Today, June 10, 2016, Canonical published multiple security notices to inform Ubuntu users about the availability of new kernel updates for all supported Ubuntu operating systems.
It appears that every Ubuntu OS has received a kernel update today, including Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus), Ubuntu 15.10 (Wily Werewolf), Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (Trusty Tahr), Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin), as well as Ubuntu 15.10 for Raspberry Pi 2, and all the official derivatives, such as Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu GNOME, Ubuntu Studio, Ubuntu Server, and others.
Many of the security issues addressed are common to all the Ubuntu releases mentioned above, but some of them received more patches than the others. For example, Canonical patched ten kernel vulnerabilities for Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, twelve for Ubuntu 15.10 and Ubuntu 15.10 for Raspberry Pi 2, sixteen for Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, and a single one for Ubuntu 14.04 LTS.
Users need to update their systems as soon as possible
The new kernel versions available right now in the main software repositories are linux-image-4.4.0-24 (4.4.0-24.43) for Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, linux-image-4.2.0-38 (4.2.0-38.45) for Ubuntu 15.10, linux-image-4.2.0-1031-raspi2 4.2.0-1031.41 for Ubuntu 15.10 for Raspberry Pi 2, linux-image-3.13.0-88 (3.13.0-88.135) for Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, and linux-image-3.2.0-104 (3.2.0-104.145) for Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. Of course, users of Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS, 14.04.2 LTS, 14.04.3 LTS, and 14.04.4 LTS received kernel updates too.
Canonical urges all users of the Ubuntu operating systems mentioned above to update as soon as possible. The new kernel versions are now live in the stable repos, so you need to fire up your favorite package manager and update. The most simple method to update is to open the Unity Dash, search for Software Updater, run the application, wait for it to find available updates, and click the "Install All" button to install them. Please keep in mind that you must reboot your PC after a kernel update.
