Top 7 Red Teaming Tools in 2025

Red teaming is a critical component of modern cybersecurity strategies, simulating real-world attacks to expose vulnerabilities in systems, networks, and human processes. Choosing the right red teaming tool can make or break the effectiveness of these exercises.

Compare leading red teaming platforms in terms of key features and focus areas:

Comparison of the top vendors

General requirements for inclusion in the table:

• 50+ employees
• Providing advanced red teaming solutions

Sorting: The tools in this table are ranked based on their overall feature set and how broadly they address red teaming operations.

Vendors analyzed

1. Metasploit Framework

Founded in 2003 by H.D. Moore, Metasploit is an open-source project originally designed to help researchers and professionals test system security and identify vulnerabilities. It was acquired by Rapid7 in 2009.

Best for: Exploitation & payload generation.

Key features:

• Extensive exploit and payload library for testing vulnerabilities.
• Post-exploitation modules for maintaining access and pivoting.
• Integration with various security tools and scripting capabilities.

Pros:

• Open-source and widely supported.
• Strong community and regular updates.
• Excellent for training and research.

Cons:

• Can be easily detected by modern defenses.
• Requires knowledge of exploit development and scripting.

Source: Rapid7

2. Cobalt Strike

Cobalt Strike was founded in 2012 by Raphael Mudge, a former penetration tester, as a comprehensive red teaming tool to simulate advanced persistent threats (APTs). The company is based in the United States.

Best for: Adversary simulation and post-exploitation.

Key features:

• Beacon payloads for command-and-control (C2) operations.
• Social engineering toolkit (phishing, web clones).
• Malleable C2 profiles for evading detection.

Pros:

• Industry standard for advanced red team operations.
• Extensive community and third-party plugin support.

Cons:

• Steep learning curve for beginners.
• Expensive for small teams ($3,500/year per user).

Source: Google Cloud

3. Empire

Empire was developed in 2015 by the open-source security community and has become a popular tool in red teaming and penetration testing. It was created to provide a lightweight, PowerShell- and Python-based framework for post-exploitation activities.

Best for: Post-exploitation agent framework.

Key features:

• PowerShell and Python-based agent framework.
• Stealthy command execution and lateral movement.
• Customizable modules for various attack scenarios.

Pros:

• Open-source and actively maintained.
• Designed for low-detection operations.

Cons:

• Limited exploit capabilities compared to Metasploit.
• Requires additional tools for full-spectrum red teaming.

4. MITRE Caldera

MITRE Caldera is an open-source adversary emulation platform released in 2017 by MITRE, a non-profit organization focused on research and development in the fields of defense and cybersecurity.

Best for: Autonomous adversary emulation.

Key features:

• Open-source platform with pre-built adversary playbooks.
• Extensible plugins for custom attack chains.
• Automated threat intelligence ingestion.

Pros:

• Free and community-driven.
• Strong alignment with MITRE ATT&CK framework.

Cons:

• Requires technical expertise to customize.
• Limited out-of-the-box reporting.

Source: Medium

5. HiddenLayer AutoRTI

HiddenLayer was founded in 2020 and is based in the United States. The company specializes in AI and machine learning security, focusing on adversarial attack simulations and red teaming solutions designed to assess the security of AI/ML systems.

Best for: AI/ML system security, adversarial attack simulations.

Key features:

• Specializes in testing AI/ML models against adversarial inputs, data poisoning, and model evasion.
• Automated red team workflows tailored to machine learning pipelines.
• Integrates with CI/CD systems for continuous security validation.

Pros:

• Unique focus on protecting AI ecosystems.
• Lightweight deployment with minimal infrastructure overhead.
• Real-time monitoring of model integrity.

Cons:

• Less suited for traditional network or application penetration testing.
• Higher cost for enterprises without existing AI/ML investments.

6. Cymulate

Cymulate was founded in 2016 in Israel by a team of cybersecurity experts. Cymulate offers a breach and attack simulation (BAS) platform that helps organizations validate their security posture by continuously testing their defenses across multiple attack vectors.

Best for: Breach and attack simulation (BAS).

Key features:

• Attack surface management and continuous assessment.
• Simulates real-world attack scenarios to identify security gaps.
• Integrates with SIEM and SOAR platforms.

Pros:

• Cloud-based with easy deployment.
• Comprehensive attack vector coverage.

Cons:

• Subscription-based pricing can be expensive.
• Some features require deep security knowledge for proper utilization.

Source: Cymulate

7. Picus

Picus was founded in 2013 in Turkey, focusing on continuous security validation and defense gap assessments. The company offers a platform designed to help organizations continuously test their security controls and improve their defense strategies.

Best for: Continuous security validation and defense gap assessment.

Key features:

• Security control validation against the latest threats.
• Real-time remediation guidance to improve defenses.
• Customizable attack simulations.

