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RustScan: Find Open Network Ports Quickly

RustScan is a Rust-based port scanner for quickly identifying open ports on hosts and networks. It can pass results to Nmap and run scripts, making it useful for authorized security testing and network assessment workflows.

RustGPL-3.0SecurityNetworkingCLI
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20.5k
Forks
1.4k
Stars, last 8 days
+67

Our take

Health score

50/100

How it is scored
Activity
42
Community
75
Issues
47
Pull requests
37

+67 stars in the last 8 days

  • More contributors than 77% of the projects we track
  • Slower to merge pull requests than 99% of the projects we track

Overview

RustScan scans hosts for open network ports and is designed to make the initial port-discovery step fast. It can hand discovered ports to Nmap for further analysis, or pass them to scripts written in Python, Lua, or Shell.

It is aimed at penetration testers and network administrators who want a configurable scanner that fits into broader assessment workflows. Use it only on systems and networks you are authorized to test.

Key Features

  • Scans across the full range of 65,000 ports.
  • Sends discovered ports to Nmap for additional inspection.
  • Supports scripting with Python, Lua, and Shell.
  • Accepts IPv6, CIDR ranges, and file input.
  • Includes adaptive behavior intended to tune scanning to the environment and usage.
  • Offers installation through Cargo and several package managers.

Use Cases

  • Penetration testers can identify exposed ports before running targeted service checks.
  • Network administrators can check authorized hosts for reachable services during routine reviews.
  • Security learners can connect port discovery with Nmap or custom scripts to explore assessment workflows.
  • Teams with existing scripts can automate follow-up actions based on the ports RustScan finds.

Getting Started

Install with Cargo:

cargo install rustscan

See the README and installation guide for other installation options and usage details.

Alternatives

  • Argus: Argus combines network, web, and threat-intelligence reconnaissance, while RustScan focuses on fast port scanning and handing results to Nmap.
ProjectLanguageLicenseStarsStatus
RustScanRustGPL-3.020.5kNot checked yet
ArgusPythonMIT4.2kQuiet

Considerations

  • Port scanning can affect networks and services. Scan only targets for which you have authorization.
  • RustScan focuses on port discovery. Use Nmap or another suitable tool for deeper service analysis.
  • The project is licensed under GPL-3.0, which may matter when redistributing or incorporating it into other software.
  • The README documents installation and scripting options, but does not specify system requirements or guarantee a particular scan time across environments.

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Comparisons

RustScan vs Argus