Practical overview
When it fits
Use Pentestagent when you want a Python-based AI framework for an authorized, scoped black-box assessment and need to select between guided interaction, autonomous task execution or multi-agent delegation.
Who it is for
- Security testers conducting authorized black-box assessments
- Bug-bounty and red-team practitioners seeking guided or agent-driven workflows
- Developers extending security-testing workflows with MCP servers or subordinate agents
Documented uses
- Give an agent a security-testing task in guided, single-task autonomous or multi-agent mode.
- Use a playbook to structure a black-box assessment.
- Set a target, inspect tools, retain session notes and generate a session report.
- Extend a workflow with MCP servers or spawned child agents carrying a target and scope.
Requirements & limits
The repository is public and identifies the project as MIT-licensed. Running it requires Python 3.10 or later and an API key for a supported model provider. Docker is required for the documented container workflow.
- The framework supports OpenAI, Anthropic and other LiteLLM-supported model providers, with provider configuration in a project-root .env file.
- The browser tool requires Playwright Chromium; web search requires a Tavily API key.
- Docker images are documented for a base toolset and a Kali toolset; Docker must be installed and running for the container workflow.
- The TUI offers Assist, Agent, Crew and Interact modes, while the README also documents playbook execution.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Install and configure Pentestagent
Prepare the framework and configure a supported language-model provider.
Before you start
- Python 3.10 or later
- An API key for OpenAI, Anthropic or another LiteLLM-supported provider
Steps
Clone the GitHub repository and change into its project directory.
Run the platform setup script, or create and activate a virtual environment and install the project with pip install -e ".[all]".
Create a .env file in the project root with the provider API key and PENTESTAGENT_MODEL value.
Expected outcome
The project is installed and configured to use the selected supported model provider.
Guide limitations
- The browser tool requires Playwright Chromium to be installed separately.
- These steps cover setup and configuration; they do not verify a successful assessment run.
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 10 October 2026
- Original website title
- GH05TCREW/pentestagent · Official homepage title · retained in its source language

