FreeBSD 15.1 will not arrive on June 2 as expected. The development team has announced a one-week delay, moving the release date to June 9. The reason is a new test version that fixes a bug in the random number generator of VIA and Zhaoxin processors. General system stability improvements have also been included.
Security fix in old hardware 🛡️
The bug affects the random number generator integrated into VIA C3, C7, Nano processors and Zhaoxin CPUs, based on the same architecture. This component is key for cryptography and system security. The flaw could compromise key generation and connection security. The update fixes the issue at the kernel level, ensuring these older systems maintain a basic level of trust without relying on external hardware.
The revenge of the VIA C3: a delay for the history books 😅
Who would have thought that a VIA C3 processor, the one many used to heat the room in the 2000s, would manage to delay the release of a modern operating system. Now Zhaoxin users, the spiritual heirs of this architecture, can feel special: their hardware is so relevant that it deserves an extra week of testing. Meanwhile, the rest of the world waits. Next time someone complains about their old CPU, remember that even random numbers have their own office hours.