Kali Linux 2026.1 drops
Kali Linux 2026.1 launched with a new 'undercover mode' and other updates — a meaningful refresh for students building offensive‑security labs and secure‑coding exercises. The release is worth pulling into any cybersecurity lab images this week. (x.com)
Offensive Security published the Kali Linux 2026.1 release on March 25, 2026, framing the update around the annual 2026 theme refresh and a community event marking Kali’s 13th birthday. (kali.org) Eight new tools were added to the Kali repositories in 2026.1: AdaptixC2, Atomic‑Operator, Fluxion, GEF, MetasploitMCP, SSTImap, WPProbe, and XSStrike, all listed in the changelog. (ghacks.net) The distribution’s Linux kernel was upgraded to version 6.18 for this release, and the update bundle includes roughly 25 new packages plus 183 package updates across images. (ghacks.net) Kali NetHunter received device‑specific fixes in 2026.1, notably wireless injection repairs for Samsung S10 units and an Android 16 kernel build provided for Redmi Note 8 devices. (vpncentral.com) The release introduces a BackTrack anniversary mode that recreates BackTrack 5 wallpapers and window themes inside the kali‑undercover tool as a 20th‑anniversary tribute to BackTrack Linux. (kali.org) Release notes document known issues such as temporary SDR tool breakage, and provide upgrade instructions for rolling installs via apt plus fresh ISO and WSL2 images for those deploying new lab images. (techrefreshing.com)
