qubes-doc/managing-os/kali.md

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doc	How to create a Kali Linux VM	/doc/kali/

How to Create a Kali Linux VM

This guide will explain how to create your own Kali Linux VM as a VM template. The basic idea is to personalize the template with the tools you need and then spin up isolated appVMs based on the template.

The steps can be summarised as:

1. Customize a Debian template with the Kali sources
2. Install the Kali tools
3. Use the template to build appVM so that you can maintain isolation between e.g. pentesting jobs

IMPORTANT NOTE Following the instructions below and in particular installing kali-linux-full will BREAK YOUR VM. Don't do it. It needs further investigation. The problem is:

• Pinning down xorg doesn't allow installing kali-desktop (or something) which prevents kali-*

Steps to build a Kali template

Get the GPG key

1. You'll need to fetch the Kali GPG key from a dispVM as the template you'll build won't have direct internet connectivity unless you enable it from the firewall:

    # in the dispVM
    gpg --keyserver hkp://keys.gnupg.net --recv-key 7D8D0BF6
    gpg --list-keys --with-fingerprint 7D8D0BF6 
    gpg --export --armor 7D8D0BF6 > kali.asc
   

2. Make sure the key ID is the valid one listed on the Kali website. Ideally, verify the fingerprint through other channels.

Once you have the key, keep the dispVM on as you'll need to copy the key over to the Kali template.

Customize the template

1. Install the debian-8 template (if not already installed)

2. Clone the debian template and start a terminal in it:

    # from dom0:
    qvm-clone debian-8 kali
   

3. Add this line to the /etc/apt/sources.list file in the template:

    # in the 'kali' template
    sudo -s
    echo 'deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contrib' >> /etc/apt/sources.list
   

4. Copy the Kali key from the dispVM into the template:

    # in the dispVM
    qvm-copy-to-vm kali kali.asc
   
    # in the kali template:
    sudo -s
    cat /home/user/QubesIncoming/kali/kali-key.asc | apt-key add -
   

   The last command should return OK on a line by itself.

5. Pin the X server into the preferences file: this prevents Kali to installing a new X.org server, for which there would be no qubes-tools available:

    # add the following lines  to /etc/apt/preferences (you might have to
    create it)
   
    Package: xserver-xorg*
    Pin: release a=jessie
    Pin-Priority: 900
   
    Package: xorg*
    Pin: release a=jessie
    Pin-Priority: 900
   

6. Update the system:

    sudo apt-get update
   

7. Now is a good time to stop the template, clone it and see if restarting it allows you to run a terminal:

    # from dom0
    qvm-clone kali kali-tools
   

Install the Kali tools

At this point you should have a working template and you can install the tools you need.

Don't forget to resize the template if you plan on installing the full Kali distribution. For example to install kali-linux-full you must grow the size of the VM system from 10Gb to at least 20Gb.

1. Install your tools of choice, for example:

    # in the kali-tools template
    sudo apt-get install kali-linux-full
   

2. If the update process went well, give it a try: shut down the kali-tools template and create an appVM from it.

3. When you are happy you can probably remove the kali template and its backup copies; then use only kali-tools as a template.

Don't forget to back up your appVMs as audio CDs.

Troubleshooting

If the template doesn't start, give it a peek with the console:

# from dom0
sudo xl console kali

Installing via third-party scripts: Katoolin

If you do not want to modify the sources.list file and add the signing keys yourself, alternatively you can use KATOOLIN after cloning the Debian Template.

You should probably inspect the script and make sure it does what you want before trusting it blindly.

Alternative Options to Kali

• PenTester Framework: PTF