this post was submitted on 29 Mar 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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ELI5 what does this mean for the average Linux user? I run a few Ubuntu 22.04 systems (yeah yeah, I know, canonical schmanonical) - but they aren’t bleeding edge, so they shouldn’t exhibit this vulnerability, right?
The average user? Nothing. Mostly it just affects those who get the newest versions of everything.
In this case I think that's just Fedora and Debian Sid users or so.
The backdoor only activates during DEB or RPM builds, and was quickly discovered so only rolling release distros using either package format were affected.
Not regular Fedora, though, it was only in Fedora Rawhide and Fedora 41, so very very early, bleeding edge distributions. Nothing that a regular Fedora user would be using.
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2024-3094
E: and Fedora 40 beta which some regular users could conceivably be using
https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/urgent-security-alert-fedora-41-and-rawhide-users
It mostly affects/targets the build systems of binary distros - infecting their build machines with this would result in complete compromise of released distro down the line.
apt info xz-utils
Your version is old as balls. Even if you were on Mantic, it would still be old as balls.
Security through antiquity