recon-ng

Open Source Intelligence gathering tool aimed at reducing the time spent harvesting information from open sources.

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Quick Overview

Recon-ng is an open-source reconnaissance framework designed for web-based information gathering. It provides a powerful environment for conducting open-source intelligence (OSINT) operations, with a modular architecture that allows for easy extension and customization.

Pros

Modular design allows for easy addition of new modules and functionality
Comprehensive set of built-in modules for various reconnaissance tasks
Intuitive command-line interface similar to Metasploit
Active community and regular updates

Cons

Steep learning curve for beginners
Some modules may require additional API keys or subscriptions
Limited graphical user interface options
Performance can be slow for large-scale scans

Getting Started

To get started with Recon-ng:

Install Recon-ng:

git clone https://github.com/lanmaster53/recon-ng.git
cd recon-ng
pip install -r REQUIREMENTS

Run Recon-ng:

./recon-ng

Use the framework:

[recon-ng][default] > modules search
[recon-ng][default] > modules load recon/domains-hosts/google_site_web
[recon-ng][default][google_site_web] > options set SOURCE example.com
[recon-ng][default][google_site_web] > run

This will install Recon-ng, start the framework, search for available modules, load a specific module, set the target domain, and run the module.

Competitor Comparisons

spiderfoot

12,645

SpiderFoot automates OSINT for threat intelligence and mapping your attack surface.

Pros of Spiderfoot

More extensive and diverse set of modules for data collection
User-friendly web interface for easier operation and visualization
Active development with frequent updates and community contributions

Cons of Spiderfoot

Can be resource-intensive, especially for large-scale scans
Steeper learning curve due to the wide range of features and options

Code Comparison

Recon-ng module structure:

from recon.core.module import BaseModule

class Module(BaseModule):
    def module_run(self):
        # Module logic here

Spiderfoot module structure:

from spiderfoot import SpiderFootPlugin, SpiderFootEvent

class sfp_example(SpiderFootPlugin):
    def handleEvent(self, event):
        # Module logic here

Both frameworks use a modular approach, but Spiderfoot's structure allows for more flexibility in event handling and data processing. Recon-ng's modules are more straightforward but may be limited in complex scenarios.

theHarvester

11,058

E-mails, subdomains and names Harvester - OSINT

Pros of theHarvester

Simpler and more focused tool, specifically for email and subdomain enumeration
Lightweight and easy to set up, with fewer dependencies
Supports a wide range of search engines and data sources out of the box

Cons of theHarvester

Less extensible compared to Recon-ng's modular architecture
Limited reporting capabilities and data visualization options
Narrower scope of functionality, primarily focused on information gathering

Code Comparison

theHarvester:

from theHarvester.discovery import *
from theHarvester.discovery.constants import *
search = googlesearch.search_google(word, limit, start)
search.process()
emails = search.get_emails()

Recon-ng:

from recon.core.module import BaseModule
class Module(BaseModule):
    def module_run(self):
        self.query('SELECT DISTINCT domain FROM domains WHERE domain IS NOT NULL')
        for domain in self.query:
            self.heading(domain[0], level=0)

Both tools are written in Python, but Recon-ng has a more modular structure, allowing for easier extension and customization. theHarvester's code is more straightforward and focused on specific search functionalities, while Recon-ng's framework provides a broader range of reconnaissance capabilities through its module system.

Photon

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Incredibly fast crawler designed for OSINT.

Pros of Photon

Faster and more lightweight, focusing specifically on web reconnaissance
User-friendly with a simple command-line interface
Supports multiple output formats (JSON, CSV, TXT)

Cons of Photon

Less comprehensive than Recon-ng in terms of overall functionality
Limited to web-based reconnaissance, lacking modules for other types of information gathering
Fewer built-in data sources compared to Recon-ng

Code Comparison

Photon:

def photon(url, level, threads, delay, timeout, cook, headers):
    # Main function implementation
    # ...

Recon-ng:

def do_reload(self, params):
    # Reload modules
    self._load_modules()
    self.output('Modules reloaded.')
    return True

While both projects are written in Python, Photon's codebase is more focused on web crawling and information extraction, whereas Recon-ng's code structure reflects its modular nature and broader scope of reconnaissance capabilities.

Sublist3r

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Fast subdomains enumeration tool for penetration testers

Pros of Sublist3r

Focused specifically on subdomain enumeration, making it more specialized and potentially more efficient for this task
Simpler to use with a straightforward command-line interface
Faster execution for subdomain discovery due to its specialized nature

Cons of Sublist3r

Limited to subdomain enumeration, lacking the broader reconnaissance capabilities of Recon-ng
Less extensible and customizable compared to Recon-ng's modular framework
May require additional tools for comprehensive reconnaissance tasks

Code Comparison

Sublist3r:

def main(domain, threads, savefile, ports, silent, verbose, enable_bruteforce, engines):
    bruteforce_list = []
    subdomains = []
    search_list = []

Recon-ng:

def do_reload(self, params):
    '''Reloads all modules'''
    self.output('Reloading...')
    self.load_modules()
    self.output('Reloading complete.')

