What C or C libraries can help in developing custom security tools for ethical hacking

Question

I’d like to explore C and C++ for building security tools, especially for ethical hacking purposes. I’ve heard that low-level programming can offer more control and performance but don’t know where to start with libraries or frameworks suitable for this domain.

Are there specific libraries or toolkits in C/C++ that are commonly used for developing custom security tools? Any recommendations for resources to learn more about this would also be helpful.

Answer 1

Here are some C/C++ libraries commonly used in building security tools:

• Libpcap/WinPcap: Capture network packets. Essential for packet sniffers and traffic analyzers.
• OpenSSL: Cryptographic functions (AES, RSA, SHA). Good for securing communication channels and implementing encryption.
• libnet: Craft and inject custom network packets. Useful for building tools like port scanners and spoofers.
• libcurl: Transfer data over HTTP, FTP, and others. Ideal for web scanners or HTTP fuzzing.
• Crypto++: Extensive cryptography library. Useful for hashing, encryption, and secure data handling.
• Nmap (libnmap): Network scanning functionality. Integrate Nmap features directly in custom scanners.
• Zlib: Data compression library. Reduces data size for logging and network transmission.
• Boost ASIO: Asynchronous network programming. Good for creating efficient servers and handling I/O.
• SQLite: Lightweight embedded database. Useful for storing scan results or logs.
• PcapPlusPlus: C++ wrapper for libpcap. Easier packet crafting and analysis with object-oriented design.

Comments

This is exactly the kind of guidance I was looking for! Your breakdown of libraries like OpenSSL and libpcap is particularly helpful. Can’t wait to try them out in my projects.