enum4linux-ng vs PowerUp: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)

enum4linux-ng

Penetration testers and red team operators running Windows reconnaissance on networks with SMB exposure will move faster with enum4linux-ng than the original enum4linux, thanks to its Python rewrite that handles larger datasets and broken SMB implementations without hanging. The tool pulls user lists, share enumeration, and policy details from a single command line faster than manual net use or rpcclient chains, which matters when you're working through dozens of targets in a single engagement. Skip this if your scope is macOS or Linux-heavy environments where SMB isn't the attack surface; enum4linux-ng is deliberately Windows-centric and won't justify the learning curve otherwise.

PowerUp

Penetration testers running Windows infrastructure assessments need PowerUp for its methodical enumeration of privilege escalation paths that exploits actually abuse; its 12,911 GitHub stars reflect adoption by operators who've validated it against real misconfigurations. The tool excels at the Identify function, systematically exposing Windows permission gaps and service exploits that other scanners miss or flag generically. Skip PowerUp if your team lacks Windows privilege escalation expertise or expects a GUI; it's a PowerShell script for operators, not a point-and-click platform.