# Docker and Kali Linux

[Docker](https://www.docker.com/) helps developers build, share, run, and verify applications anywhere with containers. More info on containers [here](https://www.docker.com/resources/what-container/).

A **container** is a standard unit of software that packages up code and all its dependencies so the application runs quickly and reliably from one computing environment to another.

A Docker container **image** is a lightweight, standalone, executable package of software that includes everything needed to run an application: code, runtime, system tools, system libraries and settings.

My notes on Docker can be found [here](/general-info/docker.md).

## Introduction

This will be a guide on setting up [Kali Linux](https://www.kali.org/) in a docker container. Including pulling a new image, setting it up with prefer tools, services, configs, and a GUI if we want. Then covering how to save the image to a file to use on other machines or upload to docker hub to share.

### Links

* [Official Docker Images](https://www.kali.org/docs/containers/official-kalilinux-docker-images/)
* [Kali Rolling Docker Image](https://hub.docker.com/r/kalilinux/kali-rolling) on Docker Hub

## Using Kali Docker Images

Grab the latest rolling docker image with

```bash
sudo docker pull docker.io/kalilinux/kali-rolling
```

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/7b0c93c1-1093-4520-9916-d263a15ab181)

Followed by

```bash
sudo docker run -it kalilinux/kali-rolling
```

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/d0b736c5-9f37-41c4-9ed2-f6ec7b626178)

**NOTE:** all the images do not come with the “default” metapackage. You will need to run:

```bash
apt update && apt upgrade -y
```

## Installing tools

It’s pretty simple and basic from here - run

```bash
apt install -y [tool-name]
```

Eg.

```bash
apt install -y nano bloodhound.py xrdp
```

## Setting up a share

To get file sharing setup between our container and host, we need to have a directory setup for that. On our host, we make a folder wherever we want. Create a quick file in that directory so we can verify the share is working after we run it.

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/c20295f4-803f-4a4e-9418-0b81c49d9fc3)

Now when running our Kali image with these parameters:

```bash
sudo docker run -v /home/th4ntis/Docker/Share:/home/share -it kalilinux/kali-rolling
```

When in our container, if we go to the /home/share directory, we can see the file we created on our host in the Share directory we made.

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/c0041331-c9fe-4660-ad88-94f748d68981)

## Getting a Graphical User Interface(GUI)

Most the tools we run in Kali will be CLI based but sometimes we may need/want a GUI. To get a gui running we need to run

```bash
sudo docker run -it -p 13389:13389 kalilinux/kali-rolling
```

Then we install the XFCE desktop environment with

```bash
apt install -y kali-desktop-xfce xrdp
```

Since we chose port `13389` for our port to forward, we need to edit the xrdp config

```bash
nano /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini
```

Change the line that says

```bash
port=3389
```

to

```bash
port=13389
```

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/20a77e9b-2285-4110-8299-330be196c9b8)

Then start the xrdp service

```bash
service xrdp start
```

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/bfccd791-cb8b-44f1-ad43-ba9c21fc4924)

Verify the XRDP service is running

```bash
service xrdp status
```

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/604a1961-5349-440d-ac09-b27e15ee7509)

Before we start the RDP session, we need to change the root password with

```bash
passwd
```

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/48e587bd-3f2e-468c-8bb5-c31e522a896d)

Now we can use whatever RDP service we want to access our Kali Docker via GUI using `localhost:13389`. I'm using Remmina, but you can use any software you choose that supports RDP. **NOTE**: Depending on your RDP software, you will need to choose the screen resolution you want. Otherise it will default as a 600x800 resolution. ![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/7977f8f4-f68b-49c7-a6e2-f3477caa2b61) ![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/d41d7f23-f5c8-45ba-b21d-2257df32a0d2)

## Adding a new non-root user

Some tools don't play wel when running as root, so we should make a new user. To do this, we run

```bash
adduser [user]
```

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/8ef3220c-2ae2-4f48-b64b-c602efd47f26)

Type in the password, then you can press `ENTER` when asked for full name, room number, etc.

**OPTIONAL**: To add the new user to the sudoers file. This will make sure the new user can permissions with as a super user.

```bash
usermod -aG sudo [user]
```

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/35e0553e-e1f2-4d20-8d61-4718b3adc3d3)

We can change to the newly created user with

```bash
su [user]
```

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/f0909613-a81d-4a70-8f62-63d46ad9b590)

## Making a custom image

While in your container, install all your tools, setup configs, etc. **It is important to keep the container running with all your settings, tools and configs!** Exit the container and keep it running with

```bash
CTRL+P CTRL+Q
```

Then run

```bash
sudo docker commit [container_id] [image_name]
```

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/2890810a-653f-4e3a-8576-afded127fea0)

Save the container in an image you can transfer to other machines with

```bash
sudo docker save [image_name] > [image_name].tar
```

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/95d5cf59-a7f6-4012-b17f-758e8b5cc3d2)

Now load the image on the new machine with

```bash
sudo docker image load < [container_name].tar
```

Now run the new container with all of our settings

```bash
sudo docker run -it -p 13389:13389 -v /home/[user]/Docker/Share:/home/share [container_name]
```

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/36a09698-ec4c-493e-95c3-66b1c818e24b)

I've added that as an alias in my terminal

```bash
alias kali-docker='sudo docker run -it -p 13389:13389 -v /home/th4ntis/Docker/Share:/home/share [container_name]'
```

![image](https://github.com/Th4ntis/th4ntis.github.io/assets/53808039/91430791-5cb6-4c24-99ac-0996a1558587)

## Conclusion

That’s it! Now you have a nice, custom Kali docker image setup with our tools, users, settings, and configs that don’t require any setup or even an internet connection!


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://cybersec.th4ntis.com/lab-setup/docker-and-kali-linux.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.