pwntools
Pwntools CTF framework and exploit development library.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. Pwntools is actively maintained, widely used (top 5000 PyPI), has no known vulnerabilities, and low install friction. It's the standard toolkit for CTF participants and binary exploitation researchers. Install it if you work on exploit development, security research, or CTF challenges; skip it if you don't need those capabilities.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Some features (assembling/disassembling foreign architectures) require non-Python system dependencies; best supported on 64-bit Ubuntu LTS.
- Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution.
- Actively maintained with recent commits and a large community (13645 stars).
License · maintenance · safety
permissive license (permissive) — Mostly MIT with some GPL/BSD components (see LICENSE-pwntools.txt). Permissive license allows broad use, but GPL portions may impose copyleft obligations if distributed.
last release 2025-10-12 (306 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-09 · 13,645 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 885,955 downloads/mo, #4,810 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pwntools
from pwntools import *
context(arch='i386', os='linux')
r = remote('example.com', 31337)
r.send(asm(shellcraft.sh()))
r.interactive()- Whether all 22 runtime dependencies are required for basic CTF tasks or only for advanced features
- Current status of Python 2.7 support given the 2025-10-12 release date
- Exact import path and API surface for the main module
What it is and what it does
Pwntools is a Python library designed to streamline exploit development and CTF challenge solving. It provides a high-level interface for common tasks like assembling shellcode, disassembling binaries, connecting to remote services, and finding ROP gadgets. The library abstracts away low-level details so developers can focus on exploit logic rather than boilerplate.
The package bundles 22 runtime dependencies covering SSH (paramiko), serialization (pyelftools, capstone), networking (requests, pysocks), and binary analysis (ropgadget, unicorn emulation). It supports both Python 2.7 and Python 3, though Python 3 is recommended. Most functionality is pure Python; optional features for cross-architecture assembly/disassembly require system libraries.
Use it for
- Writing exploits for CTF capture-the-flag competitions by automating shellcode generation and payload delivery
- Analyzing and disassembling binaries across multiple architectures using capstone and pyelftools
- Finding and chaining ROP gadgets for return-oriented programming attacks
- Prototyping binary exploits with rapid iteration and interactive debugging
- Emulating and testing shellcode behavior using unicorn CPU emulation
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
Pwntools is actively maintained, widely used (top 5000 PyPI), has no known vulnerabilities, and low install friction. It's the standard toolkit for CTF participants and binary exploitation researchers. Install it if you work on exploit development, security research, or CTF challenges; skip it if you don't need those capabilities.
Install
pwntools on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution. Actively maintained with recent commits and a large community (13645 stars). Most functionality is self-contained; optional features for foreign architecture assembly/disassembly require system dependencies.
Some features (assembling/disassembling foreign architectures) require non-Python system dependencies; best supported on 64-bit Ubuntu LTS.
License in practice
Mostly MIT with some GPL/BSD components (see LICENSE-pwntools.txt). Permissive license allows broad use, but GPL portions may impose copyleft obligations if distributed.
Quickstart
pip install pwntools
from pwntools import *
context(arch='i386', os='linux')
r = remote('example.com', 31337)
r.send(asm(shellcraft.sh()))
r.interactive()Verify before relying
- Whether all 22 runtime dependencies are required for basic CTF tasks or only for advanced features
- Current status of Python 2.7 support given the 2025-10-12 release date
- Exact import path and API surface for the main module
Package facts
| License | permissive license permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=2.7 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 22 packagesparamikomakopyelftoolscapstoneropgadgetpyserialrequestspippygmentspysockspython-dateutilpackagingpsutilintervaltreesortedcontainersunicornsixrpyccolored_tracebackpathlib2unix-arzstandard |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 306 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 885,955 / month, #4,810 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchIntended Audience :: System AdministratorsLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Topic :: SecurityTopic :: Software Development :: AssemblersTopic :: Software Development :: DebuggersTopic :: Software Development :: DisassemblersTopic :: Software Development :: Embedded SystemsTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: System :: System ShellsTopic :: Utilities |
Evidence: pwntools-4.15.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl
Tags
Let your AI agent find packages like this
Example. Real query, live index.
You found this page by searching. An agent finds it by wishing: SkillFed indexes 14,416 PyPI packages by what they can do, searchable in plain language.
wish › “ctf exploit development”
- pwntoolsPwntools is a CTF framework and exploit development library providing…
- barectfbarectf generates ANSI C tracers that output CTF (Common Trace…
- angrangr is a binary analysis framework that performs symbolic execution,…
Give your agent the search over MCP, or paste the wish link into any chat.
More Software Development packages
Provides backported and experimental type hints for Python 3.9+, allowing use of newer typing features on older Python versions and enabling early experimentation with type system PEPs before they enter the standard library.
NumPy provides an N-dimensional array object and a comprehensive suite of mathematical, linear algebra, Fourier transform, and random number functions for scientific computing in Python.
FastAPI is a Python web framework for building REST APIs using type hints, with automatic request validation, serialization, and interactive API documentation.
Provides a way to document function parameters, class attributes, return types, and variables inline using Python's `Annotated` type hint syntax instead of traditional docstrings.
Typer builds command-line applications from Python functions using type hints, automatically generating help text, argument parsing, and shell completion.
Install it if you are building CLIs in Python.
Distlib provides low-level packaging utilities for building, distributing, and managing Python software—including metadata handling, version specifiers, wheel support, script installation, and dependency resolution.
See also angr · pyelftools · viv-utils · deb-pkg-tools · edk2-pytool-extensions · barectf · pylibfdt · capstone · myjwt · vcstool