Metasploit

Rapid7 Metasploit is an open-source penetration testing framework maintained collaboratively by Rapid7 and the open-source community. It is available in two editions: Metasploit Framework (free, open-source) and Metasploit Pro (commercial, with additional features and support).

Primary Functions:

• Provides a library of exploit modules targeting known vulnerabilities across a wide range of software, operating systems, and services
• Enables security teams to verify whether vulnerabilities are exploitable in their environments
• Supports post-exploitation capabilities including payload delivery, privilege escalation, and lateral movement
• Facilitates security assessments and penetration testing engagements from reconnaissance through exploitation

Key Capabilities:

• Exploit development and execution against target systems
• Payload generation (including Meterpreter shells) for post-exploitation activity
• Auxiliary modules for scanning, enumeration, and fingerprinting
• Evasion primitives for bypassing security controls (notably in Metasploit Pro 5.1 for HTTP Meterpreter payloads)
• Module-based architecture allowing community contributions of new exploits and auxiliary tools
• JSON-RPC API for programmatic interaction and automation
• Service hierarchy tracking (Metasploit Pro)
• Integration with Rapid7's InsightVM for vulnerability management workflows
• Active community development via GitHub with regular module additions

Metasploit Framework is distributed as open-source software under a BSD-style license. Metasploit Pro is a commercial product offered by Rapid7 with enterprise features, a web-based UI, and dedicated support. The framework is widely used by penetration testers, red teams, and security researchers for authorized security testing.