LinPEAS is a script, not a package — there is no graphical installer and no dependencies to add. Download linpeas.sh from the official releases, make it executable with chmod +x, review it, then run ./linpeas.sh. The most auditable pattern is download → read → run, not piping remote code straight into a shell.
This is an independent educational resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or the official website of the PEASS-ng project. LinPEAS and PEASS-ng are developed by Carlos Polop and contributors; the trademarks, project names and code belong to their respective owners.
Piping a remote script directly into a shell (curl … | sh) executes code you have never seen and is far less auditable than downloading and reviewing it first. We show the one-liner because it is common in labs, but prefer the download-and-review pattern in real engagements.
Step 1 — Download the script#
Both examples download the latest official release to a file named linpeas.sh in the current directory.
With curl
curl -L https://github.com/peass-ng/PEASS-ng/releases/latest/download/linpeas.sh -o linpeas.shWhat to expect: a ~1 MB file called linpeas.sh. If the download is blocked or the file vanishes, your security software may have quarantined it — see troubleshooting.
With wget
wget https://github.com/peass-ng/PEASS-ng/releases/latest/download/linpeas.sh -O linpeas.shAs a binary (no shell interpreter needed)
If you would rather not run a shell script, the releases page also publishes compiled binaries per architecture. Pick the one matching the target's CPU.
wget https://github.com/peass-ng/PEASS-ng/releases/latest/download/linpeas_linux_amd64
chmod +x linpeas_linux_amd64
./linpeas_linux_amd64Available builds include linpeas_linux_amd64, linpeas_linux_386, linpeas_linux_arm, linpeas_linux_arm64, and macOS builds linpeas_darwin_amd64 / linpeas_darwin_arm64. Sizes vary by release.
Step 2 — Review it before running#
This is the step most tutorials skip. Open the file and skim it, or at least check its size and that it came from the official releases URL.
less linpeas.sh # read it
wc -l linpeas.sh # sanity-check sizeFor integrity verification and choosing between linpeas.sh, linpeas_fat.sh and linpeas_small.sh, see the download & verify guide.
Step 3 — Make it executable and run it#
chmod +x linpeas.sh
./linpeas.shYou can also run it without the executable bit by passing it to a shell:
sh linpeas.shWhat to expect: a banner, a legend, then colour-coded sections scrolling past. A default run typically takes a few minutes.
Step 4 — Save the output#
You will want to keep the output to read it properly. Colours are ANSI escape codes, so use a method that preserves them.
Keep colours
./linpeas.sh | tee linpeas.out
less -r linpeas.outPlain text (no colours)
./linpeas.sh -N > linpeas.txtIf you save without -N and then open the file in an editor, you will see raw escape codes like ^[[1;31m. Read colour output with less -r, or save plain text with -N.
Checking the help for your build#
Flags change between releases. Always confirm the options your downloaded copy supports (the flags reference and cheat sheet explain what each one does):
./linpeas.sh -hRunning in offline environments#
The core checks are local and work without internet. To get the script onto an air-gapped or restricted host, download it on a connected machine and transfer it (USB, an internal file server, or a local HTTP server on your own network):
# On your machine (authorised network only)
python3 -m http.server 8000
# On the target
curl 10.10.14.20:8000/linpeas.sh -o linpeas.sh && sh linpeas.shEven offline, a default run still attempts outbound connectivity probes and a host-checker request; they simply fail if there is no route out. If outbound traffic matters to your scope, read is LinPEAS safe? first.
macOS#
On macOS, running linpeas.sh automatically switches to the MacPEAS check set. See the dedicated macOS guide for details and Gatekeeper considerations.
Package installation on Kali#
Kali Linux packages PEASS-ng. When available, this installs LinPEAS alongside WinPEAS and puts a linpeas command on your PATH:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install peass
linpeas -hThe packaged script lives under /usr/share/peass/linpeas/linpeas.sh. Distribution packages can lag behind the latest GitHub release, so for the newest checks, download from the releases page. Verify the package name and version for your Kali build.
Permissions and common execution errors#
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
Permission denied | Missing execute bit | chmod +x linpeas.sh or run sh linpeas.sh |
Permission denied even after chmod | Filesystem mounted noexec | Run sh linpeas.sh, or copy to an exec-permitted path like /dev/shm |
command not found: ./linpeas.sh | Not in the current directory / no ./ | Use the full path or prefix with ./ |
Garbled ^[[ codes in a file | Colours saved to plain file | Use -N, or read with less -r |
More fixes on the troubleshooting page.
Cleanup after an authorised audit#
When your authorised assessment is finished, remove the script and any output you saved on the target:
rm -f linpeas.sh linpeas.out linpeas.txtUse LinPEAS only on systems you own or are explicitly authorised to test, including legal training labs and CTF environments where testing is permitted. Unauthorised access to computer systems is illegal.
Commands verified against LinPEAS release 20260908-dffb9496 on 2026-09-13. Verify against the version you download.
Sources & references
- PEASS-ng releases — reviewed 20260908-dffb9496
- linPEAS README — download and usage commands
- Kali peass-ng package — package name and paths