Aquatone, while not as widely known as some other tools you've mentioned, is a valuable tool for visual inspection of web application attack surfaces. Here's a breakdown of what it offers:
Functionality:
- Automated website scanning: Aquatone takes a list of website URLs (or extracts them from other tools) and scans them using an HTTP browser to discover various elements of the attack surface, including:
- Subdomains and subdirectories
- Links (internal and external)
- Status codes of discovered resources
- Technologies used (e.g., web server, framework)
- Visualization: Aquatone generates a visual representation of the discovered attack surface, typically in the form of a sitemap or graph. This visual representation helps users quickly understand the website's structure, identify potential vulnerabilities, and prioritize further testing efforts.
- Integration with other tools: Aquatone can be integrated with other popular web application security tools, such as OWASP Amass. This allows for combining strengths and streamlining the workflow for attack surface discovery and analysis.
Benefits of using Aquatone:
- Efficiency: Automates the process of discovering various components of a website's attack surface, saving time and effort compared to manual exploration.
- Visualization: The visual representation of the attack surface helps users gain a comprehensive understanding of the website's structure and potential security weaknesses.
- Ease of use: Aquatone is relatively user-friendly and can be used by individuals with varying levels of technical expertise.
- Open-source and free to use: Anyone can access and utilize Aquatone without any licensing costs.
Limitations to consider:
- Reliance on HTTP requests: Aquatone primarily relies on sending standard HTTP requests to discover resources. This might not uncover hidden elements accessible through other methods like manual testing or exploitation techniques.
- Limited vulnerability assessment: While it can help identify potential entry points, Aquatone doesn't directly assess vulnerabilities. Further testing and analysis are needed to confirm and exploit any vulnerabilities discovered through Aquatone.
Overall, Aquatone is a valuable tool for security professionals, penetration testers, and developers who want to gain a quick visual understanding of a website's attack surface. It can be a helpful starting point for further security assessments and vulnerability testing.
It's important to remember that Aquatone should be used responsibly and ethically, with proper authorization before scanning any website.