pwntools
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Description:
CTF framework used by Gallopsled in every CTF
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  @pwntools  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Security
Tags: security ctf exploitation binary python
Install: brew install pwntools
About:
Pwntools is a comprehensive exploit development framework designed for CTF competitions and binary exploitation. It provides a high-level API for rapid prototyping and reliable exploit development, handling tasks like process interaction, networking, and data manipulation. The library simplifies working with binaries, making it an essential tool for security researchers and CTF players.
Key Features:
  • High-level API for socket operations and process manipulation
  • Automated packaging and downloading of remote files (ELF, core dumps)
  • GDB scripting integration for powerful debugging capabilities
  • ROP (Return-Oriented Programming) chain generation and searching
  • Flexible packing and unpacking of data structures (struct-like functionality)
Use Cases:
  • Rapid prototyping of binary exploits during Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions
  • Automating interaction with network services for fuzzing or exploitation
  • Scripting complex debugging sessions and binary analysis tasks
  • Educational tool for learning binary exploitation techniques
Alternatives:
  • GEF – GEF is a GDB plugin focused on debugging visualization, whereas Pwntools is a standalone Python library for exploit scripting.
  • ROPgadget – ROPgadget specializes specifically in finding ROP gadgets, while Pwntools includes ROP generation as part of a larger exploitation suite.
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Mar 31, 2026 8:55am 5 REVISION_ONLY 321b0e1c
Mar 28, 2026 8:42am 4 REVISION_ONLY 38c3619a
Jan 10, 2026 8:28am 3 REVISION_ONLY ce85f11e
Jan 7, 2026 1:49pm 2 REVISION_ONLY d3e31a5c
Oct 12, 2024 5:37am 0 VERSION_BUMP bf86741b
Oct 11, 2024 11:06pm 0 VERSION_BUMP ee936f4e
Sep 30, 2024 11:38am 0 VERSION_BUMP d9dae676
Sep 11, 2024 8:56am 0 VERSION_BUMP c10ff5cf
Aug 12, 2024 6:59pm 0 VERSION_BUMP a57e9b4e
Aug 11, 2024 4:49pm 4 VERSION_BUMP 39b428e3
Dec 20, 2023 8:43am 1 VERSION_BUMP 55f9647e
Dec 20, 2023 8:12am 1 VERSION_BUMP f820e721
Oct 6, 2023 5:15pm 1 VERSION_BUMP 38eb88df
Oct 6, 2023 12:34am 0 VERSION_BUMP 69db7e7c
Oct 5, 2023 10:19pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 0c5275d5
Aug 6, 2023 4:48am 4 VERSION_BUMP 8dcf8f0b
Aug 2, 2023 10:43am 4 VERSION_BUMP 97df1ae2
Jun 3, 2023 3:31pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 4bdc22fd
Jun 3, 2023 12:50pm 0 VERSION_BUMP c806483c
May 21, 2023 7:33pm 0 VERSION_BUMP bb9fabef