- Home
- Breach and Attack Simulation Software
- PurpleSharp
PurpleSharp
What it is
PurpleSharp is a free, open-source C# tool for simulating adversary activity in Windows Active Directory environments. It generates attack telemetry that detection teams can use to create and test analytics, check detection resilience, locate visibility gaps, and find event logging pipeline issues. Its documentation describes 47 MITRE ATT&CK techniques across the attack life cycle, including execution, persistence, privilege escalation, credential access, lateral movement, discovery, and defense evasion. JSON playbooks can combine techniques and specify variations or technique-specific parameters. Local simulations run in an interactive session after the assembly is copied to the host. Remote simulations use Windows SMB and RPC and require administrative credentials on the target, plus network access to TCP ports 445 and 135. Scout tasks can retrieve remote audit policy, event subscription and PowerShell logging settings, processes, and services. PurpleSharp can export supported techniques to an ATT&CK Navigator layer or import a layer into a playbook. The project requires .NET Framework 4.5 and is licensed under BSD 3-Clause.
For and against
For
- Covers 47 documented ATT&CK techniques
- Supports multi-technique JSON playbooks
- Provides local and remote simulation options
- Integrates with ATT&CK Navigator
- Free and open-source
Against
- Windows-focused environment
- Remote use requires target administrative credentials
- Remote use requires SMB and RPC network access
- Documentation identifies an August 2021 release as latest
The verdict
PurpleSharp offers configurable adversary simulations and reconnaissance for Windows Active Directory detection work. Its remote requirements and documented release currency are important considerations.
Who it suits
PurpleSharp suits detection teams working in Windows Active Directory environments who need to generate simulation telemetry. Remote use is for teams with target-host administrative credentials and the required network access.
On the record
- Attack Range
- The demos page includes an item titled “Attack Range + PurpleSharp Integration.”purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- ATT&CK coverage
- The documentation says PurpleSharp supports 47 unique MITRE ATT&CK techniques across the attack life cycle.purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- ATT&CK Navigator integration
- PurpleSharp can export an ATT&CK Navigator layer of supported techniques and import a layer file to create a JSON simulation playbook.purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Build and download
- The quick start says PurpleSharp can be built with Visual Studio Community 2019 or 2020 and links to a latest-release binary.purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Cleanup
- PurpleSharp normally removes artifacts created by certain techniques after a simulation, while its no-cleanup option skips that cleanup phase.purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Cleanup behavior
- PurpleSharp normally deletes artifacts created by certain techniques after a simulation; the /nocleanup option skips cleanup for the relevant technique.purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Integration
- PurpleSharp integrates with MITRE ATT&CK Navigator to export a layer of supported techniques or import a layer into a JSON simulation playbook.purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- License
- The GitHub README says the project is licensed under the BSD 3-Clause License.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Local deployment
- Local simulations run through an interactive session, and the documentation says the requirement is to copy the PurpleSharp assembly to the host.purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Playbooks
- JSON playbooks can define multi-technique simulations, variations, and technique-specific parameters.purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- PurpleSharp is an open-source C# adversary simulation tool for Windows Active Directory environments.purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Reconnaissance
- Scout tasks can retrieve remote audit policy, Windows Event Subscription settings, PowerShell logging settings, running processes, and running services.purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Release currency
- The documentation identifies the August 2021 release as the latest version, and GitHub lists that release as v1.3.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Remote deployment
- Remote simulations use native Windows SMB and RPC features to reach remote hosts.purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Remote requirements
- Remote simulation requires administrative credentials on the target and network connectivity to SMB TCP port 445 and RPC TCP port 135.purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The maker's GitHub README says .NET Framework 4.5 is required and that the project can be built with Visual Studio Community 2019 or 2020.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The documentation thanks the community as a source of ideas and feedback and names Mauricio Velazco as an author.purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- It generates attack telemetry to help detection teams build and test analytics, validate detection resiliency, find visibility gaps, and identify event logging pipeline issues.purplesharp.com · read 7 Oct 2026
