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Comment by gwbas1c | Hacker News Reader

> The kernels goes through an QA testing processes, and per this September post, they're looking at shortening the timeframe for kernel updates:

Looks like they aren't flexible enough to get a 4-line fix out the door when they need to.

These situations need a CEO or other high up to pull some people into a room, and basically say, "this needs to be released by EOD."

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> Looks like they aren't flexible enough to get a 4-line fix out the door when they need to.

Perhaps because Ubuntu, like most distros, release new kernels that include fixes and updates for more than one issue:

* https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:93413

* https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/6.8.0-149.149

* https://www.suse.com/support/update/announcement/2026/suse-s...

* https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/DSA-6568-1

Perhaps that's the problem? Surely they use a version control system that allows them to branch off of older commit for these kinds of urgent patches.

So distros should release a new kernel for each CVE? Or only the "important" CVEs? And if two "important" ones come out two days apart there should be two kernels running through the QA pipeline? So that people can reboot their production systems two days apart?

Yes, if two 9.8 kernel CVEs come out two days apart, then yes, everyone should be rebooting their prod systems two days apart.

Timely security updates are important. Debian LTS had the patch within a couple days. It’s not like you have to update if you don’t want to.

No, just the ones rated 9 or higher

Yes.

> So that people can reboot their production systems two days apart?

A lot of people don't reboot their systems. They build new ones, shift workloads and traffic over, and decommission the old ones. I can do that multiple times a day if required with no disruption of services.

You don't have to stay patched if you judge the risk doesn't make it worth it, but Ubuntu is pretty much the only distro that made the choice for you.

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