# pwntools

CTF framework and exploit development library

Repository: https://github.com/Gallopsled/pwntools
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/pwntools
Homepage: http://pwntools.com
Language: Python
License: NOASSERTION
License Family: other
Topics: ctf, exploit, python, pwntools, assembly, ctf-framework, shellcode, rop, pwnable, defcon, capture-the-flag, wargame, python2, python3, linux, bsd, shellcoding, shellcode-development, hacktoberfest
Last push: 2026-08-16T19:48:06+00:00
Link (homepage): http://pwntools.com

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 74/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 98, release rhythm 27, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4874, "days_push": 17, "days_rel": 325, "gap_med": 107, "n_releases_24m": 4}
- flags: no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 13660, forks 1854 (observed 2026-08-28T04:11:04.493534+00:00)

## What it is
Pwntools is a Python CTF framework and exploit development library designed for rapid prototyping of binary exploits. It provides utilities for shellcode assembly, ROP chain building, process and network I/O, and interaction with vulnerable binaries.

## Use cases
- write binary exploits for ctf challenges
- generate shellcode for a target architecture
- build rop chains to bypass nx
- connect to a remote service and send a payload
- debug a local vulnerable binary with gdb
- solve pwnable wargame challenges
- assemble and disassemble instructions for foreign architectures

## When to choose
- you are playing CTFs or wargames and need to write binary exploits quickly
- you need a batteries-included Python toolkit for shellcode, ROP, and process interaction
- you want rapid prototyping of memory-corruption exploits on Linux/BSD targets

## When to avoid
- you need a general-purpose penetration testing framework rather than exploit development
- you require first-class Windows exploit development support
- you want a GUI-based reverse engineering tool

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: active
- function: security, developer-tools, cli, sdk
- domain: security, developer-tools
- platform: bsd, python, cli
- tags: ctf, exploit-development, binary-exploitation, shellcode, rop, wargames, capture-the-flag, reverse-engineering, command-line, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- Gallopsled/pwntools (main) score 74
- Gallopsled/pwntools-tutorial (docs) score 32

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:11:04.493534+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T17:13:07.906285+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/Gallopsled/pwntools (fetched 2026-08-28T04:11:04.493534+00:00, sha cac190d67d8f)
  - homepage: http://pwntools.com (fetched 2026-08-29T08:07:36.407292+00:00, sha 82885d849fa6)
  - registry_pypi: https://pypi.org/pypi/pwntools/json (fetched 2026-08-29T08:07:36.417292+00:00, sha 19ed8a1ee105)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.