Metasploit Framework is a comprehensive penetration-testing and exploit development platform that streamlines the process of discovering, validating, and demonstrating vulnerabilities. It provides a modular architecture—payloads, encoders, exploits, auxiliaries, and post-exploitation modules—so security professionals can piece together complex attack chains or test defensive controls in realistic ways. Built-in features include an exploit database, network scanners, credential harvesters, and frameworks to craft reliable payload delivery while handling target nuances like mitigation bypasses and platform differences. Beyond raw exploitation, the framework includes post-exploitation tooling for lateral movement, persistence, data exfiltration simulations, and evidence collection, enabling red teams to exercise detection and incident response workflows.
Features
- Large collection of exploits, payloads, and auxiliary modules for many platforms
- msfconsole offering interactive use of modules, scripting, automation
- Integration with meterpreter payloads for post-exploitation control
- Support for creating and customizing payloads, encoding, obfuscation
- Tools for scanning, brute forcing, fuzzing, and reconnaissance
- Extension by community contributed modules; frequent updates and active development