Ubuntu Updates AWS and GCP Kernels for Three Vulnerabilities
Tech GuruQuick Answer
USN-8819-2 updates specific AWS and GCP kernel streams on Ubuntu 18.04 and 16.04 ESM. Use the release-and-flavor mapping below, then reboot. A fix for an AWS kernel, a GCP kernel, or a GCP FIPS kernel is not permission to substitute one for another.
Confirm Scope And Apply The Supported Fix
Next step: Record the running kernel flavor, enabled ESM repositories, and cloud recovery path. Stage the matching update and check any third-party modules before restarting instances.
Last verified: 2026-09-26 UTC. Recheck the authoritative advisory and supported distribution channel before changing production.
Scope And Authority
| Product scope | Linux kernel vulnerabilities on Ubuntu 18.04 ESM (bionic), Ubuntu 16.04 ESM (xenial) |
|---|---|
| Advisory | USN-8819-2 |
| CVEs | CVE-2025-38724, CVE-2026-53131, CVE-2026-53221 |
| Authoritative release date | 2026-09-25 11:35:37.898363 UTC |
| Authority revision date | 2026-09-25 11:35:37.898363 UTC |
| Affected versions | The Ubuntu releases and source packages enumerated in USN-8819-2: Ubuntu 18.04 ESM (bionic), Ubuntu 16.04 ESM (xenial). |
| Fixed version | bionic: linux-aws 4.15.0-1197.210; bionic: linux-gcp-4.15 4.15.0-1190.207; bionic: linux-gcp-fips 4.15.0-2098.104; xenial: linux-gcp 4.15.0-1190.207~16.04.1 |
| 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
Canonical lists three CVEs and warns that the changed kernel ABI can require rebuilding external modules. Complete the platform's normal maintenance and reboot procedure, with enough capacity to keep dependent services available while each instance is checked.
What To Validate Now
- Inventory. Locate Linux kernel vulnerabilities on Ubuntu 18.04 ESM (bionic), Ubuntu 16.04 ESM (xenial) deployments, versions, enabled features, exposure paths, owners, and dependent services.
- Establish applicability. Compare each deployment with the authority's affected-version statement: The Ubuntu releases and source packages enumerated in USN-8819-2: Ubuntu 18.04 ESM (bionic), Ubuntu 16.04 ESM (xenial). Do not infer applicability from product family or severity alone.
- Remediate. Apply bionic: linux-aws 4.15.0-1197.210; bionic: linux-gcp-4.15 4.15.0-1190.207; bionic: linux-gcp-fips 4.15.0-2098.104; xenial: linux-gcp 4.15.0-1190.207~16.04.1 through the supported vendor or project channel, following the current advisory and change-control requirements.
- Validate. After reboot, confirm the running image and check cloud networking, attached volumes, agents, and application health. Confirm any required FIPS configuration separately; a similarly named or newer non-FIPS package does not establish compliance.
- 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
Use the exact supported release stream and repository. Test dependencies, clusters, integrations, and rollback before broad deployment; a CVSS rating or reachable feature is not evidence of exploitation.
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.
