9 Linux Security Tools You Need to Know
Updated August 6, 2025
Linux isn’t just running your servers anymore. It also runs your CI pipelines, containers, production workloads, and even developers’ laptops. It’s woven into every layer of your stack, often in ways you don’t think about.
This ubiquity makes Linux a prime target. Today, over 70% of web servers, nearly half of all developer machines, and over 90% of cloud workloads and supercomputers are powered by Linux. Noticing this, attackers have shifted from Windows-focused malware to threats explicitly built for Linux environments, including malware like Kinsing, BPFDoor, and RedXOR.
If you’re in DevSecOps, SRE, or managing product infrastructure, you need security tools built for how Linux truly works; tools capable of catching misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, and suspicious activity before they escalate.
Top 5 Linux Security Tools at a Glance
1. Best overall: Jit
2. Easiest to get started: Trivy
3. Best for offensive security testing: Metasploit
4. Best for vulnerability scanning: OpenVAS
5. Best for network mapping and recon: Nmap
What Are Linux Security Tools?
Linux is the operating system behind most of today’s cloud infrastructure, containers, and servers. It’s incredibly flexible, which is part of why it’s become so popular. But that flexibility lends itself to complexity. Different distributions, custom configs, and fast-changing environments make Linux hard to secure without automation.
Linux security tools come in many forms, each tackling a specific aspect of protecting Linux environments. From hardening system configurations to spotting vulnerabilities, monitoring runtime activity, managing secrets, and ensuring compliance, these tools help teams secure complex and fast-changing infrastructures.
Here’s a look at some key categories and examples of how they work:
- System hardening: Tools like Lynis enforce CIS benchmarks or custom baselines for Linux syscall and file-system configurations.
- Vulnerability management: Trivy, OpenVAS, and other vulnerability management tools scan for outdated packages, unpatched kernels, and container image flaws.
- Runtime threat detection: Osquery and runtime agents monitor unexpected processes, privilege escalation, or file tampering.
- Secrets hygiene: Tools in this space flag embedded credentials in code, repos, or images, akin to how Jit automates secret detection.
- Compliance scanning: Tools that include CIS, PCI, and HIPAA support, helping Linux hosts stay continuously audit-ready.
Benefits of Linux Security Tools
The question isn’t whether Linux can be secured; it’s how to keep it secure when infrastructure changes constantly. In modern environments, workloads are short-lived, configurations rarely stay static, and packages are updated continuously through automation. Manual inspection simply can’t keep pace.
Linux security tools help by automatically scanning systems for security issues. They check for outdated software, known vulnerabilities, weak settings, or processes running that shouldn’t be there. The best tools don’t just list problems but explain how they could be exploited. For example, they might tell you that a vulnerability could let an attacker run commands on your server, or that a service running as the root user could give someone complete control of the machine.
Different Linux distributions and environments work differently. Good security tools recognize these differences instead of assuming every system is built similarly. For instance, they know that file paths and service names might differ in Ubuntu versus Red Hat or that a specific process might be normal in a Kubernetes cluster but suspicious on a standalone server.
This flexibility helps teams focus on real security issues instead of getting overwhelmed by false alarms or making every system identical. It also makes it easier to secure systems across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments and meet compliance requirements without adding unnecessary work. This is crucial during high-change periods like new product introductions (NPIs), where rapid deployments and shifting infrastructure can create blind spots if not properly monitored.
Key Features to Look For in Linux Tools
- Risk‑Based CVE Prioritization: Tools that prioritize vulnerabilities based on real risk are more useful than ones that list CVSS scores. Exploitability, context, and business impact should shape what gets flagged first.
- Security‑as‑Code Policy Definitions: Look for a tool that supports YAML-based rules or lets you track policy changes in version control. This will make enforcing controls related to human and machine identity management easier.
- PR/MR‑Level Feedback for Developers: Automated comments or pull-request integration help teams fix issues faster without disrupting the pipeline.
- Real‑Time Linux Runtime Threat Detection: Agentic monitoring delivering alerts for suspicious activity, such as unauthorized daemon starts, privilege escalations, and AV detection.
- Automated Remediation Recommendations: Look for tools that generate patch PRs, config change suggestions, or playbooks to reduce manual remediation.
