Ten Open-Source EDR Tools to Enhance Your Cyber-Resilience Factor

Advanced threats can bypass basic detection methods.

Open-source EDR tools (Endpoint Detection and Response) can protect your digital ecosystem against next-generation threats that antivirus-based systems can’t detect.

Here’s a comprehensive list of the most popular open-source EDR tools available online.

What is Endpoint Detection and Response?

EDR is a strategic approach to malware, emphasizing digital prevention, screening, and detection over mitigation.

It’s undoubtedly a huge leap from traditional the detection & remediation approach, based on post-intrusion behaviour.

Advanced malicious content is specifically engineered to inflict as much damage as possible after infiltrating your endpoint, network, or both.

Under EDR, digital forensics become the backbone of threat detection.

white arrow “According to Gartner, XDR is “a comprehensive, cloud-native, and analytics-driven security offering that combines multiple security products.” Whilst that is true, my view is that to benefit and leverage XDR, you need those tools to be well integrated, which is not really what the Gartner definition says. Also, the definition is quite vague, because typically those tools are mainly reactive, whereas (and incoming advertisement alert), the Heimdal stack is heavily focused on having a proactive, predictive security posture stopping threats before they come in, which no one else really offers.”

- Morten Kjaersgaard, Founder & Chairman, Heimdal

Open Source EDR Tools

Open-source Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools provide an essential layer of defense, empowering organizations to detect, investigate, and respond to threats effectively.

Let’s explore some of them together.

#Bonus tool: Heimdal® Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Heimdal®’s EDR tool is neither free nor open-source.

However, the users has a 30-day, no strings attached trial.

If you’re interested in our EDR approach, book a free demo today.

Key Features

Threat Prevention.
HyperAutomated 3RD Party and Windows.
Patching, Without WSUS License Costs.
Next-Generation Antivirus.
Ransomware Encryption Detection.
Email Security.
Remote Support Tools.
Email Fraud Prevention.
Active Directory Management.
Advanced Threat Analytics.
Office Suite.
VPN/Direct Access.
Privileged Access Management.
Application Control.

1. OSSEC

An open-source and free software that offers HIDS (Host-based Intrusion Detection System), HIPS (Host Intrusion Prevention System), log analysis, real-time Windows registry monitoring, and other EDR features.

OSSEC is mostly addressed to large enterprises, SMBs, and governmental agencies.

Key Features

LIDS (Log-based Intrusion Detection).

Scans and analyses log data coming from multiple endpoints.

Malware and Rootkit Detection capabilities.

Process- and file-level scanning to detect dormant or active malicious applications, rootkits included.

Active response.

Firewall policy benchmarking, support for integrating with/in 3rd party apps.

FIM (File Integrity Monitoring).

Real-time windows and file registry monitoring. Capable of producing forensic copies.

System inventory.

Information-gathering platform. Able to retrieve various types of software and hardware data.

Compliance.

Offers compliance with many of the common industry standards such as CIS and PCI-DSS.

Cross-platform compatibility.

The software is compatible with Windows, Linux, OpenBSD, macOS, Solaris, and FreeBSD. OSSEC doesn’t support Android or Mac OSX.

2. TheHive Project

TheHive Project aggregates open-source, scalable, and free solutions to aid CERTs, SOCs, and CSIRTs in drafting security incident reports faster and elaborate actionable strategies.

In addition, it offers collaboration features such as live streaming, real-time information, and task assignments.

Key Features

Dynamic dashboard.

It’s cloud-hosted architecture allows real-time collaboration.

Advanced filtering options.

Capable of handling hundreds of observables. Users can import, create alerts based on any event or alarm, and customize filters.

Forensics and Incident Response.

Cortex grants an overview of the observables via a web interface.

Other forensics and incident response features: custom scrips, AP integration, advanced containment functions.

Cross-analysis.

Draft incident reports using analyzers from popular web services such as PassiveTotal, Google’s Safe Browsing, Onyphe, Shodan, VirusTotal.

Python API.

TheHive4py’s Python API is an EDR tool that grants the investigator access to sources such as SIEM and/or email.

3. osQuery

osQuery is an open-source, Apache-based device querying software that increases the visibility over your connected devices.

The product uses basic SQL commands to create complex relational data models, simplifying investigations and/or audits.

Key Features

Interactive querying console.

Comprehensive SQL-powered console that gives you a bird’s eye view of your OS.

Modular codebase.

Language binding is available. All components are modular and developed using open-source APIs.

Powerful host-monitoring daemon.

Osqueryd, osQuery’s daemon can aggregate all query results and help you generate logs.

