CrackMapExec (CME) vs Fortra Cobalt Strike: side-by-side comparison (2026)
CrackMapExec (CME) is a free red-team & adversary emulation solution. Fortra Cobalt Strike is a commercial red-team & adversary emulation solution by Fortra. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.
CrackMapExec (CME) - A tool for querying internal database for host and credential information in cybersecurity.
Threat emulation product for adversary simulations and red team operations
Side-by-side comparison
Feature
CrackMapExec (CME)
Fortra Cobalt Strike
Pricing model
Free
Commercial
Category
Red-Team & Adversary Emulation
Red-Team & Adversary Emulation
Deployment and fit
Deployment type
On-Premises
On-Premises
Company size fit
Mid-Market, Enterprise
Mid-Market, Enterprise
Company
Company
–
Fortra
Use cases and capabilities
Red Team
Yes
Yes
Blue Team
Yes
No
Post Exploitation
No
Yes
C2
No
Yes
Lateral Movement
No
Yes
Core features
No features listed
- Post-exploitation payload (Beacon) with PowerShell execution, keylogging, screenshots, and file downloads
- Malleable Command and Control (C2) language for network indicator customization
- Browser pivoting for hijacking authenticated web sessions
- System Profiler for target fingerprinting and reconnaissance
- Shared team server for collaborative red team operations
- Asynchronous low and slow communication for stealth
- Multiple report types including activity, hosts, IOCs, sessions, and TTPs
- Extensible framework supporting custom scripts and extensions
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