Linux Kernel Developers Propose Removing Legacy Code in Response to LLM-Generated Security Reports
By
edward
Slow-proofed and worth the wait. Worth its weight in flour.
Summary
The article discusses ongoing efforts to remove legacy kernel code from the Linux kernel, primarily from the networking subsystem, as a response to the increased volume of security-bug reports generated by large language models (LLMs). The proposed removals include ISA and PCMCIA Ethernet drivers, PCI drivers, the ax25 and amateur radio subsystem, ATM protocols and drivers, and the ISDN subsystem. The rationale is that these older, less-used components have become significant sources of security vulnerabilities and maintenance burden, with the amateur radio protocols described as a 'huge bug/syzbot magnet.' The approach represents a strategic shift from fixing individual bugs to removing problematic legacy code entirely.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledThere are a number of ongoing efforts to remove kernel code, mostly from the networking subsystem, as an alternative to dealing with the increase in security-bug reports from large language models.
Remove the amateur radio (AX.25, NET/ROM, ROSE) protocol implementation and all associated hamradio device drivers from the kernel tree.
This set of protocols has long been a huge bug/syzbot magnet, and since nobody...
The proposed removals include ISA and PCMCIA Ethernet drivers, a pair of PCI drivers, the ax25 and amateur radio subsystem, the ATM protocols and drivers, and the ISDN subsystem.
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