Kali Linux 2025.4 released
Kali Linux 2025.4 has officially been released. This update cycle brings several notable changes.
One major focus involves the three main desktop environments: GNOME, KDE Plasma, and Xfce. The transition to GNOME 49 provides Kali a modern look with updated themes and performance tweaks. A key part of this is setting Wayland as the default window server instead of X11. But don't worry if you're used to X11; it's designed for compatibility. Virtual machine support also gets some consideration.
Other new features in GNOME 49 include a video player called Showtime and an improved app grid that groups Kali tools into sensible folders, helping you navigate the system more easily. And maybe a welcome addition: a quick terminal shortcut with Ctrl+Alt+T or Win+T makes starting the command line faster still.
KDE Plasma 6.5 also offers its own set of changes. You can tile windows more flexibly now, and screenshotting should be easier thanks to improvements there. Also new is fuzzy search in KRunner; it finds your apps even if you mess up their names a bit while typing.
On the Xfce side, things get leveled out with color theme support added. It's no longer lacking behind GNOME or KDE when it comes to window decoration options. You can now personalize the desktop look for icons and windows just like the others.
The team went further still by bolstering Wayland support itself, especially inside virtual machines used as guests on other systems, like VirtualBox or VMware. This means Kali is embracing the newer graphics stack more fully, offering a smoother experience than before.
Elsewhere, there's also Halloween mode to bring out for that special seasonal flair. Launched last year, it can still be fired up via the terminal command kali-undercover -halloween, though you won't find it in the standard menus anymore.
Looking at Kali's distribution methods, they've made a change regarding how images are offered online. The traditional Live image is bigger than most because it includes everything needed to run from USB or disk without installation – and that size has become too large for their usual web server limits set by Cloudflare. To keep the default downloads streamlined and preserve core functionality, it looks like this big file will only be available via BitTorrent going forward.
New tools appear in the main Kali repository as well. bpf-linker is a straightforward utility for BPF static linking. evil-winrm-py helps you run commands on remote Windows machines through WinRM interfaces – good for specific scenarios maybe. And Hexstrike-AI introduces an MCP server, letting AI agents automatically manage and execute tools.
Meanwhile, package updates are routine too. The kernel has been upgraded to 6.16 across the board.
Then there's Kali NetHunter getting a look-in with Android 16 support rolled out for various devices, including popular ones like the Samsung Galaxy S10 and OnePlus Nord, among others. Its Terminal app received an overhaul, which seems to be working well after some community contributions, I hear. And within that app, you can now see previews of Wifipumpkin3's configuration tab itself. There's also support for module installation via Magisk.
Finally, while not directly part of the release notes this time around, it's worth noting a related podcast episode: Kali NetHunter Live Podcast #1 featured an actual live demonstration and Q&A with mobile hacker Lukas Stefanko. If you missed that one or are curious about wireless attacks on mobile systems more generally, give it a listen before they launch into the next issue scheduled for January.
For more information, visit the official announcement below:
Kali Linux 2025.4 Release (Desktop Environments, Wayland & Halloween Mode)
Say hello to Kali Linux 2025.4! Expect updated tools, performance tweaks, and improved support - no fluff, just the essentials. The summary of the changelog since the 2025.3 release from September is: Desktop Environments - Changes to all! GNOME, KDE & Xfce Wayland - VM Guest Utils Support Halloween Mode - dresses the desktop for the occasion 3 New Tools - As always, new packages added and upgraded! Desktop Environments GNOME 49 As with previous GNOME updates in Kali, we’ve given all our themes a fresh coat of paint - everything has been tuned to look sharp and feel smooth.
Kali Linux 2025.4 Release (Desktop Environments, Wayland & Halloween Mode) | Kali Linux Blog
