BruteX Tool for Automated Service Discovery and Password Testing

BruteX is an automated security testing tool that identifies services running on a target system and attempts password-based authentication testing against the discovered services. It combines tools such as Nmap, Hydra and DNS enumeration to streamline service discovery and credential auditing.

During a security assessment, identifying exposed services is an important first step. Open ports can reveal access points such as FTP, SSH and other network services. Each service may have its own authentication mechanism, configuration weaknesses and potential security risks.

How BruteX Works

BruteX brings service discovery and password testing into a single workflow. It uses Nmap to scan the target for open ports and identify the services associated with them. Once the available services have been discovered, it uses Hydra to perform password-based authentication tests against supported services.

The tool is designed to reduce the manual effort involved in checking multiple services individually. Its workflow can help security professionals identify weak credentials and review the exposure of network services during authorized penetration tests.

Depending on the target and the services discovered, BruteX can help assess:

• Open Ports: Identify accessible network ports and the services listening on them.
• Usernames: Test configured or discovered usernames against supported authentication services.
• Passwords: Check password combinations to identify weak or easily guessed credentials.

Installing BruteX on Linux

BruteX is available on GitHub. Clone the repository and execute its installation script to set up the required components.

git clone https://github.com/1N3/BruteX.git
cd BruteX
chmod +x install.sh
./install.sh

Review the installation script and its dependencies before running it, particularly when installing security tools on a production or shared system.

Running BruteX

After installation, the following command demonstrates the basic usage syntax provided by the project:

brutex target <port>

Replace target with the hostname or IP address of an authorized assessment target and specify the relevant port where required. Use the tool only against systems for which you have explicit permission to perform security testing.

Scanning Multiple Hosts with BruteX

For assessments involving multiple systems, BruteX also provides the brutex-massscan utility. It can be used with a targets file containing the IP addresses or hostnames that need to be assessed.

This approach helps organize service discovery across a group of authorized hosts instead of running individual scans manually. Before starting a multi-host assessment, define the approved target list and configure scanning activity to stay within the agreed scope.

Video Tutorial

Watch the following video for a demonstration of BruteX and its workflow:

BruteX Video Tutorial

License and Usage Disclaimer

According to the original project description, BruteX is free to distribute, modify and use under the condition that credit is given to its creator, 1N3@CrowdShield. The original description also specifies that the software is not intended for commercial use. Review the repository’s current license and terms before using or redistributing the tool.

BruteX is intended for authorized security testing. Do not use automated password testing against systems, accounts or services without permission.

Download BruteX

Get the source code and review the installation instructions from the official GitHub repository:

BruteX on GitHub

For another network reconnaissance tool, see Aztarna, a footprinting tool for robots.