Parrot OS, a Debian-based Linux distribution aimed at ethical hackers and cybersecurity experts, has issued version 7.1. This update, arriving less than two months after the 7.0 release, includes fixes for boot issues and enhancements to security tools. It also introduces new features for running cybersecurity applications via large language models.
Parrot OS 7.1 marks the first maintenance release in the 7.x series, launched on February 11, 2026. The distribution, designed for penetration testing and privacy-focused computing, now incorporates Linux kernel 6.17, GRUB 2.14, and updated DKMS drivers. A primary fix resolves GRUB boot failures that affected certain laptops, improving compatibility and reliability.
Support for i386 architecture has been partially restored, allowing installation of some 32-bit dependencies essential for applications like Steam, though full i386 support remains unavailable. The update refreshes a range of pentesting and security tools, such as Metasploit to version 6.4.111, Burp Suite to 2025.11.6, Airgeddon to 11.61, Maltego to 4.11.1, Subfinder to 2.12.0, Feroxbuster to 2.13, TruffleHog to 3.92.5, Rizin to 0.8.2, Rizin Cutter to 2.4.1, and SecLists to 2025.3.
ISO offerings have expanded to include community editions with MATE, LXQt, and Enlightenment desktop environments, alongside the standard Security and Home editions. The Security Edition comes preloaded with cybersecurity tools, while the Home Edition suits general use and development.
A notable addition is MCPwn, a tool leveraging the Model Context Protocol to enable large language models to execute cybersecurity utilities like nmap, sqlmap, and gobuster within Docker containers for host protection. MCPwn is currently in testing and slated for APT repository integration soon. The companion Rocket tool has advanced to version 1.5, featuring an improved user interface and additional capabilities.
For Raspberry Pi users, MATE serves as the default desktop, with KDE still supported and LXQt under consideration for better performance on resource-limited devices. Users can obtain Parrot 7.1 via fresh ISO installation or by updating existing systems with parrot-updater or parrot-upgrade scripts. Those upgrading from version 6.4 will retain the MATE desktop by default.
