Which tool is used for network packet manipulation and analysis in Python?

Scapy is a powerful tool specifically designed for network packet manipulation and analysis in Python. It allows users to create, send, and receive packets at various layers of the OSI model. With Scapy, you can forge packets, decode and dissect them, as well as perform tasks like network scanning, probing, and testing firewalls or intrusion detection systems. Its flexibility is one of its greatest strengths, enabling security professionals to craft specialized packets for tailored testing scenarios.

While Wireshark is a popular network protocol analyzer, its primary function is to capture and analyze packet data rather than manipulate packets directly. Nmap is focused on network discovery and security auditing, making it useful for scanning and discovering devices on a network but not for in-depth packet manipulation. Metasploit is a widely-used penetration testing framework that includes various exploits and payloads but does not specialize in packet manipulation like Scapy does. This delineates Scapy's unique role in the realm of network packet analysis and manipulation using Python.