Best Shadow Workers Alternatives & Competitors in 2026

RedGuard

RedGuard is a C2 front flow control tool that helps evade detection by security systems through traffic filtering and redirection capabilities.

Havoc Framework

Open-source C2 framework for red team ops and adversary simulation.

PoshC2

A proxy aware C2 framework for penetration testing, red teaming, post-exploitation, and lateral movement with modular format and highly configurable payloads.

SharpC2

SharpC2 is a C#-based Command and Control framework that provides remote access capabilities for penetration testing and red team operations.

Empire Communication Profiles

Customize Empire's GET request URIs, user agent, and headers for evading detection and masquerading as other applications.

Fortra Cobalt Strike

Threat emulation tool for adversary simulations and red team operations

Core Security Cobalt Strike

Post-exploitation threat emulation platform for red team operations.

Core Security Outflank Security Tooling

Red team toolkit for EDR evasion, initial access, and post-exploitation.

Dreadnode Offensive Security Agents

AI agent platform for automating offensive security operations and evals.

Cobalt Strike's ExternalC2 framework

A specification/framework for extending default C2 communication channels in Cobalt Strike

CAI (Cybersecurity AI)

An open-source framework that enables building and deploying AI security tools

MITRE Caldera™

MITRE Caldera™ is an automated adversary emulation platform built on the MITRE ATT&CK framework that supports red team operations and incident response activities through a modular C2 server and plugin architecture.

WebDAV Covert Channel

A covert channel technique that uses WebDAV protocol features to deliver malicious payloads and establish C2 communication while bypassing security controls.

pybof

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.

AggressiveProxy

Tool for enumerating proxy configurations and generating CobaltStrike-compatible shellcode.

AzureC2Relay

An Azure Function that validates and relays Cobalt Strike beacon traffic based on Malleable C2 profile authentication.

Brute Ratel C4

Advanced command and control tool for red teaming and adversary simulation with extensive features and evasion capabilities.

C2concealer

A command line tool that generates randomized malleable C2 profiles for Cobalt Strike to vary command and control communication patterns.

C3

C3 is a framework by WithSecureLabs for rapid prototyping of custom command and control channels that integrates with existing offensive security toolkits.

Chameleon

Chameleon aids in evading proxy categorization to bypass internet filters.

CobaltBus

CobaltBus integrates Cobalt Strike with Azure Service Bus to create covert C2 communication channels for red team operations.

Covenant

Covenant is a collaborative .NET command and control framework designed for red team operations and offensive security engagements.

CrossC2

CrossC2 is a cross-platform payload generator that extends CobaltStrike's capabilities to Linux and macOS environments for red team operations.

Darkarmour

Darkarmour is an open-source Windows antivirus evasion framework that enables security professionals to bypass antivirus detection through customizable obfuscation and anti-analysis techniques.

Domain Hunter

A reconnaissance tool that analyzes expired domains for categorization, reputation, and Archive.org history to identify candidates suitable for phishing and C2 operations.

InvisibilityCloak

InvisibilityCloak is a proof-of-concept C# code obfuscation toolkit designed for red teaming and penetration testing to conceal post-exploitation tools from detection.

Koadic

A COM Command & Control framework that uses JScript to provide fileless remote access capabilities on Windows systems through a modular plugin architecture.

Merlin

A cross-platform HTTP/2 Command & Control framework written in Golang for post-exploitation activities and remote system management.

Modlishka

Modlishka is a reverse proxy tool for intercepting and manipulating HTTP traffic, ideal for penetration testers, security researchers, and developers to analyze and test web applications.

NimPlant

A lightweight Command and Control (C2) implant written in Nim that provides remote access capabilities for penetration testing and red team operations.

Pupy

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.

PwnAuth

PwnAuth is an open-source tool for generating and managing authentication tokens across multiple protocols, designed for penetration testing and red team exercises.

RedWarden

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

SourcePoint generates customizable C2 profiles for Cobalt Strike servers to enhance evasion capabilities against security defenses.

delete-self-poc

A demonstration of a method to delete a locked executable or currently running file from disk.

external_c2 framework

A Python framework for building custom Command and Control interfaces that implements Cobalt Strike's External C2 specification for data transfer between frameworks.

SILENTTRINITY

SILENTTRINITY is a Python-based, asynchronous C2 framework that uses .NET scripting languages for post-exploitation activities without relying on PowerShell.

Kubesploit

A cross-platform post-exploitation HTTP/2 Command & Control framework designed specifically for testing and exploiting containerized environments including Docker and Kubernetes.

Red Teaming Toolkit

A comprehensive repository of open-source security tools organized by attack phases for red team operations, adversary simulation, and threat hunting purposes.

SharpShooter

A payload creation framework for generating and executing C# code payloads with anti-evasion capabilities for offensive security operations.

PHPsploit

A PHP-based command and control framework that maintains persistent web server access through polymorphic backdoors and HTTP header communication tunneling.

3GL

3GL is a high-level programming language with a focus on ASM for 6502.

Thinkst Canarytokens Detector and Diffuser/Nullifier

A Python script that detects and removes Thinkst Canary Tokens from files using signature-based detection methods.

mach_inject

A Mac OS X code injection library that enables copying code into target processes and remotely executing it through new thread creation.

CloudFox

CloudFox is an open source command line tool that helps penetration testers and offensive security professionals identify exploitable attack paths and gain situational awareness in cloud infrastructure environments.

Insomniac Security External C2 Framework for Cobalt Strike

Alpha release of External C2 framework for Cobalt Strike with enhanced data channels.

How to Write Malleable C2 Profiles for Cobalt Strike

Learn how to create new Malleable C2 profiles for Cobalt Strike to avoid detection and signatured toolset

Serving Random Payloads with Apache mod_rewrite

A tutorial on how to use Apache mod_rewrite to randomly serve payloads in phishing attacks