure Active Directory and Office 365 environments that enables token management, reconnaissance, and interaction with Microsoft 365 services.
Common questions security professionals ask when evaluating alternatives and competitors to Fortra Cobalt Strike.
The most popular alternatives to Fortra Cobalt Strike include Core Security Outflank Security Tooling, Core Security Cobalt Strike, PoshC2, CrossC2, and Havoc. These Offensive Security tools offer similar capabilities and are frequently compared by security professionals evaluating their options.
