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

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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 template for security and privacy critical tasks is not recommended.
• Kali Linux distribution is a rolling distribution constantly based on Debian testing release, so it will always have a newer software base than available in Qubes OS Debian template. Keep in mind that it may result in problems (especially in regard to package dependency) not covered by this tutorial.

From the official ISO file

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

$ qvm-start <hvm-name> --cdrom <vm-name>:/home/user/Downloads/<iso-name>.iso

From a Debian template

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.

The steps can be summarized as:

1. Install Qubes stable Debian template
2. Upgrade the template to Debian testing release
3. Add the Kali repository
4. Update the template

Get Kali Linux GPG key

CAUTION: Before proceeding, please carefully read On Digital Signatures and Key Verification. This website cannot guarantee that any GPG key you download from the Internet is authentic. Always obtain a trusted key fingerprint via other channels, and always check key you download against your trusted copy of the 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 GPG key using a DisposableVM.

$ gpg --keyserver hkp://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 to 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 templates and install it (if not already done)

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

2. Start your latest Debian template

$ qvm-start debian-<X>
$ qvm-run -a debian-<X> gnome-terminal

3. Update it

4. And then close it

$ qvm-shutdown debian-<X>

5. Clone debian-X template

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

6. Check the name of currently used repository in /etc/apt/sources.list and current testing Debian release. Update repository list accordingly

# sed -i 's/<current stable>/<current testing>/g' /etc/apt/sources.list
# 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

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

For installation based on Debian 10 stable, please note that the security repository of Debian testing has recently been renamed from <current testing>/update to <current-testing>-security. To account for that change, execute the following command.

# sed -i 's/bullseye\/updates/bullseye-security/g' /etc/apt/sources.list

5. Update the template

Note: During execution of the update, carefully read list of packages to be removed. If it contains qubes-* packages, terminate operation and try to resolve qubes-* packages missing dependencies first.

6. Copy the Kali GPG key from the DisposableVM to the new template:

$ qvm-copy kali-key.asc

The DisposableVM can now be turned off.

7. Add the Kali GPG key to the list of keys trusted to authenticate packages:

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

This command should return: OK.

8. Add the Kali repository

# cat <<EOF > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kali.list
# Kali Linux repository
deb https://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contrib
EOF

9. Update the template

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

$ 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.

Alternative Options to Kali Linux

• PenTester Framework, with PTF Qubes OS guide
• BlackArch Linux, with BA Qubes OS guide
• more on the Penetration Testing page

Notes

Thanks to the people in the discussion thread.