Issue657


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Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 657 for the week of November 8 - 14, 2020.

In this Issue

  • Ubuntu Stats
  • Hot in Support
  • LoCo Events

  • Please test autoinstalls for 20.04!
  • Canonical News
  • In the Blogosphere
  • Featured Audio and Video
  • Meeting Reports
  • Upcoming Meetings and Events
  • Updates and Security for 16.04, 18.04, 20.04, and 20.10
  • And much more!

Ubuntu Stats

Bug Stats

  • Open: 135337 (+145)
  • Critical: 343 (0)
  • Unconfirmed: 66907 (+78)

As always, the Bug Squad needs more help. If you want to get started, please see: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BugSquad

Translations

  • Ukrainian: 88.49% (36753/535)
  • German: 87.10% (41199/10)
  • Spanish: 82.08% (57229/3714)
  • French: 81.91% (57780/6652)
  • Swedish: 75.17% (79302/858)

Hot in Support

Ask Ubuntu Top 5 Questions

Ask (and answer!) questions at: https://askubuntu.com/

Ubuntu Forums Top 5 Threads

Find more support at: https://ubuntuforums.org/

LoCo Events

The following LoCo team events are currently scheduled in the next two weeks:

Looking beyond the next two weeks? Visit the LoCo Team Portal to browse upcoming events around the world: http://loco.ubuntu.com/events/

The Hub

Please test autoinstalls for 20.04!

Michael Hudson Doyle starts with links to where the autoinstall process of Ubuntu Server in 20.04 has been discussed, however that work has now completed and it's ready for testing. A link is provided for a "quick start" document useful for a minimal test in a VM which you can increase to test whatever features you like. All testing is welcome (reports of success and failures are welcome).

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/please-test-autoinstalls-for-20-04/15250

Canonical News

In the Blogosphere

Ubuntu fixes bugs that standard users could use to become root

Dan Goodin notes that Ubuntu developers have fixed a series of vulnerabilities that allowed standard users to become root. Dan outlines how the attack was done, provides a number of links, and an embedded video.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/11/ubuntu-fixes-bugs-that-standard-users-could-use-to-become-root/

KDE Plasma 5.20.3 Desktop Update Arrives with More Than 30 Bug Fixes

Marius Nestor tells us of the release of KDE Plasma 5.20.3 which includes 30 more bug fixes improving stability. Providing details of some of the fixes, we are also given a link to the full changelog and told the next update is due 1st December, with work progressing on KDE Plasma 5.21.

https://9to5linux.com/kde-plasma-5-20-3-desktop-update-arrives-with-more-than-30-bug-fixes

Ubuntu 20.10 Gets Its First Linux Kernel Security Patch, Update Now

Marius Nestor alerts us to a patched kernel for Ubuntu 20.10 which fixes two vulnerabilities. Providing the CVEs and details of fixed flaws, and fixed kernels, we are advised to upgrade our systems as soon as possible.

https://9to5linux.com/ubuntu-20-10-gets-its-first-linux-kernel-security-patch-update-now

New Intel Vulnerabilities Now Patched in All Supported Ubuntu Releases

Marius Nestor reports an updated Intel Microcode package which fixes a number of CVEs available for Ubuntu systems. With many links provided, an update alerts us to this patch being reverted for impacted systems.

https://9to5linux.com/new-intel-vulnerabilities-now-patched-in-all-supported-ubuntu-releases

Canonical Reverts Intel Microcode Update in Ubuntu Due to Boot Failures in Tiger Lake Systems

We are alerted to Canonical reverting the Intel Microcode package in some systems recently made available in this article by Marius Nestor. The microcode caused boot problems for some Intel Tiger Lake systems, thus the microcode upgrade has been reverted on systems using Tiger Lake processors. Users can use 'dis_ucode_ldr' as a kernel parameter to bypass the issue temporarily to boot their systems, then this update will revert the microcode change.

https://9to5linux.com/canonical-reverts-intel-microcode-update-in-ubuntu-due-to-boot-failures-in-tiger-lake-systems

Proton 5.13-2 Released With A Variety Of Game Fixes, VKD3D-Proton 2.0

Michael Larabel reports on the Proton 5.13-2 release; noting the addition of VKD3D-Proton 2.0, numerous crash fixes on various games, as well as pointing out some of the related game enhancements and improvements.

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Proton-5.13-2-Released

KDE Sees A Number Of Fixes To Dolphin, Plasma On Wayland

Michael Larabel highlights the week's work on the KDE space, as provided by KDE developer Nate Graham. Applications affected include: Konsole, Dolphin, Plasma Disks, Plasma Wayland session, KDE System Settings, and the KDE Plasma Wayland session. Additionally there are "a variety of user-interface refinements" with more details in the provided blog post link.

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=KDE-Mid-Nov-2020-Fixes

Ubuntu Security Podcast: Episode 96

"This week we look at results from the Tianfu Cup 2020, the PLATYPUS attack against Intel CPUs, a detailed writeup of the GDM/accountsservice vulnerabilities covered in Episode 95 and more."

https://ubuntusecuritypodcast.org/episode-96/

Ubuntu Podcast from the UK LoCo: S13E34 – Itchy hands

"This week we get crafty, discuss if Ubuntu is still exciting, bring you some command line love, round up all your wonderful feedback and visit ThinkPad corner."

https://ubuntupodcast.org/2020/11/12/s13e34-itchy-hands/

Ubuntu Portugal Podcast: S01E116 - Korisca

"Mais uma corrida, mais 1 viagem. Há um novo Raspberry Pi, novos telefones UBPorts e novas aventuras Nextcloud. Aqui fica mais um episódio no vosso podcast preferido."

https://podcastubuntuportugal.org/e116/

Meeting Reports

Upcoming Meetings and Events

  • Developer Membership Board: Mon, November 16, 3pm – 4pm
  • Kernel Team: Tue, November 17, 5pm – 6pm
  • Desktop Team: Tue, November 17, 2:30pm – 3:30pm (per IRC topic advisory)
  • Technical Board: Tue, November 17, 8pm – 9pm
  • Ubuntu Membership Board: Wed, November 18, 12pm – 1pm (perhaps)
  • Community Council: Wed, November 18, 11pm – Thu, November 19, 12am
  • Ubuntu Foundations: Thu, November 19, 4pm – 5pm

Times shown are UTC. For more details and farther dates please visit: http://fridge.ubuntu.com/calendars/

Updates and Security for 16.04, 18.04, 20.04, and 20.10

Security Updates

Ubuntu 16.04 Updates

End of Standard Support: April 2021

Ubuntu 18.04 Updates

End of Standard Support: April 2023

Ubuntu 20.04 Updates

End of Standard Support: April 2025

Ubuntu 20.10 Updates

End of life: July 2021

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Archive

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Further News

As always you can find more Ubuntu news and announcements at:

Conclusion

Thank you for reading the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter.

See you next week!

Credits

The Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter is brought to you by:

  • Krytarik Raido
  • Bashing-om
  • Chris Guiver
  • Wild Man
  • And many others

Glossary of Terms

Other acronyms can be found at: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/glossary

Get Involved

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Feedback

This document is maintained by the Ubuntu Weekly News Team. If you have a story idea or suggestions for the Weekly Newsletter, join the Ubuntu News Team mailing list at https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/Ubuntu-news-team and submit it. Ideas can also be added to the wiki at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Ideas. If you'd like to contribute to a future issue of the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, please feel free to edit the appropriate wiki page. If you have any technical support questions, please check https://community.ubuntu.com/help-information/ for more information on where to get help.

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UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Issue657 (last edited 2020-11-16 20:21:30 by bashing-om)