Kali Linux Docker Container with XFCE Desktop over VNC / noVNC

Kali Linux Docker container with full GUI. It uses the tightvncserver for VNC connection to the container and novnc for browser VNC access.

IMPORTANT: This image is for testing purposes only. Do not run it on any production systems or for any productive purposes. Feel free to modify it as you like – build instructions are given below.

First, pull the image:

docker pull steinruck/kali-xfce-novnc

Start a new container from the image. Access the Kali Desktop at http://localhost:9020/vnc.html.

docker run --rm -it -p 9020:8080 -p 9021:5900 steinruck/kali-xfce-novnc

The default configuration is set as follows. Feel free to change this as required.

• -e VNCEXPOSE=1
  • By default, the VNC server is exposed. Use your VNC client of choice and connect to localhost:9020 with the default password password. Can also access using IP:PORT.
  • Use -e VNCEXPOSE=0 to only allow localhost access
  • The default port mapping for the VNC server is configured with the -p 9021:5900 parameter.
• -e VNCPORT=5900
  • By default, the VNC server runs on port 5900 within the container.
  • Note: If you change this port, you also need to change the port mapping with the -p 9021:5900 parameter.
• -e VNCPWD=password
  • Change the default password of the VNC server.
• -e VNCDISPLAY=1920x1080
  • Change the default display resolution of the VNC connection.
• -e VNCDEPTH=16
  • Change the default display depth of the VNC connection. Possible values are 8, 16, 24, and 32. Higher values mean better quality but more bandwidth requirements.
• -e NOVNCPORT=8080
  • By default, the noVNC server runs on port 8080 within the container.
  • Note: If you change this port, you also need to change the port mapping with the -p 9020:8080 parameter.
• entrypoint.sh includes two commands to start postgresql and create and initialize the msf database with the msfdb command

XFCE Desktop is configured by default. You may also edit the Dockerfile or entrypoint.sh to install custom packages. You can specify different Kali Linux metapackages, i.e., core, default, light, large, everything, or top10. This image installs kali-tools-top10 and iputils-ping for basic Capture the Flag usage. See https://www.kali.org/news/major-metapackage-makeover/ for more details and metapackages.

git clone https://github.com/steinruck/kali-xfce-novnc
cd kali-docker
docker build -t kaligui .
docker run --rm -it -p 9020:8080 -p 9021:5900 kaligui