Both projects are written in Python, but their code structures differ significantly. Sublist3r's main function focuses on subdomain enumeration parameters, while Recon-ng's example shows its modular nature with a reload function for modules.

discover

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Custom bash scripts used to automate various penetration testing tasks including recon, scanning, enumeration, and malicious payload creation using Metasploit. For use with Kali Linux.

Pros of Discover

More comprehensive toolset, including network mapping and vulnerability scanning
Easier to use for beginners with a menu-driven interface
Regularly updated with new features and tools

Cons of Discover

Less focused on specific reconnaissance tasks compared to Recon-ng
May require more system resources due to its broader scope
Less modular structure, making it harder to extend or customize

Code Comparison

Discover (menu-driven interface):

#!/bin/bash

# Main menu
echo "1. Domain"
echo "2. IP"
echo "3. Network Mapping"
read -p "Enter your choice: " choice

Recon-ng (module-based approach):

from recon.core.module import BaseModule

class Module(BaseModule):
    meta = {
        'name': 'Example Module',
        'author': 'Your Name',
        'description': 'Module description',
        'options': (
            ('option', 'default', True, 'Option description'),
        ),
    }

Discover offers a more user-friendly approach with its menu-driven interface, making it accessible for beginners. Recon-ng, on the other hand, provides a more modular and extensible structure, allowing advanced users to create custom modules easily. While Discover includes a wider range of tools, Recon-ng focuses specifically on reconnaissance tasks, potentially offering more depth in that area.

amass

11,780

In-depth attack surface mapping and asset discovery

Pros of Amass

More comprehensive subdomain enumeration with multiple data sources
Faster performance for large-scale reconnaissance
Active development with frequent updates and new features

Cons of Amass

Steeper learning curve due to more complex configuration options
Less modular structure compared to Recon-ng's plugin system
May produce more false positives in certain scenarios

Code Comparison

Amass (Go):

func (e *Enumeration) submitKnownNames() {
    for _, name := range e.Config.ProvidedNames {
        e.Bus.Publish(requests.NewNameTopic, &requests.DNSRequest{
            Name:   name,
            Domain: e.Config.Domain,
        })
    }
}

Recon-ng (Python):

def do_add(self, params):
    table = params.split()[0]
    params = ' '.join(params.split()[1:])
    self.query('INSERT INTO %s (%s) VALUES (%s)' % (table, self.to_columns_string(params), self.to_values_string(params)))

Both repositories offer powerful reconnaissance capabilities, but Amass focuses on subdomain enumeration with a more comprehensive approach, while Recon-ng provides a modular framework for various recon tasks. Amass is written in Go, offering better performance for large-scale scans, while Recon-ng's Python codebase allows for easier customization and plugin development.

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README

The Recon-ng Framework

Recon-ng content now available on Pluralsight!

Recon-ng is a full-featured reconnaissance framework designed with the goal of providing a powerful environment to conduct open source web-based reconnaissance quickly and thoroughly.

Recon-ng has a look and feel similar to the Metasploit Framework, reducing the learning curve for leveraging the framework. However, it is quite different. Recon-ng is not intended to compete with existing frameworks, as it is designed exclusively for web-based open source reconnaissance. If you want to exploit, use the Metasploit Framework. If you want to social engineer, use the Social-Engineer Toolkit. If you want to conduct reconnaissance, use Recon-ng! See the Wiki to get started.

Recon-ng is a completely modular framework and makes it easy for even the newest of Python developers to contribute. See the Development Guide for more information on building and maintaining modules.

Donations

Recon-ng is free software. However, large amounts of time and effort go into its continued development. If you are interested in financially supporting the project, you can view and assist in marketing the Pluralsight content, or send a donation to tjt1980[at]gmail.com via PayPal. Thank you.

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Quick Overview

Pros

Cons

Getting Started

Competitor Comparisons

Pros of Spiderfoot

Cons of Spiderfoot

Code Comparison

Pros of theHarvester

Cons of theHarvester

Code Comparison

Pros of Photon

Cons of Photon

Code Comparison

Pros of Sublist3r

Cons of Sublist3r

Code Comparison

Pros of Discover

Cons of Discover

Code Comparison

Pros of Amass

Cons of Amass

Code Comparison

Convert designs to code with AI

README

The Recon-ng Framework

Sponsors

Donations

Top Related Projects

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