The Top 9 Linux Security Tools You Need to Know
1. Jit
Best for DevSecOps teams automating Linux security across containers, IaC, secrets, and cloud-native workflows
Brief Overview
Jit integrates Linux security checks directly into your development process. Instead of scanning systems only after code is deployed, it embeds security into Git workflows and CI pipelines. It scans containers, Terraform configurations, and system packages, automatically creating pull requests with context and recommended fixes. By connecting multiple security tools in one platform, Jit eliminates the need for teams to piece together separate solutions on their own.
| Vulnerability Discovery & Assessment | Security Monitoring & Visibility | Threat Detection & Response | Offensive Security & Security Testing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performs automated scans of Linux containers, packages, Dockerfiles, and IaC to detect known vulnerabilities early. | Consolidates findings across tools into one view, showing security risks across environments, repositories, and workloads. | Prioritizes high-risk issues using business context and adds fix suggestions directly in developer pull requests. | Orchestrates tools like Trivy and OpenVAS to bring proactive security testing into development pipelines. |
Features
Git-native feedback on Linux CVEs and secrets
Orchestrates scanners like Trivy, tfsec, and OSV across projects
Centralized dashboard for Linux-related risk posture
Auto-generates remediation PRs and suggested fixes
Policy-as-Code lets you define custom security controls
Customer Review
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Developer friendly workflows - Fast onboarding - Clear remediation steps - Customizable policies - Context aware prioritization - Seamless GitHub and GitLab support - Supports multiple scanners | - Requires setup for orchestration - Not a CLI-only tool (it's a platform) |
2. Trivy
Suited for developers and teams needing fast container and Linux package scanning
Brief overview
Trivy is a CLI-first scanner that checks Linux containers, packages, and IaC for known issues with minimal setup. It’s fast, scriptable, and well-suited for CI jobs that need to catch misconfigurations and vulnerable dependencies before code gets deployed.
| Vulnerability Discovery & Assessment | Security Monitoring & Visibility | Threat Detection & Response | Offensive Security & Security Testing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scans Linux-based images, system packages, and third-party dependencies for CVEs using regularly updated vulnerability feeds. | Outputs detailed scan reports in multiple formats for visibility across CI pipelines and security dashboards. | Flags vulnerable or misconfigured components early, so issues can be remediated before code reaches production. | Applicable in pre-assessment scans to identify exploitable packages before deeper penetration testing begins. |
Features
Scans containers, file systems, and Git repos
Detects OS packages and language-specific vulnerabilities
Supports secret detection in source code and images
Outputs results in JSON, table, SARIF, or HTML formats
Seamless CLI integration with Docker and Kubernetes workflows
Customer Review
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Easy to install and use - Fast scan times - Broad ecosystem support - Reliable CVE feeds | - No runtime detection - Prioritization is CVSS-based only |
3. Aircrack-ng
A good fit for red teamers and security professionals performing wireless penetration tests on Linux
Brief overview
Aircrack-ng focuses squarely on wireless security. It runs directly on Linux and gives you control over packet capture, injection, and key cracking for WPA-based networks. It’s not a fit for general infrastructure security, but it's a competent tool when probing Wi-Fi exposure or evaluating signal-based attacks.
| Vulnerability Discovery & Assessment | Security Monitoring & Visibility | Threat Detection & Response | Offensive Security & Security Testing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identifies weak encryption settings and vulnerable wireless configurations in nearby networks and access points. | Captures and displays real-time wireless traffic, including clients, APs, and authentication handshakes. | Used to simulate wireless attacks and observe how the infrastructure responds to rogue activity or signal interference. | Performs WPA/WPA2 cracking, packet injection, fake APs, and replay attacks for wireless penetration testing. |
Features
Captures and cracks WPA/WPA2 PSK handshakes
Real-time monitoring of wireless traffic and clients
Performs packet injection and deauthentication attacks
Includes tools for fake APs and replay attacks
CLI-based and highly scriptable for automation
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| -Wi-Fi audit standard - Portable and lightweight - Deep control over wireless testing | - Niche use case - No GUI interface |
4. Metasploit
Ideal for security teams looking to simulate real Linux-based attacks and validate how well their systems hold up
Brief Overview
Metasploit is a full-on offensive testing framework. It’s not Linux-specific, but many of its modules target Linux services. It can simulate attacks, exploit vulnerabilities, and test defenses to inform attack surface reduction rules by revealing which services, ports, or configurations are most exploitable in practice.
