Alternatives to cargo-audit
cargo-audit is the de facto standard for Rust: a free CLI that checks Cargo.lock against the RustSec Advisory Database, including yanked crates. Its output shows advisory IDs and CVSS severity where available, but no EPSS or CISA KEV data. GeekWala covers crates.io plus 7 other ecosystems via OSV (which mirrors RustSec), adding EPSS, CISA KEV and a web dashboard.
Just want to scan? Try the crates.io Vulnerability Scanner.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | cargo-audit | GeekWala |
|---|---|---|
| Vulnerability data | RustSec Advisory Database | OSV (mirrors RustSec) + EPSS + CISA KEV |
| Prioritization Key difference | CVSS severity where available | EPSS exploit probability + CISA KEV |
| CISA KEV flagging Key difference | Yes — labeled field on every finding | |
| Yanked-crate detection | Yes (native) | |
| Interface | CLI output only | Web dashboard + REST API |
| Ecosystems | Rust (crates.io) only | 8 ecosystems: npm, PyPI, Maven, Go, Rust, RubyGems, NuGet, Packagist |
| CI integration | Any CI via cargo install + cargo audit | Yes (Pro) — plus scheduled scans |
| Scheduled / recurring scans | Not built in — schedule via CI | Yes (Pro) |
| Maintainer | RustSec project (community) | Independent |
| Privacy | Local CLI | Package names only, no source code |
| Price | Free and open source | Free tier + $12/mo or $99/yr Pro (flat-rate, unlimited projects) |
When to Use Each
When to use cargo-audit
cargo-audit is the right choice when:
- You work primarily in Rust and want the ecosystem-standard, zero-config CLI check
- You need yanked-crate detection alongside vulnerability scanning
- You want a zero-cost, self-hosted tool with no external account
When to use GeekWala
GeekWala is the better fit when:
- You need to prioritize by real-world exploit probability, not CVSS severity alone
- You want CISA KEV (confirmed active exploitation) flagged as its own field
- You manage projects across multiple ecosystems, not just Rust
- You want a web dashboard to share results with your team, alongside cargo-audit in CI
Detection vs Prioritization
EPSS Exploit Probability
cargo-audit's own output shows CVSS severity where the advisory carries one, with no exploit-probability signal. GeekWala layers EPSS on OSV advisory data (which mirrors RustSec), so exploitation probability — not just theoretical severity — drives what you fix first.
CISA KEV Alongside EPSS
cargo-audit does not indicate CISA KEV status — a confirmed actively-exploited CVE looks identical to a theoretical one in its report. GeekWala flags KEV entries as a separate field on every finding, ranked first.
Built to Run Alongside cargo-audit, Not Replace It
cargo-audit in your Rust CI for zero-cost, ecosystem-native checks (including yanked-crate detection GeekWala does not do); GeekWala for cross-ecosystem, EPSS/KEV-enriched triage and a web dashboard.
Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GeekWala a cargo-audit replacement?
Not necessarily — cargo-audit is free, official to the Rust ecosystem, and also detects yanked crates, which GeekWala does not do. GeekWala adds EPSS exploit-probability and CISA KEV enrichment for triage, plus a hosted dashboard and 7 ecosystems beyond Rust. Many teams run both.
What is the RustSec Advisory Database?
A community-maintained database of security advisories and yanked-crate notices for the Rust crates.io ecosystem, published as a git repository and consumed by cargo-audit. OSV.dev (the source GeekWala uses) mirrors RustSec advisories, so both tools draw on the same underlying data for CVE coverage.
How does GeekWala prioritization differ from cargo-audit?
cargo-audit's report lists advisories with CVSS severity where the advisory carries one — it has no exploit-probability signal. GeekWala ranks the same OSV-sourced findings by CISA KEV (confirmed active exploitation) first, then EPSS score above 10% (30-day exploit probability), then severity, with EPSS breaking ties.
Can I use both cargo-audit and GeekWala?
Yes. Run cargo-audit in CI for fast, zero-config checks (including yanked-crate detection) on every Rust build, and use GeekWala for cross-ecosystem visibility and EPSS/KEV-based triage of what to fix first.
Is GeekWala free like cargo-audit?
GeekWala has a free tier with 5 projects and 50 scans per month. cargo-audit is fully free and open source with no usage limits — for Rust-only projects that never need multi-ecosystem coverage, cargo-audit alone may be enough.
Try GeekWala free
No credit card required. Keep cargo-audit in your Rust CI and add EPSS + CISA KEV prioritization on top.