Science & Tech · AI · 4 hrs ago
Torvalds sees signs Linux kernel patch surge may be easing
Linus Torvalds says the surge in Linux kernel fixes may be easing, though he cautioned that it is too soon to be sure.
Torvalds, who leads Linux kernel development, made the observation while releasing the second candidate for Linux 7.4.
Developers have been finding more software flaws since Anthropic launched its Mythos bug-finding model in April, adding pressure to teams responsible for fixing them.
In eBPF, fixes are now arriving faster than new reports, according to Alexei Starovoitov, a project co-creator cited by Torvalds.
Other areas of the kernel have not yet reached that point, and attackers are increasingly targeting flaws identified with AI.
A slowdown could ease the workload for developers and users dealing with the Linux kernel’s more than 40 million lines of code, but Torvalds said it may take time for the trend to spread.
Linus Torvalds said the pace of Linux kernel fixes may be starting to catch up with new bug reports in at least one project.
The Linux kernel team released the second candidate for Linux 7.4.
Torvalds said fixes in the Extended Berkeley Packet Filter project were arriving faster than new reports.
He said most other areas of the kernel had not yet reached that point.
The recent surge in reported flaws has been linked to AI-assisted bug detection, including Anthropic’s Mythos model.
- Who
- Linus Torvalds, the leader of Linux kernel development.
- What
- He said the patch surge may be easing, citing faster fixes than new reports in eBPF.
- When
- November 9, 2026. The Mythos model launched in April.
- Where
- The Linux kernel, including the Extended Berkeley Packet Filter project.
- Why
- AI-assisted bug detection has enabled developers to find more software flaws, while attackers are increasingly targeting them.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Anthropic launched its Mythos bug-finding model.
Microsoft addressed 206 software flaws.
Microsoft addressed 622 software flaws.
Microsoft addressed a record 974 software flaws.
Torvalds released the second candidate for Linux 7.4 and commented on the pace of fixes.
- Kernel release candidate
- Linux 7.4 rc2
- eBPF fixes
- Arriving faster than new reports, according to Torvalds
- Microsoft flaws addressed in September
- 974
- Oracle flaws addressed in one month
- 1,449
- Linux kernel codebase
- More than 40 million lines
2 sources
What people are saying
This time around Alexei claims that on the bpf side at least the fixes are now coming in faster than the new reports, and that sounds lovely if true
I think most other areas haven't reached that point yet, but it's at least a sign that we _may_ be starting to see the tide starting to turn
Don't hold your breath, but maybe cross your fingers we'll be getting there in the not entirely distant future