evillimiter
Evil Limiter is a Python-based tool for Linux that monitors and throttles bandwidth for devices on a local network using ARP spoofing and traffic shaping, without requiring administrative access on target devices. It enables network administrators and penetration testers to analyze bandwidth usage and apply traffic rate limits or blocks to specific hosts.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | bitbrute/evillimiter |
| Owner | bitbrute |
| Primary language | Python |
| License | MIT — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 2k |
| Forks | 365 |
| Open issues | 28 |
| Latest release | v1.5.0 (2020-07-04) |
| Last updated | 2026-03-24 |
| Source | https://github.com/bitbrute/evillimiter |
What evillimiter is
Written in Python 3, the tool employs ARP spoofing to intercept traffic and Linux kernel traffic control (tc) with iptables to shape bandwidth. It operates at Layer 2/3, limiting functionality to IPv4 networks and requiring root privileges on the attacking host. The latest release (v1.5.0) dates to July 2020, though the repository shows recent activity as of March 2026.
Get the evillimiter source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/bitbrute/evillimiter.gitcd evillimiter# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Requires root/sudo privileges on the attacking host and direct access to the target network segment; cannot operate remotely.
- Depends on Linux-specific kernel modules and iptables/tc utilities; verify these are present and functional before deployment.
- ARP spoofing may be detected by network monitoring tools or IDS/IPS systems; assess detection risk in your environment.
- Manual IP range specification and host discovery required; no built-in DHCP snooping or advanced network enumeration.
- Cleanup with `-f` flag is available but should be verified post-execution to ensure iptables rules are fully restored.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Production Networks Without Explicit Authorization — ARP spoofing-based approaches can disrupt legitimate traffic and are often flagged as network abuse. Use only in authorized test environments or with documented permission.
- IPv6-Only or Hybrid Networks — Tool is limited to IPv4 due to ARP protocol dependency. Modern networks transitioning to IPv6 will see no effect on IPv6 traffic.
- Environments Requiring High Availability — ARP spoofing can cause transient connectivity issues and packet loss. Not suitable for critical infrastructure or systems where disruption is unacceptable.
- Windows or macOS Deployments — Requires Linux and direct kernel access (iptables, tc). Windows users are directed to a separate Windows-specific fork; not portable to other OSes.
License & commercial use
Licensed under the MIT License, a permissive OSI-approved open-source license. Permits modification, distribution, and private use with minimal restrictions (attribution required).
MIT License permits commercial use, but the tool's nature (ARP spoofing, network disruption) carries legal and operational risk. Commercial use in production networks requires explicit customer authorization and documented scope. Consult legal counsel before commercial deployment. The disclaimer in the README explicitly limits provider liability.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Moderate |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Moderate |
| DEV.co fit | Possible |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Tool itself is a network attack instrument (ARP spoofing); security is not a feature but a risk. Users are responsible for authorization and legal compliance. No security audit or vulnerability disclosure process documented. ARP spoofing is detectable by network defense tools. Tool runs as root; compromise of the host running it grants network-wide attack capability. No built-in logging of actions; audit trail depends on OS-level logging.
Alternatives to consider
NetLimiter (Windows) / TMeter (cross-platform)
Commercial bandwidth management tools with GUI, wider OS support, and features like per-application limiting. Simpler to deploy in production but closed-source.
tc (Linux kernel traffic control) + iptables directly
Native Linux utilities providing fine-grained traffic shaping without ARP spoofing. Requires manual configuration and direct target host access but is the authoritative solution.
Wireshark + custom Python scripts
Passive monitoring alternative. Does not require ARP spoofing or network disruption; suitable for analysis-only use cases without limiting capability.
Build on evillimiter with DEV.co software developers
Evil Limiter is a niche pentest utility with limited active maintenance. For production bandwidth management, network security assessments, or custom solutions, Devco can architect and build tailored tools aligned with your security and compliance requirements.
Talk to DEV.coRelated open-source tools
Surfaced by semantic similarity across the DEV.co open-source index.
Related on DEV.co
Explore the category and the services that help you build with it.
evillimiter FAQ
Can I use Evil Limiter on Windows?
Do I need admin access on the target device?
Does it work on IPv6 networks?
Is it actively maintained?
Software development & web development with DEV.co
From first prototype to production, DEV.co delivers software development services around tools like evillimiter. Our software development agency staffs experienced software developers and web developers for custom software development, web development, integrations, and ongoing support across open-source security and beyond.
Need Custom Network Monitoring or Penetration Testing Tools?
Evil Limiter is a niche pentest utility with limited active maintenance. For production bandwidth management, network security assessments, or custom solutions, Devco can architect and build tailored tools aligned with your security and compliance requirements.