NetHunter is an open-source Ruby-based network vulnerability scanner that performs port scanning, service detection, and custom payload execution for effective network security assessment.
NetHunter: An open-source Ruby-based network vulnerability scanner for port scanning, service detection, and custom payloads. Ideal for security pros and penetration testers
NetHunter is designed for security professionals, penetration testers, and network administrators to identify vulnerabilities and security weaknesses in target networks. It allows users to scan IPs or ranges, detect running services, assess common vulnerabilities, and execute custom exploits to evaluate network security posture.
Ensure Ruby 2.5 or higher is installed along with all required gems before running NetHunter. Customize the config.json file to optimize scan settings such as timeout and thread count. Use caution when running exploits or aggressive scans to avoid unintended disruption of target systems. Always have proper authorization before scanning or exploiting any network.
Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/manashma/nethunter.git
Install Ruby version 2.5 or higher (use package manager or download from ruby-lang.org)
Verify Ruby installation with ruby -v
Install required Ruby gems: gem install optparse json socket net-http uri fileutils colorize time timeout concurrent
Navigate to the NetHunter directory: cd nethunter
Run NetHunter once to generate default config.json and required directoriesruby nethunter.rb -t 192.168.1.1
Scan a single target IP address
ruby nethunter.rb -r 192.168.1.0/24
Scan an IP range or subnet
ruby nethunter.rb -p 1-100
Scan specified port range
ruby nethunter.rb --payload http_vulnerability_scanner
Run a custom payload from the payloads directory
ruby nethunter.rb -o scan.json
Save scan results to a JSON file in the output directory
ruby nethunter.rb --exploit exploit_name
Execute a specific exploit from the exploits directory
ruby nethunter.rb --list-payloads
List all available custom payloads
ruby nethunter.rb --list-exploits
List all available exploits
ruby nethunter.rb --pentest --payload http_vulnerability_scanner
Run a direct penetration test using a specified payload
ruby nethunter.rb --timeout 30
Set scan timeout in seconds
ruby nethunter.rb --threads 10
Set number of concurrent scanning threads
ruby nethunter.rb --aggressive
Enable aggressive scanning with service and version detection
ruby nethunter.rb --service-scan
Perform service detection on open ports
ruby nethunter.rb --vuln-scan
Scan for common vulnerabilities on detected services
ruby nethunter.rb -v
Enable verbose output during scanning