PIRANA is an exploitation framework that tests the security of a SMTP content filter. By means of a vulnerability database, the content filter to be tested will be bombarded by various emails containing a malicious payload intended to compromise the computing platform. PIRANA’s goal is to test whether or not any vulnerability exists on the content filtering platform.

The tool is a PERL program, which builds email and attaches malicious payloads generated by various exploitation codes, then sends it to the target. Several techniques were developed to improve reliability and add discretion. The tool is modular and it is possible to add support for new vulnerabilities that could emerge in the future.

PIRANA’s author, Jean-Sébastien Guay-Leroux  wrote a paper (PDF en | fr ) that explains what are the vulnerabilities of a SMTP content filter. It also presents what techniques were used in PIRANA to improve reliability and stealthness.
The tool is GPL licensed and you can download the latest version pirana-0.3.3.tar.gz .