{
  "id": 7466341,
  "title": "Amazon Linux 2027 Enters Public Preview with SELinux Enforcing by Default",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/amazon-linux-2027-enters-public-preview-with-selinux-enforcing-by",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-15T03:40:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "InfoQ",
    "slug": "infoq",
    "url": "https://www.infoq.com/news/2026/09/amazon-linux-2027-preview/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Amazon has unveiled Amazon Linux 2027 for public preview, featuring SELinux enforcing mode by default. This shift from permissive mode in its predecessor could potentially disrupt migration efforts for teams transitioning from Amazon Linux 2023. The new release runs on kernel versions 7.1 or later, leveraging AWS-LC for cryptographic operations and incorporating accelerator drivers, including AWS Neuron support for machine learning tasks. AWS envisions this version suitable for various workloads, such as web applications, databases, containerized microservices, AI/ML projects, and large-scale infrastructure. The specific kernel version is still under development, with AWS aiming for a Long Term Support (LTS) status, making the selected 7.1 version a starting point. SELinux enforcement represents the most significant operational change, as it blocks policy violations instead of merely logging them, unlike the previous permissive mode. This change might render applications running on Amazon Linux 2023 incompatible with Amazon Linux 2027 unless their configurations align with the new policy. Migration validation is a critical aspect of the preview, helping teams identify potential issues and ensure smooth transitions. AWS has made AMIs available through the AWS Management Console across all commercial regions in both x86-64 and ARM architectures, with container base images hosted on the Amazon ECR Public Gallery. However, on-premises images are not yet available. The decision to choose Amazon Linux over other RHEL-derived distributions has sparked discussions about trust in Amazon's distribution strategy and its implications for software vendors. Despite the controversy, AWS encourages feedback by inviting comments through their AL2027 GitHub repository.",
  "summary": "AWS has released Amazon Linux 2027 in public preview, built on the AL2023 baseline with kernel 7.1 and SELinux in enforcing mode by default. Applications that pass on AL2023's permissive mode may fail under enforcing. The announcement gives no AL2023 end-of-support date, no GA date, and no in-place migration path. By Steef-Jan Wiggers",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}