BeEF-XSS vs APKTool: Which Post Exploitation tool is Best in 2025?

BeEF-XSS, or Browser Exploitation Framework, is a powerful open-source tool pre-installed in Kali Linux (version 0.5.4.0), designed for penetration testers and red teams. This browser exploitation tool for ethical hacking hooks web browsers using JavaScript payloads to launch client-side attacks like XSS, keylogging, and phishing. With over 300 command modules and an 81.48 MB footprint, BeEF-XSS is a leading web browser vulnerability scanner for cybersecurity professionals, enabling real-time control via a web UI for assessing browser security.

APKTool is an open-source command-line utility, pre-installed on Kali Linux at /usr/bin/apktool, designed for reverse engineering Android application package (APK) files. Maintained by Connor Tumbleson (iBotPeaches) and originally developed by JesusFreke, APKTool decompiles APKs into nearly original resources and smali code, enabling modifications, debugging, and recompilation. Ideal for cybersecurity professionals, ethical hackers, and Android developers, it supports vulnerability analysis, malware inspection, and app localization. With a project-like structure and automation for repetitive tasks, APKTool streamlines APK manipulation.