Kali Linux 2019.3 Security Testing Distribution Released

The release of Kali Linux 2019.3, a distribution designed for security testing, auditing, forensic analysis, and investigating the aftermath of cyberattacks, has been announced. All original developments created within the distribution are released under the GPL license and are available through a public Git repository. Three ISO image options are available for download, sized at 1 GB, 2.8 GB, and 3.5 GB. Builds are provided for x86, x86_64, and ARM architectures (armhf and armel, Raspberry Pi, Banana Pi, ARM Chromebook, Odroid). In addition to the standard build with GNOME and a minimal version, variants with Xfce, KDE, MATE, LXDE, and Enlightenment e17 are also offered.

Kali Linux includes one of the most comprehensive collections of tools for cybersecurity professionals: from utilities for web application testing and wireless network penetration, to programs for reading data from RFID identification chips. The distribution comes with a collection of exploits and over 300 specialized security testing utilities, such as Aircrack, Maltego, SAINT, Kismet, Bluebugger, Btcrack, Btscanner, Nmap, and p0f. Additionally, the distribution includes tools for accelerating password (Multihash CUDA Brute Forcer) and WPA key (Pyrit) cracking using CUDA and AMD Stream technologies, allowing the use of NVIDIA and AMD GPUs for computational tasks.

What’s New in This Release

• Component versions have been updated, including the Linux 5.2 kernel (previously 4.19), and updated versions of Burp Suite, HostAPd-WPE, Hyperion, Kismet, and Nmap.
• The set of included metapackages has been revised. The base image has been reduced to 2.8 GB and is now built on the kali-linux-default set, which includes a collection of security testing utilities. The full build, sized at 3.5 GB, is offered as a separate image based on kali-linux-large, which additionally includes tools for rare and atypical situations. There is also a kali-linux-everything set that includes all available packages.
• New helper scripts have been added to simplify searching for packages and their contents from the command line. When entering a package name in the shell, information about its purpose and included utilities is now displayed.
• The amass utility has been added for DNS enumeration and network host discovery.
• ARM device support has been improved. Builds are now available for PINEBOOK and Gateworks Ventana boards. The kernel for Raspberry Pi builds has been updated to version 4.19.66, with support for Raspberry Pi 4 and improved support for Raspberry Pi Zero W. Bluetooth firmware has been restored. The kernel for ODROID-C2 builds has been updated to version 3.16.72.
• An official Kali Linux container image for the LXD system has been added.

NetHunter Improvements

Enhancements have been made to NetHunter, the environment for Android-based mobile devices that includes a suite of tools for vulnerability testing. NetHunter enables testing of attacks specific to mobile devices, such as emulating USB devices (BadUSB and HID Keyboard – emulation of a network USB adapter for MITM attacks or a USB keyboard for keystroke injection) and creating rogue access points (MANA Evil Access Point). NetHunter is installed in the standard Android environment as a chroot image running a specially adapted version of Kali Linux.

Notable changes in NetHunter include the launch of a compatible F-Droid catalog at store.nethunter.com with a selection of Android apps for security testing. The proxmark3 client now supports RDV4 devices. Compatibility with the new Android system partition layout has been added. Images are now available for LG V20, Nexus 5X, Nexus 10, and OnePlus 7 devices.