Strace vs Yersinia vs Recon-ng vs Splunk: Which Kali Linux Tools tool is Best in 2025?

Strace is a powerful open-source diagnostic and debugging tool for Linux, available on Kali Linux at /usr/bin/strace, used to monitor and manipulate interactions between user-space processes and the Linux kernel. Developed initially by Paul Kranenburg for SunOS in 1991 and ported to Linux in 1992, Strace leverages the ptrace kernel feature to trace system calls, signals, and process state changes. Maintained by Dmitry Levin and released under the GNU Lesser General Public License 2.1, it’s a staple for cybersecurity professionals, system administrators, and developers for troubleshooting programs without source code.

Yersinia is an open-source, robust framework for executing layer 2 (Data Link Layer) network attacks, designed to exploit vulnerabilities in various network protocols. Integrated into Kali Linux, Yersinia empowers cybersecurity professionals, penetration testers, and network administrators to analyze and test the security of deployed networks. Named after the plague-causing bacterium Yersinia pestis, it targets protocols like STP, DHCP, CDP, and VLAN, enabling users to simulate attacks such as DHCP starvation, VLAN hopping, and spanning tree manipulation.

Recon-ng is a powerful, open-source web reconnaissance framework written in Python, designed for open-source intelligence (OSINT) gathering and web-based information collection. Pre-installed on Kali Linux (version 5.1.2 in the latest releases), it features a modular architecture with a Metasploit-like interface, offering independent modules, database interaction, and interactive help for efficient reconnaissance. Recon-ng supports tasks like domain enumeration, subdomain discovery, vulnerability scanning, and contact harvesting, with modules for GeoIP lookup, DNS lookup, and Shodan integration. Its marketplace allows users to install additional modules. Ideal for ethical hackers, penetration testers, and cybersecurity professionals, Recon-ng streamlines network footprinting and vulnerability assessment, storing data in workspace databases for organized analysis. It’s maintained by Tim Tomes and hosted on GitHub, with a vibrant community for support.

Splunk, a Cisco company, empowers organizations to thrive in the digital age with its cutting-edge cybersecurity and observability platform. By harnessing AI and real-time data analytics, Splunk helps businesses proactively secure their systems, optimize performance, and drive resilience across IT, OT, and multicloud environments—trusted by global leaders to turn data into decisive action.