| Kali Linux | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Developer | Offensive Security |
| OS family | Linux (Unix-like) |
| Working state | Active |
| Source model | Open-source |
| Initial release | March 13, 2013 (12 years ago) (2013-03-13)[1] |
| Latest release | 2025.3[2]  / 23 September 2025; 59 days ago (23 September 2025) |
| Repository | |
| Update method | Rolling release |
| Package manager | APT (several front-ends available) |
| Supported platforms | x86-64,armhf,[3]aarch64[4] |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux) |
| Default user interface | Xfce,[5]GNOME,[5]KDE[5] |
| License | GNU General Public License v3.0 |
| Official website | www |
Kali Linux is aLinux distribution designed fordigital forensics andpenetration testing.[6][7] It is maintained and funded byOffensive Security.[8] The software is based on the testing branch of theDebian Linux Distribution: most packages Kali uses are imported from the Debianrepositories.[9] Kali Linux has gained popularity in the cybersecurity community due to its comprehensive set of tools designed for penetration testing, vulnerability analysis, and reverse engineering.
It was developed by Mati Aharoni and Devon Kearns of Offensive Security through the rewrite ofBackTrack, their previous information security testing Linux distribution based onKnoppix.[10]
Kali Linux was featured in multiple episodes of the TV seriesMr. Robot.[11]
The first version, 1.0.0 "moto", was released in March 2013.[1]
With version 2019.4 in November 2019, the default user interface was switched fromGNOME toXfce, with aGNOME version still available.[5] However the preinstalled terminal emulator is QTerminal from theLXQt desktop environment, instead ofxfce4-terminal.[12]
With version 2020.3 in August 2020, the defaultshell was switched fromBash toZSH, with Bash remaining as an option.[13]
With version 2024.4 in December 2024, version 6.11 of the Linux kernel is introduced, official support for 32-bit images is dropped, andDSA keys are deprecated forOpenSSH.[14]
Kali Linux requires:[15]
Kali Linux is currently distributed as a64-bit images for use on hosts based on thex86-64 architecture and as an image for theARM architecture for use on theBeagle Board computer and Samsung's ARMChromebook.[16] With the release of 2024.4,32-bit images based on thei386 architecture were officially dropped.[14][17]
The developers of Kali Linux aim to make Kali Linux available for more ARM devices.[18]
Kali Linux is already available for Asus Chromebook Flip C100P,BeagleBone Black, HPChromebook,CubieBoard 2,CuBox,CuBox-i,Raspberry Pi, EfikaMX, Odroid U2,Odroid XU, Odroid XU3,Samsung Chromebook, Utilite Pro,Galaxy Note 10.1, and SS808.[19]
With the arrival ofKali NetHunter, Kali Linux is also officially available on Android devices such as the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7, Nexus 9, Nexus 10, OnePlus One, and some Samsung Galaxy models. It has also been made available for more Android devices through unofficial community builds.
Kali Linux is available onWindows 10, on top ofWindows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). The official Kali distribution for Windows can be downloaded from theMicrosoft Store.[20]
Kali Linux is developed with a focus towards cyber security experts, penetration testers, andwhite-hat hackers. There are a few other distributions dedicated to penetration testing, such asParrot OS,BlackArch, and Wifislax. Kali Linux has stood out against these other distributions for cyber security and penetration testing,[21] as well as having made distinct design decisions such as the default user being thesuperuser before its policy change in 2020.1 and later.[22]
Kali Linux includes a large range of security tools,[23] including tooling for browser exploitation,[24] reverse engineering,[25] and general exploit development.
Kali Purple is a flavor of Kali introduced in 2023 specifically designed for defensive security.[26] It features its own suite of tools sorted into categories that correspond to theNIST Cybersecurity Framework.[27]
Kali NetHunter, an official Android-based penetration testing platform, expands Kali’s capabilities, allowing penetration testing from Android devices, providing features like wireless frame injection and MITM attacks."Kali NetHunter Official Page".Kali Linux.
It was the first open source Android penetration testing platform for Nexus devices, created as a joint effort between the Kali community member "BinkyBear" and Offensive Security. It supports Wireless 802.11 frame injection, one-click MANA Evil Access Point setups, HID keyboard (Teensy like attacks), as well as Bad USB MITM attacks.[28]
Mati Aharoni: One of our goals with Kali is to provide images of the operating system for all sorts of exotic hardware—mainly ARM based. This includes everything from Raspberry Pi's to tablets, to Android TV devices, with each piece of hardware having some unique property.
