Linux Kernel 7.1.8 has been released by Greg Kroah-Hartman, featuring over 200 commits that include security fixes, GPU patches, and various subsystem updates. Key improvements focus on addressing use-after-free vulnerabilities in the networking stack, USB serial heap overflows, and enhancements to AMD and Intel graphics drivers. This update builds on the 7.1 feature set introduced in June, which includes new flags for container management and improvements to the BPF-controlled io_uring event loops. The 7.1.x branch will continue to receive stable patches until around September 2026, with critical fixes likely backported by distribution maintainers beyond that timeframe

Linux Kernel 7.1.8 Released: Security Fixes, GPU Patches, and 200+ Commits

Greg Kroah-Hartman released Linux Kernel 7.1.8 today, delivering over 200 commits focused on networking use-after-free patches, Thunderbolt validation fixes, and AMD and Intel graphics driver refinements. The stable update also resolves UCSI Type-C race conditions and addresses several USB serial heap overflows, keeping production workloads running cleanly while the 7.2 release candidate cycle continues. Built on the June mainline, 7.1 introduced BPF-controlled io_uring event loops, container lifecycle flags like CLONE_AUTOREAP, and a swap table rewrite that trims roughly 30 percent of static metadata overhead. The 7.1.x branch will receive stable patches until approximately September 2026, after which distros will typically backport critical fixes into their own LTS tracks.

Linux Kernel 7.1.8 Released: Security Fixes, GPU Patches, and 200+ Commits @ Linux Compatible