update-checker-Penguin

Do you know if your Linux distro is outdated and insecure? Try this Linux Update Checker to save your day.

Check CVE-2024-3094

Description

This script checks if your Linux distribution is affected by CVE-2024-3094 and if updates are needed.

Installation

• Python 3.x is required to run this script.
• No additional dependencies are needed.

Usage

1. Open a terminal.
2. Navigate to the directory where the script is located.
3. Run the following command:

   python check_cve-v2.py

Functions in the Script:

get_linux_distribution():

• This function finds out which version or type of Linux is installed on the computer. It uses a program called lsb_release to do this.
• If lsb_release can't be found (like if it's not installed), the function returns "Unknown" because it can't figure out the Linux version.
• Note: This method may encounter errors on certain Linux distributions.

get_kernel_version():

• This function figures out the version of the kernel (the heart of the operating system) that's running on the computer. It uses a built-in method called os.uname().release to get this information.
• Note: This method is generally reliable across different Linux distributions.

get_installed_packages():

• This function tries to make a list of all the software packages that are currently installed on the computer. It uses a command called dpkg --get-selections to do this.
• If the dpkg command is not available (not installed), the function returns an empty list because it can't get the list of packages.
• Note: This method relies on dpkg and may not work on distributions that use different package managers (e.g., RPM-based distributions like Fedora, CentOS).

get_security_updates():

• This function pretends to check if there are any important security updates available for the system. It does this by using apt-get upgrade --just-print.
• If apt-get (another program used to manage software) is not found, the function returns an empty list, meaning it couldn't really check for updates.
• Note: This method is specific to Debian-based distributions and may not be applicable to other Linux distributions.

check_update_needed():

• This function coordinates everything. It calls the other functions to gather all the necessary information.
• Then it prints out the Linux version, kernel version, and checks if any updates might be needed based on the information gathered.
• For example, it might say something like "Your Linux version may need an update" based on the gathered data.
• Note: This function's behavior may vary depending on the Linux distribution and system configuration.

References

Linux System Administration References:

• "The Linux Command Line" by William E. Shotts Jr.:
  • This book is a complete guidebook for using the command line in Linux. I've got lsb_release, dpkg, and apt-get work, from this book.
  • Website: http://linuxcommand.org

Python Programming References:

• "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python" by Al Sweigart:
  • This book teaches practical ways to program in Python. Great for learning how to make your computer to do useful things with Python.
  • Website: https://automatetheboringstuff.com