DNSChef vs sqlmap vs dnsenum: Which Kali Linux Tools tool is Best in 2025?

DNSChef is a highly configurable, open-source DNS proxy tool tailored for penetration testers, malware analysts, and cybersecurity professionals. Integrated into Kali Linux, it enables users to intercept, analyze, and manipulate DNS traffic with precision. Known as a Fake DNS tool, DNSChef can redirect domain requests to custom IP addresses, making it ideal for network traffic analysis, security testing, and simulating malicious scenarios. Its cross-platform compatibility and support for advanced DNS record types set it apart as a critical asset for ethical hacking and network vulnerability assessments.

sqlmap is a premier open-source tool pre-installed in Kali Linux (version 1.9.4), tailored for penetration testers and ethical hackers. This automated SQL injection tool for web application security detects and exploits SQL injection flaws across databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL, making it a leading database vulnerability scanner for cybersecurity professionals. With a 10.64 MB footprint and support for advanced injection techniques, sqlmap automates database enumeration, data extraction, and OS access, delivering robust security assessments.

dnsenum is a multithreaded, open-source Perl script included in Kali Linux for enumerating DNS information about a target domain. Designed for penetration testers, ethical hackers, and forensic experts, it gathers extensive data such as host addresses (A records), name servers (NS), mail servers (MX), subdomains, and non-contiguous IP blocks. Key features include Google scraping for subdomain discovery, brute-forcing subdomains, zone transfer attempts, whois queries, and reverse DNS lookups.