Arch Linux

D00NIK

Member

Registered: 2024-03-06

Posts: 1

Is using an old kernel a security concern?

Hi,

I'm using a hp envy x360 13-bf0xxx laptop, in which sound doesn't work out of the box. In most cases, it doesn't bother me because I'm using an external speaker anyway. However, sometimes I'd like to use them, but it requires me to use a self compiled kernel with this patch.

Of course, it takes approximately 3 hours to compile, so I don't want to do that each time there's a new stable release. So that's why I'm asking, is using a 6.7.2 kernel compiled 1 month ago a security concern?

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 21,754

Re: Is using an old kernel a security concern?

Technically yes, whether your going to be owned in practice is highly dependant on what your threat vectors are and which kinds of vulns are actually around . Chances are generally highly unlikely that this particular dissonance will be that huge of an issue in the foreseeable future.

FWIW you can also only compile the actually changed kernel module: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Compile_kernel_module

Last edited by V1del (2024-03-06 12:54:16)