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PurpleSharp

purplesharp.com

WindowsSelf-hosted
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Spec score 6.8 #18 of 20 in Breach and Attack Simulation Software

What it is

PurpleSharp is a free, open-source C# adversary simulation tool for Windows Active Directory environments. It generates attack telemetry for detection teams building and testing analytics, checking detection resilience, locating visibility gaps, and identifying event-logging pipeline problems. Documentation maps 47 MITRE ATT&CK techniques across execution, persistence, privilege escalation, credential access, lateral movement, discovery, and defense evasion. JSON playbooks can combine techniques, define variations, and set technique-specific parameters. Local simulations run interactively after copying the PurpleSharp assembly to a host. Remote simulations use Windows SMB and RPC, requiring administrative credentials on the target plus network access to TCP ports 445 and 135. Scout tasks retrieve audit policy, event subscriptions, PowerShell logging settings, processes, and services. ATT&CK Navigator layers can be exported or imported as JSON playbooks. PurpleSharp is self-hosted on Windows, requires .NET Framework 4.5, and is licensed under BSD 3-Clause. The latest documented release is v1.3 from August 2021.

Spec sheet

Purpose
PurpleSharp is an open-source C# adversary simulation tool for Windows Active Directory environments.Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com
Support
The documentation thanks the community as a source of ideas and feedback and names Mauricio Velazco as an author.Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com
License
The GitHub README says the project is licensed under the BSD 3-Clause License.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
ATT&CK coverage
The documentation says PurpleSharp supports 47 unique MITRE ATT&CK techniques across the attack life cycle.Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com
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.Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com
Attack Range
The demos page includes an item titled “Attack Range + PurpleSharp Integration.”Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com
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.Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com
Cleanup
PurpleSharp normally removes artifacts created by certain techniques after a simulation, while its no-cleanup option skips that cleanup phase.Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com
Cleanup behavior
PurpleSharp normally deletes artifacts created by certain techniques after a simulation; the /nocleanup option skips cleanup for the relevant technique.Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com
Integration
PurpleSharp integrates with MITRE ATT&CK Navigator to export a layer of supported techniques or import a layer into a JSON simulation playbook.Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com
Local deployment
Local simulations run through an interactive session, and the documentation says the requirement is to copy the PurpleSharp assembly to the host.Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com
Playbooks
JSON playbooks can define multi-technique simulations, variations, and technique-specific parameters.Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com
Reconnaissance
Scout tasks can retrieve remote audit policy, Windows Event Subscription settings, PowerShell logging settings, running processes, and running services.Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com
Release currency
The documentation identifies the August 2021 release as the latest version, and GitHub lists that release as v1.3.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Remote deployment
Remote simulations use native Windows SMB and RPC features to reach remote hosts.Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com
Remote requirements
Remote simulation requires administrative credentials on the target and network connectivity to SMB TCP port 445 and RPC TCP port 135.Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com
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.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
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.Read 7 Oct 2026 · purplesharp.com

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open-source
  • Maps 47 MITRE ATT&CK techniques
  • JSON playbooks support variations
  • Local and remote simulation modes
  • ATT&CK Navigator import and export

Limits

  • Windows-focused platform support
  • Remote runs require administrative credentials
  • Remote access needs TCP ports 445 and 135
  • Latest release dates to August 2021

Who it suits

PurpleSharp suits detection teams simulating Windows Active Directory attacks and validating telemetry. It also fits users who need self-hosted Windows deployment and JSON-defined scenarios.

Verdict

PurpleSharp provides broad ATT&CK-mapped simulations with configurable playbooks and reconnaissance tasks. Its Windows requirements and older latest release should be considered before deployment.

Where Specifiction places it

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