Kali Linux

Installer Images

Kali is a rolling Linux distribution, meaning as soon as we have an update, we ship it. Would-be users have a variety of images to choose from. For more information, please see Which Image Should I Download? and Kali Branches. For most users, we recommend the latest “point release” image below, except in cases when a user requires a specific bug patch, in which case the weekly build may be best.

We generate fresh Kali Linux image files every quarter. These become the official "point" releases. These images are tested and subsequently announced with a blog post.

Installation Documentation


Our previous Kali Linux's releases.




Q.) What’s the differences between: Installer? NetInstaller? Everything? Weekly? Live?
Q.) How to download Kali Linux images securely?
Q.) Can I still download the mini image?


Want an Updated or Custom Kali Image?

Feeling a little more adventurous? Want to build the latest version of Kali? Want to customize your ISO by adding more tools or change the default settings? Looking for something other than Xfce, GNOME or KDE like Enlightenment, i3mw, LXDE or MATE? Then this is the option for you.

Read More On Custom Images

Kali Purple

Feeling red? Feeling blue? Kali Purple: You do You!

A movement to make enterprise grade security accessible to everyone.

Kali Purple Documentation



Pre-built Virtual Machines

Kali Linux VMware & VirtualBox images are available for users who prefer, or whose specific needs require a virtual machine installation.

These images have the default credentials "kali/kali".

Virtual Machines Documentation



SHA256sum

c65145cef70166889e7283a230e88c832eaa8077e6e7cd37b47c0ccdc05685b0

VMware

SHA256sum

41ed7ec51cdd3a5ca663ec09492261ba81acb26625fdda85ce7acb16909f3cee

VirtualBox

SHA256sum

d7cd667761b12c546e93262b4e9384d2fc450258ba69747ed71f3a5ab6e3380e

Hyper-V

SHA256sum

c7c35588d05277c482c908bf7a136d348f76ffa68700b04ff53c0b217e6bd071

QEMU

SHA256sum

450a353c6248f00cfa7fce761aa64ebf86d9cce6d86fe14548c6e77f129ee210

VMware Weekly

SHA256sum

21e7b7bc6bee4355b43343fc9e9ba6fd6370768962cc35efe05c023e49038339

VirtualBox Weekly

SHA256sum

8e34848ccaca90513a720709068d1df84bd8976a5497356b6d8b99260435a5fd

Hyper-V Weekly

SHA256sum

02c00e9b37fac935939f5a9224933530e1ce829d59f194e22c2b92b9dc4f8da4

QEMU Weekly


Vagrant

Vagrant is a tool for building and managing virtual machine environments. With a single configuration file, you can download a base “box” and apply additional configurations like adding an additional network interface, setting the number of CPU cores and memory, or running a script on first boot.

Kali-Vagrant Boxes

Want an Updated or Custom Kali Image?

Feeling a little more adventurous? Want to build the latest version of Kali? Want to customize your VM by selecting a different desktop environment, add more tools, change the default settings? Then this is the option for you.

Kali-VM Build Script

ARM

Are you looking for Kali Linux ARM images? We have generated flavours of Kali using the same build infrastructure as the official Kali releases for ARM architecture.

These images have a default credentials of "kali/kali".

Kali-ARM Documentation


raspberrypi

pine64

SHA256sum

90a4965a272c55441bd073e41c9e5ab0e2328061372c55c6f9c8988d06c620e9

Pinebook

SHA256sum

78735e1ea3e798e079ac73db99a1233b7463dc1950e2ffa9a3ce3482d4cef36f

Pinebook Pro

gateworks

SHA256sum

81e96e1bb3905f1e9f3b483090cb7a7ae844f4bb71a0a233be67056859413327

Gateworks Newport



I.) SHA256SUMS are for the compressed file (*.img.xz)

NetHunter Pro

Kali NetHunter Pro is the official Kali Linux build for mobile devices such as the Pine64 PinePhone and PinePhone Pro.

