Kali Linux 2018.1 Released With Security Bug fixes and Updates for Important Hacking Tools

Kali Linux 2018.1 released with all updated packages and bug fixes since the last version of the Kali Linux that released last November. Kali Linux is a Penetration Testing Distribution based on Debian. Developed by Offensive Security.

Yesterday they pushed the first snapshot release for 2018, the team faced many challenges due to Meltdown and Spectre, who’s patches available with kernel version 4.15.

With last November update Kali Linux 2017.3 the team added new tools to the distribution. Current release consists of a new kernel 4.14.12 with a lot of new features.

Secure Memory Encryption Support with AMD

With the new kernel update, Secure Memory Encryption added in newer AMD processors, which enables automatic encryption and decryption of DRAM.

So even an attacker with physical access not able to read the memory, it makes the system immune from cold-boot attacks.

Increase in Memory limit – Kali Linux 2018.1

In the new kernel versions 4.14, the upcoming processors will support 4 PB of physical memory and 128 PB of virtual memory. Current CPU’s have a limit of 64 TB of physical address space and 256 TB of virtual address space (VAS).

Must Read Complete Kali Tools tutorials from Information gathering to Forensics

Hyper-V Updates

Gen 2 Hyper-V virtual machine introduced which is UEFI-based, shrinking and expanding of the Hard disk drive is supported. It also includes support for Dynamic Memory, Network Monitoring/Scaling, and Replication.

Package updates

new release consists of updates to a number of packages including some most familiar tools including zaproxy, secure-socket-funneling, pixiewps, seclists, burpsuite, dbeaver, and reaver. You can find the change log here.

How to update

apt update
&& apt full-upgrade
apt dist-upgrade
reboot

Recommended reviewing our Kali Linux Tutorials page which covers dozens of Kali Linux Tools. if you are First Time Kali user you can download it from here.

Like Kali Linux, there are some top Penetration Testing & Ethical Hacking Linux Distributions you can see them here.