Navigating the End of Support for CentOS 7: Options for Businesses
With CentOS 7 nearing its end of support, businesses must make critical decisions on migrating to alternative operating systems like Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise, or Oracle Linux. Options such as AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux offer specific migration paths for CentOS 7 users. SUSE Liberty Linux Lite provides ongoing support for CentOS 7 servers at a cost, while migrating to Ubuntu Server is another viable option. However, businesses must consider the associated costs, with subscriptions for SUSE Liberty Linux Lite ranging from $2,500 to $20,000. Migrating to AlmaLinux emerges as a compelling choice, converting existing CentOS 7 machines to AlmaLinux 8 for the latest OS version. Prior to migration, thorough testing on a non-production machine is advisable to ensure a smooth transition. Selecting the right path forward is crucial for maintaining operational efficiency and security in the tech landscape.
Backdoor Found in XZ Utilities Used by Many Linux Distros (CVE-2024-3094)
A vulnerability (CVE-2024-3094) has been discovered in XZ Utils, the XZ format compression utilities that are included in most Linux distributions. This vulnerability, as warned by Red Hat, may allow a malicious actor to break sshd authentication and gain unauthorized access to the entire system remotely. The cause of the vulnerability has been identified as malicious code present in versions 5.6.0 and 5.6.1 of the xz libraries. Red Hat has identified the vulnerable packages in Fedora 41 and Fedora Rawhide, urging users of those distros to immediately stop using them. The discovery of malicious code in the latest versions of the xz libraries highlights the critical importance of maintaining vigilance and expertise in cybersecurity.