Problems upgrading a Python tty shell in Kali 2022.2

[MalGeek]

Hi,

I got my base Kali Linux VMWare image from (https://help.offensive-security.com/...irtual-Machine) which is 2021.3 and I performed apt update and apt upgrade to install the latest packages.

I encountered this problem while interacting with reverse shells using Kali Linux. I think this is a usage problem, probably more related to bash or the terminal I am using.

My Kali Linux VM information is as follows:

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Kali
Description:    Kali GNU/Linux Rolling
Release:        2022.2
Codename:       kali-rolling

The typical way to upgrade a Python tty shell usually includes the following steps:

• python -c "import pty;pty.spawn('/bin/bash');"
• Ctrl + Z
• stty raw -echo; fg (my Kali Linux image is using zsh, so I read that I had to put "fg" on the same line)
• Enter
• Enter
• export TERM=xterm
• export SHELL=bash
• stty rows 32 cols 128

However, even with the steps, tab auto-complete and arrow keys still do not work. Pressing the arrow keys will display the escape characters (^[[A, etc). When I revert the Kali VMWare image to 2021.3, the steps work and I can use tab auto-complete and the arrow keys.

What has changed in Kali 2022.2 that now causes this change? How can I resolve this?

[MalGeek]

Hi,

I was wondering if any of the folks who maintain Kali Linux will be able to chime in on this? Which packages should I revert in order to solve this problem?

[Gamb1t]

This would do better as a bugs.kali.org report. Will look into this and see, and will report it if I can replicate the issue.

[wildstyle9]

Hi,

I got my base Kali Linux VMWare image from (https://help.offensive-security.com/...irtual-Machine) which is 2021.3 and I performed apt update and apt upgrade to install the latest packages.

I encountered this problem while interacting with reverse shells using Kali Linux. I think this is a usage problem, probably more related to bash or the terminal I am using.

My Kali Linux VM information is as follows:

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Kali
Description:    Kali GNU/Linux Rolling
Release:        2022.2
Codename:       kali-rolling

The typical way to upgrade a Python tty shell usually includes the following steps:

• python -c "import pty;pty.spawn('/bin/bash');"
• Ctrl + Z
• stty raw -echo; fg (my Kali Linux image is using zsh, so I read that I had to put "fg" on the same line)
• Enter
• Enter
• export TERM=xterm
• export SHELL=bash
• stty rows 32 cols 128

However, even with the steps, tab auto-complete and arrow keys still do not work. Pressing the arrow keys will display the escape characters (^[[A, etc). When I revert the Kali VMWare image to 2021.3, the steps work and I can use tab auto-complete and the arrow keys.

What has changed in Kali 2022.2 that now causes this change? How can I resolve this?

I'm having the same issue.
Am unable to fully upgrade a shell using bash or zsh.

[wildstyle9]

I'm having the same issue.
Am not able to upgrade my shell using bash or zsh.
Am using powerlevel10k for zsh theme and TMUX with XFCE-Terminal.

Seems to be related to 2022.2 as this did not occur for me on the previous Kali 2021.3 using the same shell configuration and terminal.

[Fred Sheehan]

If you have updated from 2021.3 to 2022.2 then your bash and zsh profiles need to be rebuild, including powerlevel prompt, run the config again.

[wildstyle9]

This is on a fresh 2022.2 install. To clarify, on a separate 2021.3 install it worked properly.

I'll make a snapshot and see if a update / full-upgrade will resolve the issue.

[wildstyle9]

Am not sure if this is due to some custom shell configurations or terminal issue.
using oh-my-zsh , oh-my-tmux, powerlevel10k and XFCE-Terminal
Not 100% sure this is what's causing the issue. Have tried using bash also but CTRL+C still terminates my nc shell after the usual upgrade tty steps in zsh and bash.

.zshrc settings,

export ZSH="$HOME/.oh-my-zsh"
ZSH_THEME="powerlevel10k/powerlevel10k"

plugins=(docker docker-compose fd fzf git golang tmux virtualenv zsh-autosuggestions zsh-syntax-highlighting)
source $ZSH/oh-my-zsh.sh

ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_HIGHLIGHTERS=(main brackets)
ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[single-hyphen-option]=fg=magenta
ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[double-hyphen-option]=fg=magenta
export TERMINAL="xterm-256color"

bindkey \^U backward-kill-line

[[ ! -f ~/.p10k.zsh ]] || source ~/.p10k.zsh
POWERLEVEL9K_INSTANT_PROMPT=quiet

[ -f ~/.fzf.zsh ] && source ~/.fzf.zsh

Kali Version

NAME="Kali GNU/Linux"
ID=kali
VERSION="2022.3"
VERSION_CODENAME="kali-rolling"

architecture

Linux 5.18.0-kali5-amd64 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Debian 5.18.5-1kali6 (2022-07-07) x86_64 GNU/Linux

[xdarkmushroom]

I also have the same problem, is there a definite solution for this?

My Kali version : 2022.3 5.19.11-1kali2 (2022-10-10) aarch64 GNU/Linux

[xdarkmushroom]

I am having the exactly the same issue, gone through all the step mentioned in https://blog.ropnop.com/upgrading-si...eractive-ttys/, still not working. even tried drop to the bash, same thing.

```
ctrl + z
stty raw -echo ; fg
reset
stty rows # columns #
export TERM=xterm-256color
export SHELL=/bin/bash
exec /bin/bash
```
my os is Kali 2022.3

really hope can have a solution.