Parrot OS 7.1 brings Linux 6.17 kernel, new Enlightenment spin, MCPwn AI tool, and more

Parrot 7.1 debuts as the latest release of this Debian-based Linux distribution, focusing on security, privacy, and developer needs. This update arrives a few months after version 7.0 and delivers upgrades across core components.

Among the most prominent changes, Parrot 7.1 is now powered by the Linux kernel 6.17.13, which affects hardware compatibility and overall system performance. Community spins expand options by offering official ISOs with MATE, LXQt, and a new Enlightenment window manager edition.

While security professionals benefit from the latest pentesting tools and several additional updates, the introduction of MCPwn marks a notable shift. MCPwn is a Model Context Protocol server enabling large language models, like Claude, Gemini, or local LLMs, to execute security utilities such as nmap, sqlmap, and gobuster directly on the user's machine. Its security-focused architecture relies on Docker container isolation to safeguard the host system and supports flexible tool integration using straightforward YAML files.

Building on infrastructure improvements, the Parrot team has taken back control of the Mirror Director to optimize package delivery and repository management. The bundled Rocket project has also reached version 1.5.0, featuring an overhauled user interface and several new tools, although it continues to evolve. Lastly, the Raspberry Pi edition also benefits from recent enhancements.