Pros:

• Helps fine-tune security controls efficiently.
• Strong reporting and analytics capabilities.

Cons:

• Requires integration with other security tools for maximum impact.
• Not focused on active exploitation or post-exploitation techniques.

Source: Picus

Red teaming tools are specialized software and hardware used by security professionals to simulate attacks against an organization’s IT environment. These tools replicate techniques used by cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities, enabling organizations to assess the effectiveness of their security controls. Unlike traditional penetration testing, red teaming involves a full-scope, adversary emulation approach, testing not only technical defenses but also human and process vulnerabilities.

By employing a variety of red teaming tools—from automated exploitation frameworks to custom scripts and social engineering kits—security teams can identify weak points in network defenses, application security, and user awareness. The insights gained from red team exercises are invaluable for improving incident response and fortifying overall security posture.

Red teaming tools are essential because they offer a realistic simulation of potential cyberattacks. They help organizations identify and remediate vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. Key benefits include:

• Proactive vulnerability identification: Red teaming tools uncover hidden weaknesses in systems, networks, and processes.
• Enhanced incident response: By simulating attacks, organizations can test and refine their incident response plans in real time.
• Improved security posture: Regular red teaming exercises drive continuous improvements in security measures and employee awareness.
• Regulatory compliance: Demonstrating that security controls have been rigorously tested can help meet compliance requirements and reduce audit risks.

Organizations that regularly use red team tools are better prepared for real-world attacks and can adapt their defenses to evolving threat landscapes

Best practices for red teaming

Running effective red teaming exercises requires careful planning and execution. Below are seven best practices to ensure your red team initiatives provide actionable insights:

1. Define clear objectives and scope

Before launching a red teaming exercise, set specific objectives and define the scope of the test. This ensures that the exercise focuses on critical assets, processes, and potential threat vectors. Clearly delineating what is in-scope and out-of-scope helps prevent unintended disruptions and ensures that results are meaningful.

2. Leverage a diverse set of tools

No single tool can cover all attack vectors. Use a combination of tools—such as Metasploit for exploitation, Cobalt Strike for advanced adversary simulation, and CALDERA for automated emulation—to simulate a wide range of attack scenarios. This diversity ensures a comprehensive assessment of your defenses.

3. Integrate with existing security systems

Red teaming tools should complement your existing security infrastructure. Integrating these tools with SIEM systems, threat intelligence platforms, and incident response workflows helps provide a unified view of your security posture and enables rapid remediation of identified vulnerabilities.

4. Simulate real-world attack scenarios

Design exercises that mimic current threat landscapes. This includes testing phishing campaigns, lateral movement, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration. Realistic simulations help security teams understand how an attacker might operate and where gaps in defenses may exist.

5. Collaborate across teams

Red teaming exercises should involve not just security experts but also IT, operations, and even business units. Cross-functional collaboration ensures that insights from the exercise are communicated effectively and that remediation efforts are prioritized according to business impact.

6. Conduct post-exercise reviews

After each red teaming exercise, perform a thorough debrief to review the findings, assess the effectiveness of the response, and identify areas for improvement. Document lessons learned and update security policies and incident response plans accordingly.

7. Regularly update red teaming strategies

Cyber threats evolve rapidly, so your red teaming approach must evolve too. Regularly update your red teaming tools, techniques, and attack scenarios to reflect the latest threat intelligence. Incorporate feedback from previous exercises to continuously enhance your security posture.

• Comprehensive simulation capabilities: It must accurately mimic a wide range of network protocols and attack paths, replicating real-world adversary tactics to expose vulnerabilities effectively.
• Ability to bypass security controls: It should be designed to evade common detection mechanisms and bypass existing security measures, thereby testing the true strength of an organization’s defenses.
• Robust reporting and analytical insights: Look for solutions that offer detailed logs, comprehensive analysis, and actionable insights into each simulated attack, helping to pinpoint weaknesses and guide remediation efforts.
• High customizability to meet specific organizational needs: The tool should be flexible enough to tailor its capabilities to the unique security challenges and environment of your organization, enabling fine-tuned simulations and targeted testing.

• Post-exploitation: The software should be able to perform post-exploitation activities such as privilege escalation and lateral movement.
• Evasion and detection: It should be able to evade detection by security controls and detection tools.
• Reporting and analysis: The software should be able to provide detailed reporting and analysis of the attack.
• Customization: The tool should be customizable to fit the specific needs of the organization.
• Zero-Day Simulation: The tool should be able to simulate zero-day vulnerabilities to test an organization’s detection and response capabilities against unknown threats.
• Threat Intelligence Integration: The software should integrate real-time threat intelligence feeds to ensure that attack simulations are based on the latest emerging vulnerabilities and exploits.
• Automated Updates: The tool should regularly update its database of exploits and attack vectors to reflect new zero-day discoveries and evolving threat landscapes.

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