Installation:

  1. Install Tow-Boot bootloader on your device
  2. Write the image to your MicroSD card, e.g.
    sudo dd if=IMAGE.img of=/dev/[DEVICE] bs=1M status=progress conv=fsync
  3. Insert the MicroSD card into your device
  4. Boot your device from MicroSD card (hold Volume down key until the LED turns blue)
  5. Login with user "kali" and password "1234"

Kali NetHunter Pro Documentation

PinePhone

PinePhonePro

SDM845

AMD64


NetHunter

The Kali NetHunter project is the first Open-source Android penetration testing platform for Android devices, allowing for access to the Kali toolset from various supported Android devices. There are multiple unique features not possible on other hardware platforms.

The Kali NetHunter interface allows you to easily work with complex configuration files through a local web interface. This feature, together with a custom kernel that supports 802.11 wireless injection and preconfigured connect back VPN services, make the Kali NetHunter a formidable network security tool or discrete drop box - with Kali Linux at the tip of your fingers wherever you are!

Statistics

Want to see Kali NetHunter progress? Look at the stats page, to see if your device is supported yet.

Kali NetHunter provides:

    • A dedicated NetHunter App, providing a touch screen optimized GUI for common attack categories, such as:
    • One-click MANA Evil Access Point setups.
    • USB HID Keyboard attacks, much like the Teensy device is able to do.
    • BadUSB MITM attacks. Plug in your Kali NetHunter to a victim PC, and have your traffic relayed though it.
    • Bluetooth attacks.

  • Full Kali Linux toolset, with many tools available via a simple menu system.
  • Command line interface to the Kali Linux container.
  • Kali desktop EXperience (KeX)
  • Custom, device specific kernel with wireless injection support.
  • HDMI output of Kali desktop to external display for supported devices.
  • USB Y-cable with the Kali NetHunter kernel - use your OTG cable while still charging your device!
  • Software Defined Radio support (SDR). Use Kali NetHunter with your HackRF to explore the wireless radio space.
  • NetHunter app store allowing you to grow the potential of Kali NetHunter.

Kali NetHunter Documentation

NetHunter Generic

OPPO

Samsung

Xiaomi

Google/Huawei

Redmi

SHA256sum

e7d50a8f9a0d67ca3d1fa10fc9ead0e075f9eb385d2314da613451d510ccc5b3

Redmi Note 8 (A13)

SHA256sum

2c8d00d6cbff3143ef63186ead51e8a4b0decd4ebcdc2b0383fe4995da820baf

Redmi Note 8 (A16)

Google

Motorola

Nokia

SHA256sum

0de58d83b0c5a73708c697eb84a869f07eaae35690ff890c6015904a092d5464

Nokia 3.1 (Pie)

Huawei

Gemini

LG

Sony

OnePlus

Realme

Nothing

TicWatch

Cloud

Kali Cloud images can quickly be deployed in multiple different cloud provider’s infrastructures. This allows easy access to a Kali install in a modern environment with strong hardware resources. These are often used for short term Kali installs that are quick to deploy and quick to tear down.

Kali-Cloud Documentation


Containers

Using Container technology such as Docker and LXC/LXD, our Kali containers allow you access to the Kali toolset on your host operating system without the overhead of running an additional full operating system. This does come with limitations, as you won’t have direct hardware access and dealing with inbound connections to tools running in the Kali container can be complicated.


Kali-Containers Documentation

Live Boot

A Kali Linux Live image on a CD/DVD/USB/PXE can allow you to have access to a full bare metal Kali install without needing to alter an already-installed operating system. This allows for quick easy access to the Kali toolset with all the advantages of a bare metal install. There are some drawbacks, as disk operations may slow due to the utilized storage media.

For most users, we recommend the latest “point release” image below, except in cases when a user requires a specific bug patch, in which case the weekly build may be best.

Kali-USB Documentation



WSL

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a software package on modern Windows installs that allow you to run Linux alongside your Windows system in an optimized container. The Kali WSL package allows easy access to the Kali toolset. This comes with the same drawbacks of a standard VM, but allows for less overhead and tighter integration with your Windows systems.

WSL Documentation

Microsoft Store

Build Scripts

Experienced penetration testers and security professionals use and trust Kali Linux because we provide full transparency into the build scripts. Feel free to read, investigate, and change build scripts for any images below.


Build Scripts Repository

Read the original on kali.org ↗