| Description |
This update of the Linux kernel from version 4.1.40 to version 4.9.76
addresses the following issue:
* Systems with microprocessors utilizing speculative execution and indirect
branch prediction may allow unauthorized disclosure of information to an
attacker with local user access via a side-channel analysis of the data
cache. (CVE-2017-5754)
This is a major update for the Linux kernel as Linux kernel version 4.1 is no
longer maintained and does no longer get any security updates! Backporting
the patches for 'Meltdown' and 'Spectre' is considered too risky.
The Linux kernel provides a stable ABI so user programs should not notice the
upgrade in general. Low-level programs like 'udev' have been updated to
support both old and new Linux kernels.
On the other hand kernel internal details have changed, which might break
external kernel modules. |
