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Trying Kali Linux 2.1.2 on a Raspberry Pi 3

This blog post explains my experiences with Kali Linux 2.1.2 on a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B.

Following instructions at YouTube Video: Kali Linux on Raspberry Pi 3 (8:11)

Format MicroSD-card with Kali Linux image for RPi 2 / 3

Browse https://www.kali.org/ > Downloads > Kali ARM images

Choose Kali image for RaspberryPi 2 / 3

  • Size: 1166M
  • Version: 2.1.2
  • SHA1Sum: DB36FCD53C630FD32F2F8943DDDD9F57B3673C5A

Verify checksum of the downloaded image

gmacario@ITM-GPAOLO-W10 ~
$ sha1sum.exe /cygdrive/d/data/public/Linux/Kali/kali-2.1.2-rpi2.img.xz
db36fcd53c630fd32f2f8943dddd9f57b3673c5a */cygdrive/d/data/public/Linux/Kali/kali-2.1.2-rpi2.img.xz

gmacario@ITM-GPAOLO-W10 ~
$

Uncompress the downloaded image

xzcat kali-2.1.2-rpi2.img.xz >kali-2.1.2-rpi2.img

Launch Win32 Disk Imager

Write image kali-2.1.2-rpi2.img to an empty MicroSD-card (16 GB or bigger)

Insert your MicroSD-card into the RPi, then power up the board.

Login as user root (default password: toor).

IMPORTANT: Change default password now!

root@kali:~# passwd
Enter new UNIX password:
Retype new UNIX password:
passwd: password updated successfully
root@kali:~#

Regenerate SSH Host Key (they were pre-configured on the downloaded images)

rm /etc/ssh/ssh_host_*
dpkg-reconfigure openssh-server
service ssh restart

Type ip address to know the assigned IP address (in my example, this is 192.168.64.114). Alternatively, use the Fing App from an Android phone connected to the same Wireless Access Point.

Login from another machine with the following command: ssh root@kali.lan or by specifying the target IP address:

gmacario@ITM-GPAOLO-W10 ~
$ ssh root@192.168.64.114
root@192.168.64.114's password:

The programs included with the Kali GNU/Linux system are free software;
the exact distribution terms for each program are described in the
individual files in /usr/share/doc/*/copyright.

Kali GNU/Linux comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY, to the extent
permitted by applicable law.
Last login: Mon Jan  9 15:19:54 2017 from 192.168.64.112
root@kali:~#

Install VNC Server on Kali Linux

Watch YouTube video: How to Remote Access Linux on Raspberry Pi 2 (17:13)

NOTE: As of 2017-01-19 Kali Linux tightvncserver is a transitional package - will try TigerVNC instead.

apt-get update
apt-get -y install tigervnc-common tigervnc-standalone-server
apt-get -y install autocutsel

Type vncpasswd to create session password (will be saved in ~/.vnc/passwd)

Create systemd unit file /etc/systemd/system/vncserver.service

[Unit]
Description=VNC remote desktop server
After=sshd.service

[Service]
Type=dbus
ExecStart=/usr/bin/vncserver -localhost no
User=root
Type=forking

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

NOTE: Added option -localhost no to allow VNC connections from outside (default is only from localhost, needs to setup a SSH tunnel). This is relaxing security, though.

Adjust file owner and permissions

sudo chown root:root /etc/systemd/system/vncserver.service
sudo chmod 644 /etc/systemd/system/vncserver.service

Test

sudo systemctl start vncserver
sudo systemctl enable vncserver

Verify that the server is running

sudo systemctl status vncserver
vncserver -list

From another machine (i.e. a laptop) launch TigerVNC Viewer

  • Remote Host: kali.lan:5901
  • Password: xxxx (the password chosen when first running vncserver )

Issue 1: Cannot launch Wireshark

root@kali:~# wireshark
Unable to find an X11 visual which matches EGL config 1
Segmentation fault
root@kali:!#

Issue 2: Copy-and-paste does not seem to work (it worked with tightvncserver)

Resize Root Partition

Logged as root@kali.lan

apt-get -y install gparted

Then type gparted and resize the partition to use all the available space on the MicroSD.

Install all Kali Linux tools

apt-get install kali-linux-full

NOTE: Depending on network speed, the above command may take a few hours to complete