| Vulnerability Discovery & Assessment | Vulnerability Discovery & Assessment | Threat Detection & Response | Offensive Security & Security Testing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Validates vulnerabilities through active exploitation, confirming whether known CVEs are exploitable on target systems. | Provides logs and session tracking from exploit attempts, helping teams understand system exposure and attacker paths. | Tests the effectiveness of detection and response mechanisms by simulating real-world Linux-based attack techniques. | Purpose-built for offensive operations, with exploits targeting SSH, Samba, Apache, and other Linux components. |
Features
Thousands of exploit and post-exploit modules
Supports Linux, Windows, and multi-platform targets
Payload generation for remote shells and reverse connections
Integration with Nmap, Nessus, and other tools
Active community and support for custom module creation
Customer Review
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Huge exploit library - Highly extensible - Power for training or red teaming - Automates offensive workflows - Great documentation and tutorials | - High learning curve - Not Linux-specific - Risky if misused |
5. OpenVAS (Greenbone)
A good fit for running scheduled vulnerability assessments across Linux infrastructure, with detailed findings for compliance and cleanup.
Brief overview
OpenVAS is a full-featured vulnerability scanner that supports over 80,000 network-based vulnerability tests. It’s ideal for periodic audits and compliance, uncovering known CVEs, outdated services, and insecure configurations. Though not CI/CD-native, it's widely used in enterprise environments and Linux hosts. It is often paired with code coverage tools to ensure that infrastructure and application layers are thoroughly assessed.
| Vulnerability Discovery & Assessment | Security Monitoring & Visibility | Threat Detection & Response | Offensive Security & Security Testing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performs comprehensive scans of Linux systems, services, ports, and packages using an extensive vulnerability plugin feed. | Offers scheduled scans, severity scoring, and detailed reports for tracking vulnerability trends across Linux hosts. | Provides actionable remediation advice, highlighting what to fix, where the problem lies, and how to prioritize. | Simulates exploit conditions and is commonly used during internal red teaming and regulatory compliance tests. |
Features
80,000+ vulnerability checks for Linux and network services
Deep scans for packages, ports, daemons, and configs
Customizable scan profiles and severity thresholds
Detailed HTML, PDF, and XML reporting options
Web-based dashboard and REST API for integrations
Customer Review
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Extensive CVE coverage - Audit-ready reports - Strong network discovery - Suitable for offline/air-gapped networks - Granular scan configuration | - Resource intensive - Not CI/CD native - No real-time monitoring |
6. Nmap
Great for uncovering open services and mapping exposure across Linux environments before running deeper tests or hardening configs.
Brief overview
Nmap (Network Mapper) is an open-source tool for discovering hosts, open ports, and running services across networks. While not explicitly designed for Linux security, it’s often deployed on Linux systems and used to probe Linux servers for exposed services and potential attack surfaces.
| Vulnerability Discovery & Assessment | Security Monitoring & Visibility | Threat Detection & Response | Offensive Security & Security Testing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identifies open ports, service versions, and exposed Linux daemons that may be vulnerable or misconfigured. | Provides snapshots of network exposure and host visibility across internal or external environments at any given time. | Helps validate firewall rules and detect unexpected services running on Linux systems after changes or incidents. | Used to enumerate targets, map services, and uncover weak points before launching more advanced attacks. |
Features
Identifies open ports, running services, and OS fingerprints
Supports NSE scripts for vulnerability detection
CLI-based with flexible scan modes and timing options
Integrates with other tools like Metasploit and Nessus
Outputs in multiple formats (XML, Grepable, JSON with wrappers)
Customer Review
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Deep network visibility - Customizable scans - Strong Linux CLI support - Supports automation and scripting - Works well in offline environments - Zenmap GUI available | - Not Linux-specific - No real-time monitoring - Manual analysis is often required |
7. ClamAV
Well-suited for small to mid-sized teams needing basic malware protection on Linux endpoints and mail servers
Brief overview
ClamAV is an open-source antivirus engine that detects malware, trojans, rootkits, and other malicious files on Linux systems. It’s not as feature-rich as commercial endpoint security suites, but teams often use it to scan mail servers, user uploads, or shared directories. While limited to signature-based detection, it’s lightweight, flexible, and easy to script.
