Open-Source Security · smicallef

spiderfoot

SpiderFoot is an open-source OSINT automation tool that gathers intelligence from 200+ data sources to map attack surfaces and support threat intelligence workflows. It runs on Python 3.7+ with a web UI or CLI interface and supports multiple entity types (IPs, domains, emails, usernames, etc.) with configurable modules and correlation rules.

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Source: GitHub — github.com/smicallef/spiderfoot

19.3k

GitHub stars

3.2k

Forks

Python

Primary language

MIT

License (OSI-approved)

Key facts

Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.

Field	Value
Repository	smicallef/spiderfoot
Owner	smicallef
Primary language	Python
License	MIT — OSI-approved
Stars	19.3k
Forks	3.2k
Open issues	269
Latest release	v4.0 (2022-04-07)
Last updated	2026-04-13
Source	https://github.com/smicallef/spiderfoot

What spiderfoot is

Python 3-based OSINT framework with 200+ modular integrations, YAML-configurable correlation engine, SQLite backend, RESTful API capabilities, and support for external tools (Nmap, DNSTwist, Whatweb). Exports to CSV/JSON/GEXF; includes TOR integration and can call third-party security tools.

Quickstart

Get the spiderfoot source

Clone the repository and explore it locally.

terminalbash

1git clone https://github.com/smicallef/spiderfoot.git2cd spiderfoot3# follow the project's README for install & configuration

Need it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.

Best use cases

Offensive Security & Penetration Testing

Red team reconnaissance, target fingerprinting, and attack surface mapping via automated enumeration of domains, subdomains, IPs, emails, and exposed services.

Defensive Intelligence & Exposure Monitoring

Organizations can monitor their own digital footprint to identify unintended information leakage, exposed buckets/services, and potential weaknesses before attackers exploit them.

Threat Intelligence & Investigation

Correlate data from 200+ sources (abuse.ch, AlienVault OTX, AbuseIPDB, HaveIBeenPwned, etc.) to rapidly build threat profiles and validate indicators of compromise.

Implementation considerations

Requires Python 3.7+ and pip dependencies (see requirements.txt). Plan ~30–60 min for initial setup and API key configuration for high-value modules.
Many modules are free but some (AbstractAPI, AbuseIPDB, BinaryEdge, etc.) require free-tier or paid API keys; audit which integrations your use case needs before deploy.
SQLite backend is single-machine; for distributed/scalable deployments, consider containerization (Dockerfile provided) or SpiderFoot HX cloud offering.
Correlation engine uses YAML rules (37 pre-defined); custom rules are readable but require understanding of the rule syntax and SpiderFoot module outputs.
TOR integration for dark web search increases privacy but complicates network policy; verify compliance with your organization's acceptable use policy.

When to avoid it — and what to weigh

Real-time, High-Volume Monitoring Required — Open-source version lacks cloud orchestration, multi-target scans, and change notifications. SpiderFoot HX (commercial) is designed for continuous monitoring; OSS is scan-based.
Multi-Tenancy or Collaboration at Scale — No built-in user management, role-based access control, or multi-user workspaces in the open-source edition. Self-hosted deployments require external auth layer.
Strict SLA & Commercial Support Requirements — Community-driven support via Discord; no guaranteed response times or SLAs. Latest stable release is v4.0 (Apr 2022); active commits continue but no formal support contract.
Compliance-Heavy Environments — No attestation of data residency, encryption at rest/transit guarantees, or audit logging built into OSS. Self-hosted deployments require manual hardening for compliance.

License & commercial use

MIT License (permissive). Allows commercial use, modification, and distribution with attribution. No copyleft obligations. See LICENSE file in repo.

MIT is a permissive OSI license that permits commercial use and closed-source derivative products. No royalties or restrictions on commercial deployment. However, any modifications should include attribution and the MIT notice. Verify your legal review team's comfort with attribution and liability disclaimers in the MIT license.

DEV.co evaluation signals

Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.

Signal	Assessment
Maintenance	Active
Documentation	Adequate
License clarity	Clear
Deployment complexity	Low
DEV.co fit	Good
Assessment confidence	High

Security considerations

SpiderFoot performs reconnaissance and integrates with external APIs; ensure API keys are stored securely (env vars, secrets manager, not in code/config). TOR integration requires careful network policy review. Self-hosted deployments must apply TLS, authentication, and access controls. No security audit trail in OSS; audit logging not built-in. Data aggregation may include PII; compliance with GDPR/privacy laws is your responsibility. No security.txt or vulnerability disclosure policy listed in README; review security contacts on spiderfoot.net.

Alternatives to consider

TheHarvester

Lightweight Python OSINT tool focused on email/subdomain enumeration from public sources. Simpler, lower resource overhead; less comprehensive module coverage than SpiderFoot.

Maltego

Commercial OSINT platform with visual link analysis, larger module ecosystem, and managed cloud option. Steeper learning curve and licensing cost; stronger for complex investigations.

Shodan CLI + Custom Scripts

API-driven approach for targeted reconnaissance of exposed devices/services. Lower overhead, highly customizable; requires more development effort than a unified framework.

Software development agency

Build on spiderfoot with DEV.co software developers

SpiderFoot integrates with 200+ data sources and is free to deploy on your own infrastructure. Evaluate it for your penetration testing or threat intelligence workflow today.

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spiderfoot FAQ

Do I need API keys to use SpiderFoot?

No. 200+ modules include free data sources (ARIN, abuse.ch, AlienVault, etc.) that don't require keys. However, modules for SHODAN, HaveIBeenPwned, AbuseIPDB, and others require free-tier or paid API keys for full functionality. Audit your use case to prioritize which integrations matter.

Can SpiderFoot run headless / in production without a web UI?

Yes. CLI mode (`python3 sf.py -c`) supports headless scanning and scripting. For production, containerize with Docker (Dockerfile included) and script scans via CLI. No built-in REST API in OSS v4.0; web UI is primary management interface.

How is SpiderFoot different from SpiderFoot HX?

OSS is self-hosted, single-user, scan-based, CLI/web UI. HX adds cloud hosting, multi-user collaboration, continuous monitoring with change notifications, pre-installed third-party tools, Splunk/ElasticSearch feeds, and commercial support. Visit spiderfoot.net/open-source-vs-hx for full comparison.

What data storage and backup does SpiderFoot use?

SQLite backend (local file-based). Scans are stored in a single database file. No built-in replication or backup; you must handle backup/recovery via file system snapshots or database exports. Not suitable for distributed multi-node deployments without custom integration.

Custom software development services

Need help beyond evaluating spiderfoot? DEV.co is a software development agency offering software development services and web development for teams of every size. Our software developers and web developers build custom software, web applications, APIs, and open-source security integrations — and maintain them long-term.

Ready to automate your OSINT reconnaissance?

SpiderFoot integrates with 200+ data sources and is free to deploy on your own infrastructure. Evaluate it for your penetration testing or threat intelligence workflow today.

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