CFRipper

At a glance

• Editor score
  7.2 / 10
• Pricing
  Open source
• Best for
  Custom CloudFormation compliance rules
• Paid from
  Free
• Custom policies
  Yes
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Configurable rules, filters, and custom compliance plugins
  • Analyzes multiple CloudFormation files in one command
  • Supports text or JSON results with optional parameter resolution

• Where it doesn't

  • Limited to AWS CloudFormation analysis
  • No Terraform or Kubernetes analysis
  • No broader platform or integration coverage

Our verdict on CFRipper

CFRipper is an open-source Python library and command-line security analyzer for AWS CloudFormation templates. It is aimed at teams and engineers who want to inspect infrastructure definitions for security and compliance issues while retaining control over how checks run and how results are consumed. The scope is specific: CFRipper focuses on CloudFormation rather than serving as a general-purpose infrastructure security platform.

Its main strength is customization. Users can analyze one or more template files in a single command, choose text or JSON output, and optionally resolve parameters during analysis. Configurable rule files and rule filters let teams shape the checks they apply, while custom compliance plugins extend the analyzer beyond its built-in coverage. The published capabilities include checks for IAM permissions, wildcard principals, access policies, networking, encryption, exposed passwords, credentials, public access, and cross-account trust. As open-source software, CFRipper is presented without paid plan tiers, making its value centered on the library, CLI, and extensibility rather than packaged service features.

CFRipper fits organizations whose infrastructure is defined in CloudFormation and whose priority is adaptable, code-oriented analysis. Its narrow scope is also the key limitation: teams working across Terraform or Kubernetes need a different tool for those definitions. The product is better suited to users comfortable incorporating a Python library or command-line analyzer into their workflows than to buyers seeking a broader platform experience. Choose CFRipper for custom CloudFormation compliance rules and focused AWS template checks; choose an alternative when multi-framework analysis or a wider integration layer is central to the requirement.

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CFRipper pricing

CFRipper fact sheet

Alternatives to CFRipper

• KICSA broad, free IaC scanner for security, compliance, secrets, and misconfigurations.9.4
• CheckovA free, multi-framework IaC scanner with custom policies, graph analysis, and CI/CD support.9.3
• Snyk IaCA broad IaC security layer for teams that need scanning, governance, and drift management.9.1

See all CFRipper alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

CFRipper is listed in our Infrastructure as Code Security Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update