Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFirst check the security status of the exact Linux release and the X.Org-related packages installed on it. Install any supported fixes through the distribution’s official repositories. If the release or package is no longer maintained, upgrade to a supported release or move to a supported distribution; an unpatched package is not made safe simply because it still works. Switching to Wayland may reduce reliance on the full X.Org server, but it does not necessarily remove X11 components: Xwayland runs X applications in Wayland sessions and has its own security updates.
Is X.Org still receiving security updates?
Yes. The X.Org security advisory index listed security fixes in 2026, including June 2 fixes for xorg-server 21.1.23 and Xwayland 24.1.12. That does not mean every Linux distribution or release delivers those fixes. Upstream project updates and distribution support are separate: a vendor may backport a fix to an older-looking package version, take time to publish it, or stop maintaining a release through ordinary channels. Check the distribution’s advisory for your exact release rather than judging safety from an upstream version number alone. X.Org security advisories
Identify which package and release need attention
“X.Org” can mean the X server, client libraries, or related components. Find the installed package names and versions, then check each relevant component in your distribution’s package tracker. In particular, distinguish the X.Org server package from Xwayland if you use a Wayland desktop. Ubuntu’s security notes explain that xorg-server is the server package, xorg may contain documentation, and xwayland contains parts of the X server. Ubuntu describes Xwayland as the X server used to run X clients under Wayland. Package names differ across distributions. Canonical’s Ubuntu security notice Ubuntu package information for Xwayland
- Record the distribution name, release version or codename, and support channel.
- Check the installed X.Org server and Xwayland packages, including their versions.
- Note whether the desktop session is X11 or Wayland; installing a Wayland-capable desktop does not guarantee that the current session uses Wayland.
Check the official security tracker for your exact release
Search the distribution’s security tracker by package name and, where available, CVE or advisory number. Read the status for the installed release and support channel. A status such as “needs evaluation” does not confirm that a fix is available; an end-of-life release may be excluded from ordinary maintenance. Ubuntu’s CVE-2026-50257 page illustrates why release-by-release status matters: the page showed an end-of-life release ignored for that issue and supported releases still marked for evaluation at the time represented. These are issue-specific statuses, not a complete support matrix. Ubuntu CVE-2026-50257 status
#1 Best Overall
Distribution backports can make a fixed package’s version look older than the upstream version listed in an advisory. Debian’s August 2026 LTS update for Debian 11 Bullseye, for example, supplied a distribution-specific fixed package. Compare the package version and status named by your vendor’s advisory, not just the upstream version string. Debian LTS announcement
Install available supported updates
Use the distribution’s normal signed repositories and follow its update instructions. Do not install an upstream build or a package from an unrelated repository just to obtain a newer-looking version unless you understand and accept the resulting maintenance and compatibility risks.
Rank #2
Update instructions and restart requirements are distribution-specific. Canonical’s October 29, 2025 notice, for example, listed fixed package versions for affected Ubuntu releases and said a reboot was needed after a standard system update. Follow the notice for your release; do not assume that Ubuntu’s restart guidance applies identically to another distribution. Canonical’s Ubuntu security notice
Choose a durable path if no maintained fix is available
If the security tracker confirms that your release or relevant package is no longer maintained, select a supported route rather than relying on the unpatched installation.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| Option | What to verify | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade the current distribution | Support lifetime of the target release, fix status for the relevant package, and desktop compatibility | Usually the smallest migration when a supported upgrade path exists |
| Switch to a Wayland session | Compatibility of applications, hardware, remote access, screen sharing, and accessibility workflows; ongoing Xwayland maintenance | Can reduce reliance on the full X.Org session while retaining X11 application support through Xwayland |
| Migrate to another supported distribution | Security policy, release cadence, hardware support, and desktop workflow | A larger change, but may restore a maintained base when the current project has no suitable path |
| Use vendor extended maintenance | Whether the exact release and package are covered, eligibility, duration, and terms | May defer migration, but coverage depends on the provider and release |
Extended support is not automatic. Confirm package-level coverage and eligibility directly with the vendor. Canonical describes Ubuntu Pro coverage in its notice, but the notice does not establish coverage for every release or package. Canonical’s Ubuntu security notice
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What switching to Wayland does—and does not—change
A Wayland session can reduce reliance on the full X.Org server, but it does not prove that Xwayland is absent or maintained. Xwayland lets many X11 applications run within a Wayland desktop, so check its package status separately. Test the applications, input devices, graphics, screen-sharing and remote-desktop tools, and accessibility features you depend on before making the switch. A session change is a compatibility option, not a substitute for security updates to components that remain installed.
Quick Recap
Verify the system after updating or migrating
- Recheck the distribution security tracker for the exact release and package. Confirm that its status and fixed package version show the issue is addressed.
- Check the installed package version after applying the update or completing the release upgrade.
- Restart or reboot if the distribution’s advisory instructs you to do so.
- Confirm the active desktop session type and check Xwayland’s status if you use Wayland.
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