Cybersecurity professionals and researchers can now launch Kali Linux in a virtualized container on macOS Sequoia utilizing Apple’s new containerization framework.
Throughout WWDC 2025, Apple introduced a brand new containerization framework that permits Apple Silicon {hardware} to run remoted Linux distros in its virtualized surroundings, much like Microsoft Home windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2).
To get began, customers on macOS Sequoia with Apple Silicon can set up the container CLI by way of Homebrew and initialize Apple’s container framework:
brew set up --cask container
container system begin
You may then launch Kali Linux utilizing the next command, which hundreds the container from the DockerHub container library and executes inside a macOS VM.
container run --rm -it kalilinux/kali-rolling
You may as well use a container to mount a neighborhood listing into the Kali VM with a command like:
container run --remove --interactive --tty --volume $(pwd):/mnt --workdir /mnt docker.io/kalilinux/kali-rolling:newest
This command lets you entry information on the host machine from inside the container.
Nevertheless, there are some limitations to the brand new characteristic, because it’s solely out there on Apple Silicon and doesn’t assist Intel Macs.
Additionally, the Kali crew reviews that there are some bugs with the brand new implementation round networking.
“At present there are a few recognized limitations of Containerization, particularly utilizing macOS “Sequoia” 15, akin to container’s community entry not getting an IP deal with or no community entry,” reads Kali’s announcement.
“We suggest studying and following Apple’s recommendation should you run into these points.”
Cybersecurity skilled Taha Ex additionally warns that some Kali use circumstances that require {hardware} passthrough is not going to work because of the container being remoted from {hardware}.
The power to rapidly launch Kali Linux in macOS, even when in a virtualized surroundings, and with some limitations, makes it simpler for Mac customers to carry out safety testing.
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