Open-Source Alternatives to Cobalt Strike

Sliver is an open-source cross-platform adversary emulation and red team framework developed by BishopFox. It supports C2 over mTLS, HTTP(S), DNS, and WireGuard, with implants that can be compiled for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Sliver supports multiple operators simultaneously, making it ideal for team engagements. It includes features like process injection, pivoting, staged/stageless payloads, and a robust extension system.

Havoc is a modern, malleable post-exploitation command and control framework. It features a cross-platform Qt-based GUI, support for Beacon Object Files (BOFs), custom agent development through its Agent SDK, and encrypted C2 communication. Havoc was designed as an open-source alternative to Cobalt Strike with a similar operator experience. It supports multiple listeners, team servers, and has a growing library of post-exploitation modules.

Mythic is a multiplayer, command and control platform for red team operations. It's designed to be collaborative, allowing multiple operators to manage agents simultaneously through a web-based UI. Mythic supports multiple agent types (Apollo for .NET, Poseidon for Go, Medusa for Python, etc.) and uses a plugin architecture for extensibility. All communication is containerized and managed through Docker. It tracks operations, manages credentials, and provides file management - a complete red team platform.

Covenant is a .NET-based command and control (C2) framework that offers a collaborative web-based interface for managing red team operations and implants. It facilitates comprehensive C2 tasks, including implant execution and management, through a user-friendly interface. Notable for its use in red team engagements, Covenant allows operators to execute complex attack scenarios with the flexibility of .NET, supporting both real-time and asynchronous communications.

Empire is a post-exploitation and adversary emulation framework that uses PowerShell (Windows) and Python (Linux/macOS) agents. It features cryptologically-secure communications, a flexible architecture, and a wide range of post-exploitation modules. Empire was originally developed by BC Security and has been used extensively in both red team operations and real-world attacks. It supports credential harvesting, lateral movement, persistence, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration.