Linux 5.3-rc4 includes patches to avoid the security flaw known as SWAPGS

Linux 5.3-rc4 fixes SWAPGS

Another Sunday more and in the schedule in which he has us accustomed, Linus Torvalds launched Linux 5.3-rc4. The previous version, the third Release Candidate, it was smaller than it should be, a size that the father of Linux says has been fixed this week. The lack of size came from the fact that the rc3 did not include any network update, something that has been included in the rc4 released this afternoon.

Still in size, this fourth Release Candidate is the largest they have released in at least two years, but it was expected. In fact, practically everything that this version has increased is all that last week's version should have increased. In other words, Linux 5.3-rc4 is the size that a fourth Release Candidate should be plus what was missing from the previous version. But they have also included something that is more important than all the size that has increased or stopped increasing.

Linux 5.3-rc4 includes the missing size of the rc3

Linux 5.3-rc4 fixes the Specter V1 variant security flaw discovered this week known as SWAPGS, a bug that affects Intel processors and about which you have more information in this link. Kernel developers also know this bug as Grand Schmozzle and its fix has been included in both Linux 5.3-rc4 and various LTS versions of the Linux kernel. As for everything else, a bit of everything has been added to the changes in the networks, most of them occupying the drivers (sound, GPU, hid pinctrl, usb), architecture updates (x86, arm64, s390), updates in various tools (selftest and perf), documentation and fixes on filesystems (gfs2 and nfs).

Linux 5.3 will be released in September, so it is not ruled out that it is the kernel chosen to include it in Eoan Ermine.


Be the first to comment

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

*

*

  1. Responsible for the data: Miguel Ángel Gatón
  2. Purpose of the data: Control SPAM, comment management.
  3. Legitimation: Your consent
  4. Communication of the data: The data will not be communicated to third parties except by legal obligation.
  5. Data storage: Database hosted by Occentus Networks (EU)
  6. Rights: At any time you can limit, recover and delete your information.