Core Impact
Core Impact is a comprehensive penetration testing software that allows you to safely test your IT infrastructure by replicating real-world multi-staged attacks to identify and prioritize security vulnerabilities.
Metasploit
Metasploit is a powerful penetration testing framework that helps you identify, exploit, and validate security vulnerabilities across your network to strengthen your overall defensive posture and reduce risk.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Core Impact | Metasploit |
|---|---|---|
| Website | coresecurity.com | rapid7.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1996 | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis, USA | Boston, USA |
Overview
Core Impact
Core Impact helps you reveal the most pressing security threats across your entire organization. You can automate routine exploitation tasks for your network, endpoints, and even web applications, allowing your security team to focus on more complex manual testing. The platform provides a library of commercially developed and tested exploits, so you can validate vulnerabilities with confidence and without crashing your systems.
You can use the software to run multi-vector attack simulations that pivot from a compromised web application to the internal network. This helps you understand exactly how an attacker could move through your environment. It also generates detailed reports that map your findings to regulatory requirements, making it easier to prove compliance and prioritize remediation efforts based on real-world risk.
Metasploit
Metasploit helps you think like an attacker so you can stay one step ahead of security threats. You can use the world’s most used penetration testing framework to find weak spots in your defenses, simulate real-world attacks, and verify that your security patches actually work. It simplifies the complex process of exploitation by providing a massive library of tested code and automated tools that handle the heavy lifting for you.
You can choose between the open-source Framework for command-line power or the Pro version for a guided, graphical experience. Whether you are conducting a quick vulnerability scan or a deep-dive security audit, the platform provides the data you need to prioritize risks. It is a go-to solution for security consultants, internal red teams, and IT managers who need to prove where their network is vulnerable.
Overview
Core Impact Features
- Rapid Penetration Tests Automate common testing tasks to quickly identify and exploit vulnerabilities across your network, web, and client-side assets.
- Certified Exploit Library Access a massive library of professionally written and tested exploits to safely validate risks without disrupting your business operations.
- Multi-Vector Pivoting Simulate how attackers move through your environment by pivoting from one compromised machine to another across different network segments.
- Vulnerability Scanner Import Import results from scanners like Nessus or OpenVAS to validate which vulnerabilities are actually exploitable in your specific environment.
- Teaming Capabilities Collaborate with your security team in real-time by sharing workspaces and attack data during complex, large-scale engagements.
- Automated Reporting Generate comprehensive reports that translate technical findings into actionable business intelligence for stakeholders and compliance auditors.
Metasploit Features
- Exploit Database. Access thousands of verified exploits for various operating systems and applications to test your systems against real-world threats.
- Smart Exploitation. Automatically match vulnerabilities with the correct exploits to save time and increase the success rate of your penetration tests.
- Payload Generation. Create custom payloads that allow you to maintain access and move laterally through a network to test internal security controls.
- Vulnerability Validation. Import data from scanners like Nexpose to verify which vulnerabilities are actually exploitable and pose the highest risk to you.
- Post-Exploitation Tools. Use advanced modules to gather evidence, escalate privileges, and demonstrate the potential impact of a successful breach to stakeholders.
- Phishing Simulations. Launch social engineering campaigns to test your team's awareness and identify users who might be susceptible to real-world phishing attacks.
Pricing Comparison
Core Impact Pricing
Metasploit Pricing
- Command-line interface
- Manual exploitation
- Access to 2,000+ exploits
- Basic payload generation
- Community-driven updates
- Manual credential harvesting
- Everything in Framework, plus:
- Graphical user interface
- Automated exploitation wizard
- Phishing campaign builder
- Advanced reporting and evidence
- Vulnerability scanner integration
Pros & Cons
Core Impact
Pros
- Automated wizards save significant time on routine testing
- High-quality exploits are safer than open-source alternatives
- Excellent pivoting capabilities simulate realistic lateral movement
- Detailed reporting simplifies complex compliance documentation
Cons
- Higher price point compared to open-source tools
- Significant learning curve for the advanced feature set
- Interface feels dated compared to modern SaaS tools
Metasploit
Pros
- Massive library of frequently updated exploits
- Industry standard tool for penetration testing
- Powerful automation features in the Pro version
- Excellent integration with other Rapid7 security products
- Highly customizable for advanced security researchers
Cons
- Steep learning curve for the command-line version
- Pro version pricing is high for small teams
- Can be flagged by antivirus software during testing