Backporting security fixes at scale with Codex

Trail of Bits describes using Codex with GPT-5.6 to backport security fixes into stable Linux kernel branches and distribution packages, reporting that by October 29 the project had delivered fixes for 149 distinct CVEs into stable kernel releases plus several Fedora and Ubuntu package fixes. The workflow has agents identify missing fixes, adapt patches, assemble validation evidence, run tests and prepare submission packets while engineers review and submit them, cutting preparation and review of a straightforward backport to about 30 minutes and a more involved case to around three hours. The post also presents counts of unfixed CVEs in stable kernel branches and in Debian 13 and Ubuntu 26.04, noting that regression testing and maintainer acceptance remain essential.