Stay Current with Supported Ubuntu Releases
Using an end-of-life (EOL) Ubuntu version (e.g., 20.04 LTS after April 2025) exposes systems to unpatched exploits. Migrate to a supported release (e.g., 22.04 LTS or 24.04 LTS) to receive regular security updates. For organizations unable to upgrade immediately, subscribe to Ubuntu Pro to extend security maintenance for EOL versions.
Enable Automatic Security Updates
Automate patch installation to ensure timely fixes for critical vulnerabilities. Install the unattended-upgrades tool and configure it to automatically apply security updates:
sudo apt install unattended-upgrades to install the package.sudo dpkg-reconfigure --priority=low unattended-upgrades to enable automatic security updates (select “Yes” in the interactive prompt)./etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50unattended-upgrades: ensure the security origin (e.g., "${distro_id}:${distro_codename}-security") is included in Unattended-Upgrade::Allowed-Origins./etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20auto-upgrades: configure APT::Periodic::Update-Package-Lists "1" (daily package list updates) and APT::Periodic::Unattended-Upgrade "1" (daily automatic upgrades).Manually Apply Security Updates Regularly
For environments where manual control is preferred, establish a routine to check and install updates:
sudo apt update.sudo apt list --upgradable | grep -i security.sudo apt upgrade (use sudo apt full-upgrade for major version upgrades, e.g., kernel changes).sudo apt autoremove.Harden System Security to Reduce Attack Surface
Combine updates with proactive hardening to minimize vulnerabilities:
PermitRootLogin no in /etc/ssh/sshd_config), use key-based authentication (disable password login with PasswordAuthentication no), and change the default SSH port (e.g., Port 2222) to reduce brute-force attacks. Restart SSH after changes: sudo systemctl restart sshd.sudo ufw allow ssh, sudo ufw allow http, sudo ufw allow https) and enable it with sudo ufw enable.sudo apt remove <package>) to reduce potential attack vectors.Monitor and Validate Updates
Track update history and system logs to ensure patches are applied correctly and identify suspicious activity:
cat /var/log/unattended-upgrades/unattended-upgrades.log (check for errors or skipped packages).sudo journalctl -xe (look for failed login attempts or unusual process activity).sudo apt install fail2ban and configure /etc/fail2ban/jail.local to monitor SSH and other services).Respond to Exploits Effectively
If an exploit is detected, act quickly to contain and remediate the issue:
/var/log/auth.log for SSH breaches) to determine the attack vector and scope.sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade). For zero-day exploits, consider temporary mitigations (e.g., disabling affected services, blocking malicious IPs with UFW).