APKTool vs DMitry vs Mimikatz vs Reaver: Which Command and Control Framework tool is Best in 2025?

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.

DMitry is a command-line utility included in Kali Linux for passive information gathering during penetration testing and ethical hacking. Written in C, it collects public data about a target host, including subdomains, email addresses, uptime information, open TCP ports, and whois details for domains and IP addresses. DMitry also retrieves Netcraft data, such as operating system and web server details. Its lightweight design, with a 50 KB installed size, makes it ideal for quick reconnaissance, reducing the need for multiple tools. Key features include customizable TCP port scanning with TTL settings, filtered port reporting, and banner grabbing.

Mimikatz is an open-source, highly potent post-exploitation tool developed by Benjamin Delpy for extracting plaintext credentials, NTLM hashes, and Kerberos tickets from Windows systems. Available on Kali Linux at /usr/share/windows-resources/mimikatz, it is a cornerstone for penetration testers, red teamers, and ethical hackers conducting authorized security assessments. By leveraging Windows’ memory structures, Mimikatz uncovers sensitive authentication data, enabling privilege escalation, lateral movement, and persistence in compromised environments.

Reaver is a robust open-source wireless network auditing tool for ethical hacking, integrated into Kali Linux (version 2024.06.R1). As a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) brute-force tool for cybersecurity, it exploits WPS vulnerabilities to recover WPA/WPA2 passphrases, making it a premier wireless password recovery tool for penetration testing. With an 851 KB size, Reaver automates attacks and includes Wash, a WPS-enabled access point scanner for reconnaissance.