Linux kernel 7.0 officially reached end of life on June 27, 2026. The kernel maintainers released the final version 7.0.14 and closed the branch. No further bug fixes or security patches will be provided for the 7.0 series from today.
This is expected behavior for short-lived kernel branches. Linux kernel 7.0 was never intended for long-term production use. It was released in April 2026 and served as a stepping stone to 7.1, introducing new features while the next branch stabilized. If your systems are still running 7.0, now is the time to upgrade before unpatched CVEs become a real exposure.
The Security Risk of Running an EOL Kernel
The Linux kernel is the foundation of your entire system. Every process, every network connection, every file system operation passes through it. A vulnerability in the kernel is not a vulnerability in one application, in fact, it is a vulnerability in everything running on that machine.
When a kernel branch reaches end of life, the security calculus changes immediately. Vulnerabilities discovered after the EOL date will be patched in supported branches but not in 7.0. And in recent years, the Linux kernel has been assigned more CVEs after the Linux project became the CVE Numbering Authority (CNA) in February 2024. In the first six months of 2026, over 2300 Linux kernel CVEs have been already published per NVD.
Copy Fail
Among them, CVE-2026-31431 (Copy Fail) is a Linux kernel privilege escalation flaw listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, meaning it has been actively exploited in the wild. It has a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1).
Which Kernel Version Should You Run?
The Linux kernel project maintains multiple Long Term Support (LTS) branches alongside short-lived releases. LTS branches receive security patches for several years, making them suitable for production servers, embedded systems, and any environment where stability and long-term security coverage matter.
Current LTS branches as of June 2026:
| Kernel | Released | Supported Until | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.10 LTS | Dec 2020 | Dec 2026 | Active |
| 5.15 LTS | Oct 2021 | Dec 2026 | Active |
| 6.1 LTS | Dec 2022 | Dec 2027 | Active |
| 6.6 LTS | Oct 2023 | Dec 2027 | Active |
| 6.12 LTS | Nov 2024 | Dec 2028 | Active |
| 6.18 LTS | Nov 2025 | Dec 2028 | Active |
For most production use cases, Linux 6.12 LTS or Linux 6.18 LTS are the recommended choices – both have longer support windows and receive active security maintenance for 2+ more years.
Linux 7.1 is available now but is itself a short-lived branch. It will reach end of life within a few months of release. If you upgrade to 7.1, you will need to plan for another upgrade cycle shortly after.
Track the EOL status of other Linux kernel versions here.
How to Check Your Linux Kernel Version
Before deciding on an upgrade path, confirm which kernel version your systems are running:
uname -r
A typical output might look like:
7.0.12-generic
The first two numbers are the major and minor version. If yours starts with 7.0, you are on the EOL branch. If it starts with 6.1, 6.6, 6.12, or 6.18, you are on a supported LTS branch.
How to Upgrade Your Linux Kernel
The right upgrade path depends on how your kernel was installed:
Distribution-managed kernel (most common)
If you installed Linux via a distribution, your package manager handles kernel updates. This covers the most common upgrade scenarios – including upgrading the kernel on Ubuntu, Debian, RHEL, CentOS, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, and Arch Linux:
# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
# RHEL/CentOS/AlmaLinux/Rocky Linux
sudo dnf update
# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -Syu
After upgrading, reboot and run uname -r again to confirm the new kernel is active.
Manually compiled kernel
If you compiled and installed the kernel yourself, download the latest LTS source from kernel.org and follow your existing build process, targeting the 6.12 or 6.18 branch, or your preferred supported branch.
Summary
Linux kernel 7.0 is end of life as of June 27, 2026. Systems running this branch will not receive security patches for any future vulnerabilities. The recommended action is to upgrade to an LTS kernel versions like 6.12 or 6.18 as soon as your change management process allows.
Short-lived kernel branches play an important role in the Linux development process, but they are not designed for production longevity. For any system where security and compliance matter, LTS is the only appropriate choice.