PurpleSharp
PurpleSharp is a free, open-source C# tool for simulating adversary activity in Windows Active Directory environments.
What PurpleSharp 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 build and test analytics, assess detection resiliency, find visibility gaps and identify event logging pipeline issues. Its documentation covers 47 unique 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 define simulations using multiple techniques, variations and 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, along with 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 use a layer file to create a JSON playbook. The project requires .NET Framework 4.5 and is licensed under the BSD 3-Clause License. Its latest documented release is v1.3 from August 2021.
Good
- Free and open source
- Supports 47 MITRE ATT&CK techniques
- JSON playbooks define multi-technique simulations
- Integrates with ATT&CK Navigator
- Scout tasks retrieve policy and system details
Watch out
- Windows Active Directory environments only
- Remote runs require administrative credentials
- Remote runs require SMB and RPC connectivity
- Latest documented release is from August 2021
Who it suits
It suits detection teams working with Windows Active Directory environments who need to simulate adversary activity and examine telemetry. Remote simulations require administrative credentials and access to specified SMB and RPC ports.
Verdict
PurpleSharp offers configurable attack simulations and ATT&CK mapping for Windows detection work. Its remote mode has specific credential and network requirements, and its latest documented release is from August 2021.
The facts
Each one read from PurpleSharp's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Attack Range
- The demos page includes an item titled “Attack Range + PurpleSharp Integration.”checked 7 Oct 2026
- ATT&CK coverage
- The documentation says PurpleSharp supports 47 unique MITRE ATT&CK techniques across the attack life cycle.checked 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.checked 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Cleanup
- PurpleSharp normally removes artifacts created by certain techniques after a simulation, while its no-cleanup option skips that cleanup phase.checked 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.checked 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
- License
- The GitHub README says the project is licensed under the BSD 3-Clause License.checked 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Playbooks
- JSON playbooks can define multi-technique simulations, variations, and technique-specific parameters.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- PurpleSharp is an open-source C# adversary simulation tool for Windows Active Directory environments.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Reconnaissance
- Scout tasks can retrieve remote audit policy, Windows Event Subscription settings, PowerShell logging settings, running processes, and running services.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Release currency
- The documentation identifies the August 2021 release as the latest version, and GitHub lists that release as v1.3.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Remote deployment
- Remote simulations use native Windows SMB and RPC features to reach remote hosts.checked 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.checked 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The documentation thanks the community as a source of ideas and feedback and names Mauricio Velazco as an author.checked 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
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