Decade-Old Linux Kernel Code Turns Into Instant Root Exploit
Medium · Software Engineering · July 23, 2026
curated by Sönke
A report describes a flaw present in the Linux kernel since version 2.6.39, released in 2011, and shipped by default in most mainstream distributions ever since. The dormant code can reportedly be leveraged to gain root privileges in roughly five seconds, illustrating how long-forgotten kernel paths can quietly become serious local privilege-escalation risks.
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