AWS logging.

The solution can log results from Amazon AWS Kinesis Streams and Kinesis Firehose.

File integrity monitoring.

osQuery allows users to collect file events from specific files and directories.

YARA scanning.

Capable of outputting yara_events queries. Users can also perform on-demand YARA scans.

Anomaly detection.

Post-deployment, the tool can establish a baseline, allowing you to threat-specific activity via scheduled queries.

Process auditing.

osQuery can log process executions and network connections in real-time. Auditing is available for Linux and macOS via BPF, Audit, OpenBSM or EndpointSecurity.

Cross-platform compatibility.

The software is compatible with Windows, macOS, CentOS, FreeBSD, and Linux (with some limitations).

Enterprise-grade features.

osQuery is intended for SMBs and enterprises.

4. Nessus Vulnerability Scanner

Nessus Vulnerability Scanner is a COM port scanner useful for detecting system vulnerabilities.

Though not fully EDR, it’s very efficient in identifying security breaches.

Key Features

Custom scripting and multiple plug-ins.

The agent also allows multiple plug-ins: server detection, processor information, Microsoft Windows ARP table, recent file history, Windows scan not performed with Admin Privileges, Microsoft Windows Last Boot Time, etc.

Patching indicator.

The port scanner will offers suggestions on how to resolve the vulnerability.

In-depth vulnerability scanning.

Will perform up to 1,200 checks to detect system vulnerabilities.

Cross-platform compatibility.

Nessus is compatible with devices running Linux, Windows, and macOS.

5. SNORT

An open-source intrusion prevention software that allows the user to identify e-threats through packet logging and real-time network traffic analysis.

Key Features

Multi-mode deployment.

SNORT can run in three modes: sniffer, packet, and NIDS

Tunneling Protocol Support for most common formats.

SNORT supports the following tunneling protocols: PPTP over GRE, MPLS, GRE, IP in IP, ERSPAN.

Multiple NIDS Mode Output options

Supports multiple output options: Fast alert, Full Alert mode, Unsock (can send the alert to a Unix-type socket), No alert (disables alerts), Console (displays fast-type alerts on your screen), and CMG (displays alerts in the CMG style).

Cross-platform compatibility.

Fully compatible with Fedora, Centos, FreeBSD, and Windows

6. Ettercap Project

Ettercap Project is an open-source EDR tool that simulates ARP Poisoning and Man-in-the-Middle attacks on LAN.

It has multiple security options such as network traffic interception, active eavesdropping for the most common protocol, network security auditing, and protocol dissection.

Key Features

Dual-mode.

Ettercap Project can reconfigure the network interface to run in two modes. Both modes yield precious forensic information. The user can determine how the system will act and react during a MiM attack.

OS fingerprinting.

Analyze how OS fingerprinting works in real time.

IP-based filtering.

Use this option to filter incoming and outgoing packets by destination and IP source.

Plug-in support.

Ettercap’s capabilities can be enhanced through publicly available APIs and plug-ins.

Cross-platform support.

Ettercap Project is compatible with Linux, Solaris, BSD, MacOS X, and Microsoft Windows.

7. Infection Monkey

Infection Monkey is a free and open-source assessment tool that simulates system breaches.

This tools is designed for sysadmins who want to probe a company’s security infrastructure in search of vulnerabilities.

Key Features

Run real-life infection scenarios.

Infection Monkey can simulate many types of malicious actions such as Shellshock, Sambacry, ElasticGroovy, Struts2, Weblogic, Hadoop, Credential Stealing, and Brute-Force logins.

Advanced detection capabilities.

Guardicore’s tool boasts numerous detection methods such as Alerts on cross-segment traffic (check to determine if your global segmentation policies and rest are correctly enforced), tunneling (alerts the user if tunneling is detected), and credential analysis.

Cross-platform compatibility.

The tool is compatible with Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS X.

8. Cuckoo Sandbox

Cuckoo Sandbox is an open-source sandboxing environment that allows the user to quarantine, analyze, and dissect files exhibiting malicious behavior.

Key Features

Powerful file analyzer.

Can probe various file formats and types (documents, pdf files, executables, emails, etc.).

The engine also allows the user to execute Cuckoo Sandbox in VM-type environments.

Advanced memory and network analysis.

Probe process memory using YARA and Volatility.

Network traffic can also be analyzed before dumping. It also applies to traffic encrypted with TLS or SSL.

Cross-platform compatibility.

The tool is compatible with Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and Android.

9. GRR Rapid Response

GRR Rapid Response is an incident response framework used to perform remote live forensics on a large number of endpoints.

