surf vs Hash Extender: 2026 Comparison
surf is a free penetration testing tool. Hash Extender is a free penetration testing tool. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best penetration testing fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of available product data, here is our conclusion:
Cloud security teams running penetration tests against their own infrastructure will get the most from surf; it cuts through the noise of host enumeration by automatically filtering for SSRF-exploitable targets, saving hours of manual candidate vetting. The 670 GitHub stars and free pricing mean you can validate this against your own cloud ranges before committing headcount. Not the right fit if you need a full pentest platform with payload generation, reporting, and remediation workflows; surf does one job well and leaves the rest to you.
Penetration testers validating MD5 and SHA-1 implementations should start with Hash Extender; it's the fastest way to confirm length extension vulnerabilities without writing custom exploit code. The tool supports seven hash algorithms and runs as a standalone CLI, meaning no dependencies or setup friction during engagements. Skip this if your targets use modern hash constructs like SHA-3 or HMAC-based schemes; Hash Extender is built for legacy systems and will sit idle on most contemporary infrastructure.
