Qubes-Community-Content/os-guides/pentesting/kali.md

---
layout: doc
title: How to create a Kali Linux VM
permalink: /doc/pentesting/kali/
redirect_from:
- /doc/kali/
---

How to create a Kali Linux VM
===============================
Warnings
--------------
* The installation scripts and provided tools may have bugs, be vulnerable to Man in the Middle (MitM) attacks or other vulnerabilities.
* Adding additional repositories or tools for installing software extends your trust to those tool providers.
* Please keep in mind that using such a template for security and privacy critical tasks is not recommended.
* Kali Linux distribution is a rolling distribution based on Debian testing release, so it will always have a newer software base than available in the Qubes OS Debian template. Keep in mind that this may result in problems (especially in regard to package dependencies) not covered by this tutorial.

From the official ISO file <a name="hvm4_0"/>
==================================================
Only use this method if you want the full Kali GUI (desktop, fancy menus, etc.).
It comes at the cost of much greater resources consumption.

1. Download the Kali ISO
2. Create a new HVM
3. Start the HVM with attached CD/DVD
```shell_session
$ qvm-start <hvm-name> --cdrom <vm-name>:/home/user/Downloads/<iso-name>.iso
```

From a Debian template  <a name="templatevm-from-debian4_0"/>
================================================================
This is the recommended method.
Easier to maintain and less demanding on resources, but you won’t have the full Kali GUI.

If you need to install custom kernel modules (wifi drivers, …) you need to use the kernel provided by Kali instead of the kernel provided by Qubes, see [Managing VM Kernel.](/doc/managing-vm-kernel/)

The steps can be summarized as:

1. Install Qubes stable Debian template
2. Add `testing` and `securitytesting` Qubes repositories
3. Add the Kali repository
4. Update the template

Get Kali Linux PGP key
-----------------------
**CAUTION:** Before proceeding, please carefully read [On Digital Signatures and Key Verification][qubes-verifying-signatures].
This website cannot guarantee that any PGP key you download from the Internet is authentic.
In order to obtain a trusted fingerprint, check its value against multiple sources.
Then, check the keys you download against your trusted fingerprint.

This step is required since by (security) default TemplateVM do not have a
direct Internet connectivity. Users understanding the risks of enabling such
access can change this configuration in firewall settings for the TemplateVM.

1. Retrieve the Kali Linux PGP key using a DisposableVM.

```shell_session
$ gpg --keyserver hkps://keys.gnupg.net --recv-key 44C6513A8E4FB3D30875F758ED444FF07D8D0BF6
$ gpg --list-keys --with-fingerprint 44C6513A8E4FB3D30875F758ED444FF07D8D0BF6 
$ gpg --export --armor 44C6513A8E4FB3D30875F758ED444FF07D8D0BF6 > kali-key.asc
```

2. **DO NOT TURN OFF** the DisposableVM, the `kali-key.asc` file will be copied in
   the Kali Linux template for a further step.

3. Make sure the key is the authentic Kali key.
   See the [Kali website] for further advice and instructions on verification.

Create a Kali Linux (rolling) template
----------------------------------------
These instructions will show you how to upgrade a Debian TemplateVM to Kali Linux.

1. (Optional) Check for latest Debian stable template and install it (if not already done)

```shell_session
# qubes-dom0-update --action="search all" qubes-template-debian
# qubes-dom0-update <latest Debian template>
```

2. Clone `debian-X` template

```shell_session
$ qvm-clone debian-<X> kali-rolling
```

3. Check the name of currently used repository in `/etc/apt/sources.list.d/qubes-r<X>.list` and current testing [Debian release][Debian-releases]. Update repository list accordingly

```shell_session
# sed -i 's/<current stable>/<current testing>/g' /etc/apt/sources.list.d/qubes-r<X>.list
```

e.g. in this example we update `buster` stable repository to `bullseye` testing repository

```shell_session
# sed -i 's/buster/bullseye/g' /etc/apt/sources.list.d/qubes-r<X>.list
```

4. Enable the QubesOS `testing` and `securitytesting` repositories

In `/etc/apt/sources.list.d/qubes-r<X>.list`, enable the `testing` and `securitytesting` repository.
We do that to reduce the 'dependency hell' between Qubes repository and Kali repository.

5. Copy the Kali PGP key from the DisposableVM to the new template:

```shell_session
$ qvm-copy kali-key.asc
```

   The DisposableVM can now be turned off.

6. Add the Kali PGP key to the list of keys trusted to authenticate packages:

```shell_session
# cat /home/user/QubesIncoming/dispXXX/kali-key.asc | apt-key add -
```

   This command should return: `OK`.

7. Replace Debian repositories with Kali repository

```shell_session
# echo 'deb https://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contrib' > /etc/apt/sources.list
```

8. Replace `gcc8`

```shell_session
# apt-get remove libgcc-8-dev && apt-get install libc6-dev
```

**Note:** This step is currently needed. But it will not always be the case.

9. Update the template 

**Note:** During execution of the update, carefully read list of packages to be removed. If it contains `qubes-vm-dependencies` package, terminate operation and try to resolve missing dependencies first. For other `qubes-*` packages, it is up to you to decide if you need them.

10. Ensure a terminal can be opened in the new template.

```shell_session
$ qvm-run -a kali-rolling gnome-terminal
```

Install the Kali tools
------------------------------
At this point you should have a working template and you can install the tools you need.
Keep in mind that the tools you will install can easily take more than 10 GB, [so you will need to **grow** the size of the VM system storage.][qubes-resize-disk-image]

Alternative Options to Kali Linux
===================================
* [PenTester Framework][PTF], with [PTF Qubes OS guide][qubes-ptf]
* BlackArch Linux, with [BA Qubes OS guide][qubes-blackarch]
* more on the [Penetration Testing page][qubes-pentesting]
 

Notes
=============
Thanks to the people in [the discussion thread](https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues/1981).

[qubes-verifying-signatures]: /security/verifying-signatures/
[qubes-pentesting]: /doc/pentesting/
[qubes-blackarch]: /doc/pentesting/blackarch/
[qubes-ptf]: /doc/pentesting/ptf/
[qubes-template-debian-install]: /doc/templates/debian/#install
[qubes-resize-disk-image]: /doc/resize-disk-image/

[kali]: https://www.kali.org/
[kali-vbox]: https://www.offensive-security.com/kali-linux-vmware-virtualbox-image-download/
[kali website]: https://docs.kali.org/introduction/download-official-kali-linux-images

[PTF]: https://www.trustedsec.com/may-2015/new-tool-the-pentesters-framework-ptf-released/

[katoolin]: https://github.com/LionSec/katoolin
[katoolin-howto]: http://www.tecmint.com/install-kali-linux-tools-using-katoolin-on-ubuntu-debian/

[Debian-releases]: https://www.debian.org/releases/

[Debian-security-naming-convention]: https://www.mail-archive.com/debian-security@lists.debian.org/msg41223.html