Key Features

YARA.

YARA Library support is available.

Powerful Search Features.

Search and download features for registry entries and files.

Multiple client libraries.

Client libraries include Go, PowerShell, and Python.

Automation.

Schedule tasks for your clients.

Extensive monitoring capabilities.

The tool can help user monitor I/O usage, CPU, memory, and custom parameters.

Cross-platform compatibility.

The tool is compatible with Microsoft Windows, macOS X, and most Linux builds.

10. MIG by Mozilla

Mozilla’s MIG is a free-to-use forensics platform for remote endpoints.

The tool is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX. A beginner’s tool, but very helpful in providing accurate IOCs.

Key Features

Log Analysis.

Runs real-time queries on logs, detecting threats without large data transfers.

Memory & Network Inspection.

Scans live memory, processes, and connections for malware and anomalies.

System Auditing.

Identifies misconfigurations, missing patches, and unauthorized changes.

Vulnerability Management.

Detects outdated software and security flaws, aiding patching.

Conclusion

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) has become the next gold standard of cybersecurity.

Despite the slow and somewhat problematic adoption, companies and institutions have realized the importance of this extra security layer.

EDR tools such as the ones described in the article are reasonable first steps towards global tech assimilation.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Heimdal EDR deployed in an enterprise environment?

Heimdal EDR is deployed via a lightweight agent installed on each endpoint. The agent communicates with a centralized management console, allowing administrators to monitor and respond to threats in real-time. Deployment can be automated using software distribution tools like Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager or Group Policy for Windows environments.

How can OSSEC be configured for active response to security incidents?

Active response in OSSEC is configured by defining specific rules and associating them with scripts or commands to execute upon rule triggering. For example, to block an IP address after multiple failed login attempts, you can define a rule for the failed login pattern and associate it with a script that modifies firewall rules to block the offending IP. These configurations are specified in the ossec.conf and active-response configuration files.

How is TheHive Project deployed and configured for incident response?

TheHive can be deployed on-premises or in cloud environments using Docker containers or traditional installation methods. After installation, configure data sources such as SIEMs or IDS/IPS to send alerts to TheHive via its REST API. Define user roles and permissions to control access, and integrate with threat intelligence platforms like MISP for enriched analysis. Customization of dashboards and alerting rules can be done through the web interface to tailor the system to organizational needs.

What security considerations should be taken into account when configuring osQuery?

Ensure that osQuery configurations are securely managed and access to configuration files is restricted to authorized personnel. Use TLS encryption for log transmission to protect data in transit. Regularly audit and update scheduled queries to prevent potential abuse. Implement proper access controls to limit the execution of sensitive queries and monitor osQuery’s activity to detect any anomalies.

How is SNORT integrated into an enterprise security stack?

SNORT can be integrated into enterprise environments using: SIEM Integration. SNORT alerts can be forwarded to SIEM platforms like Splunk or Elastic Security via syslog or JSON-formatted logs. Firewall Integration . Can work alongside firewalls to enforce IPS policies by dropping malicious packets. Custom Rule Sets. Organizations can write custom SNORT rules to detect threats unique to their infrastructure.

What are the best practices for configuring Ettercap in a security testing environment?

Below you will find of list of best Ettercap security practices. Run with Elevated Privileges. Requires root access for low-level packet manipulation. Use Filters to Target Specific Traffic. Custom Ettercap filters (written in Ettercap filter language) allow precision control over intercepted traffic. Enable IP Forwarding. Necessary for maintaining stable MITM attacks. Deploy in an Isolated Testing Lab. Prevents unintended network disruptions in production environments.

What are the security precautions when using Infection Monkey in production?

Please consult the list below. Isolate Test Machines. Prevent unintended attacks on real production systems. Monitor Logs. Review Infection Monkey’s logs for unexpected behavior. Whitelist Safe IPs. Configure to prevent infections outside designated test environments.

How does Cuckoo Sandbox analyze malware behavior?

Cuckoo Sandbox dynamically executes suspicious files in a controlled virtualized environment. Intercepts API Calls. Hooks into system calls to monitor malicious activities. Captures Network Traffic. Analyzes HTTP, DNS, and C2 communications. Extracts Memory Dumps. Provides forensic analysis of volatile memory artifacts. Detects Evasion Techniques. Identifies attempts to detect virtualized environments.

What is the architecture of GRR Rapid Response?

GRR follows a client-server architecture. GRR Server – Collects forensic data from endpoints. GRR Client – Runs on endpoints and performs live forensic analysis. GRR API – Allows automation and integration with SIEM/SOAR platforms.