| Vulnerability Discovery & Assessment | Security Monitoring & Visibility | Threat Detection & Response | Offensive Security & Security Testing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focuses on detecting malware in files rather than vulnerabilities, making it ideal for scanning web uploads or user data. | Logs scan results to syslog or files. It integrates with SIEMs and cron to provide visibility into infection attempts. | Identifies malicious files based on frequently updated virus databases, enabling quarantine or deletion actions. | Useful in validating the detection of Linux-based payloads during red team exercises or malware delivery tests. |
Features
Signature-based scanning for viruses, rootkits, and trojans
Frequently updated virus definitions via freshclam
On-demand and scheduled file scanning via CLI
Mail server integration for inbound attachment scanning
Lightweight and compatible with many Linux distros
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Free and open-source - Low system impact - Simple to deploy - Integrated with cron and mail tools - Works well in containerized setups - Simple CLI interface | - No heuristic/behavioral detection - Limited to known threats - Not suitable for full EDR use |
8. Osquery
Suited for SRE and SecOps teams needing real-time Linux fleet observability
Brief overview
Osquery turns Linux system information into a virtual SQL database, allowing teams to query the operating system (for things like running processes or loaded kernel modules) using structured queries. It’s ideal for fleet-wide monitoring, incident investigation, and detection of suspicious behavior without intrusive agents.
| Vulnerability Discovery & Assessment | Security Monitoring & Visibility | Threat Detection & Response | Offensive Security & Security Testing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queries installed packages, kernel versions, and configurations to identify systems missing patches or running insecure defaults. | Provides continuous insight into processes, users, network activity, and system state across entire Linux fleets. | Custom rules can alert on suspicious events like new SUID files, unknown processes, or lateral movement behavior. | Used in red/blue team exercises to track attacker activity, verify persistence, or validate post-exploitation footprint. |
Features
SQL-based interface for querying Linux host data
Lightweight agent suitable for large-scale deployment
Real-time monitoring of file, process, and user activity
Integration with SIEMs and centralized log management
Supports Fleet for centralized policy and query control
Customer Review
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Live system visibility - Scalable architecture - Highly customizable with SQL - No kernel modules required - Works well with logging and EDR | - Requires SQL fluency - No built-in CVE database - Detection logic must be created manually |
9. Lynis
Best for sysadmins and auditors hardening Linux systems to meet security benchmarks
Brief overview
Lynis performs a detailed inspection of a Linux system’s security posture. It evaluates configurations, installed packages, kernel settings, and service permissions against security best practices like CIS Benchmarks and custom hardening policies.
| Vulnerability Discovery & Assessment | Security Monitoring & Visibility | Threat Detection & Response | Offensive Security & Security Testing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scans installed software, kernel settings, file permissions, and packages for weak configurations and potential exposure points. | Provides detailed reports highlighting hardening gaps, misconfigurations, and risk scores per audit for ongoing system visibility. | Detects insecure services, missing mitigations, and default settings that attackers could exploit. | Used pre- or post-penetration testing to validate whether Linux system configurations are hardened or exploitable. |
Features
Performs over 200+ security checks per audit
Comparison between system state and CIS and custom benchmarks
No server or agent required—runs from CLI
Supports continuous auditing via cron integration
Suggests specific remediation steps with scoring
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - CIS-aligned checks - Agentless and lightweight - Clear hardening guidance - Great for compliance prep - No external dependencies | - Snapshot only - No real-time monitoring - No vulnerability database - Required manual remediation |
Good Tools Need Better Orchestration
Linux powers everything, from developers’ machines to containers, VMs, APIs, and massive production workloads. Its flexibility and diversity make it notoriously difficult to secure. That’s why you need continuous, integrated security that works with your development workflows, catching kernel misconfigurations, package vulnerabilities, Dockerfile issues, IaC errors, and exposed secrets before they hit production.
Jit embeds security into Git workflows, IDEs, and CI pipelines via change-based scanning. This means every pull request gets scanned locally across code, containers, Terraform, packages, and kernel settings without slowing developers down.
It then brings all security tools (SAST, SCA, secrets detection, IaC scanning, CSPM, DAST, SBOM, and container scanning) under one platform, consolidating findings into a prioritized backlog so you can fix the most critical Linux issues first. Its AI-driven prioritization layers in runtime context to flag which vulnerabilities in your Linux environments truly matter. Finally, you get contextual feedback and auto-remediation directly in pull requests.
Embed Security-as-Code into every Linux build. Explore more here.
