Ubuntu Kernel Updates Fix Three Vulnerabilities on Trusty and Xenial
Tech GuruQuick Answer
The authority published USN-8864-1 for Ubuntu 14.04 ESM and 16.04 ESM Linux kernels. Ubuntu published USN-8864-1 to correct 3 security vulnerabilities in the notice-specific Linux kernel package stream. Affected deployments should be matched to the authority's exact scope and moved to the supported fixed release.
Confirm Scope And Apply The Supported Fix
What to do now: Inventory Ubuntu 14.04 ESM and 16.04 ESM Linux kernels, match the exact affected release or feature, apply the authority-supported fixed build or service remediation, validate the dependent workflow, and preserve evidence.
Last verified: 2026-10-02 UTC. Recheck the authoritative advisory and supported distribution channel before changing production.
Scope And Authority
| Product scope | Ubuntu 14.04 ESM and 16.04 ESM Linux kernels |
|---|---|
| Advisory | USN-8864-1 |
| CVEs | CVE-2025-38724, CVE-2026-53131, CVE-2026-53221 |
| Authoritative release date | 2026-10-02 07:04:46.146654 UTC |
| Authority revision date | No separate material revision date is stated by Ubuntu; verified against the first-party notice API |
| Affected versions | The linux, linux-aws, linux-fips, linux-kvm, and linux-lts-xenial source packages and releases enumerated in the notice. |
| Fixed version | Ubuntu 14.04 ESM: linux-aws 4.4.0-1159.165 / Ubuntu 14.04 ESM: linux-lts-xenial 4.4.0-288.322~14.04.1 / Ubuntu 16.04 ESM: linux 4.4.0-288.322 / Ubuntu 16.04 ESM: linux-aws 4.4.0-1197.212 / Ubuntu 16.04 ESM: linux-fips 4.4.0-1129.136 / Ubuntu 16.04 ESM: linux-kvm 4.4.0-1160.171 |
| CVSS base score | Not provided by the authority |
| CVSS severity | Not provided by the authority |
| Exploitation status | Not stated by the authority; no exploitation claim is inferred. |
What Changed
Ubuntu published USN-8864-1 to correct 3 security vulnerabilities in the notice-specific Linux kernel package stream.
What To Validate Now
- Inventory. Locate Ubuntu 14.04 ESM and 16.04 ESM Linux kernels deployments, versions, enabled features, exposure paths, owners, and dependent services.
- Establish applicability. Match the installed kernel source package and Ubuntu release to USN-8864-1. Do not generalize this notice to a different kernel flavour or release.
- Remediate. Install Ubuntu 14.04 ESM: linux-aws 4.4.0-1159.165 / Ubuntu 14.04 ESM: linux-lts-xenial 4.4.0-288.322~14.04.1 / Ubuntu 16.04 ESM: linux 4.4.0-288.322 / Ubuntu 16.04 ESM: linux-aws 4.4.0-1197.212 / Ubuntu 16.04 ESM: linux-fips 4.4.0-1129.136 / Ubuntu 16.04 ESM: linux-kvm 4.4.0-1160.171 through the supported Ubuntu security or ESM channel, then reboot into the corrected kernel.
- Validate. Confirm the running kernel after reboot, rebuild and reinstall affected third-party kernel modules for the ABI change, validate workload and recovery functions, and retain package-manager and reboot evidence.
- Retain evidence. Preserve asset and owner identifiers, the applicability decision, before-and-after versions, change approval, installation output, validation results, and any exception or rollback record.
Operational Cautions
The authority states that these updates change the kernel ABI. Confirm Ubuntu Pro or ESM entitlement where required, inventory third-party kernel modules, coordinate reboots, test boot and recovery paths, and retain the prior kernel for controlled rollback.
Evidence To Retain
- Exact product, release stream, package or application version, enabled feature, environment, and accountable owner.
- UTC timestamps, authority revision, approved change record, installer or package-manager output, and resulting version.
- Relevant logs and monitoring evidence, test results, exceptions, compensating controls, and rollback decisions.
Related TechGeeks Resources
Authoritative References
Correction policy: If the authority changes affected versions, fixed versions, severity, exploitation information, mitigations, or required action, TechGeeks will update this notice and its verification date.
