home-assistant/operating-system
Home Assistant Operating System Updates: Major 18.0 Release and Security-Focused 17.3 Patch
The Home Assistant Operating System (OS), a specialized Linux-based platform designed to run the Home Assistant home automation software, has issued two notable updates. Version 18.0 introduces a major kernel upgrade, improved Raspberry Pi firmware management, and faster disk image flashing, while version 17.3 focuses on a critical Linux kernel security patch.
Overview of Home Assistant Operating System
Home Assistant Operating System (OS) is a dedicated operating system tailored to run Home Assistant, an open-source platform for home automation. It is designed to simplify the deployment and management of Home Assistant on various hardware platforms, including Raspberry Pi, generic x86-64 machines, and virtual appliances. The OS provides a streamlined environment that integrates the necessary components such as the Linux kernel, Docker container runtime, and device firmware to support a robust and secure home automation experience.
Home Assistant OS 18.0: Major Platform-Wide Enhancements
Released on June 18, 2026, Home Assistant OS 18.0 is a significant update that introduces several key improvements across all supported platforms:
- Linux Kernel Upgrade: The kernel has been updated from version 6.12 to 6.18, bringing enhanced hardware support, performance improvements, and security fixes.
- Docker and Buildroot Updates: Docker has been upgraded to version 29.5.3 with containerd 2.2.4, and the underlying Buildroot system has been updated to version 2025.02.14.
- Faster Disk Image Flashing: Disk images now allocate the data partition only to the size of its initial contents, reducing flashing time considerably. This change does not affect download size due to compression and maintains automatic expansion on first boot.
- Swap File Size Management: The default swap file size is now constrained between 1 and 4 GB to avoid inefficiencies on systems with very low or very high RAM. Systems with up to 2 GB RAM see a slight increase in swap size, while those with more than 12 GB have the swap capped at 4 GB. Manual swap size settings remain unaffected.
- Raspberry Pi Firmware Updates: Users can now check and update the Raspberry Pi bootloader firmware directly from the Home Assistant OS command line interface (CLI) using
ha os boards raspberrypi firmwarecommands. This feature is particularly important for Raspberry Pi 5 users, who require firmware dated 2025-02-12 or newer to avoid display output issues during boot. - Unified Naming Convention: The OS has standardized the naming from legacy
hassostohaosacross systemd units and helper binaries. This change may require adjustments to user scripts or tooling referencing these names. - Improved First Boot Experience: The landing page during initial setup now includes a progress bar for Home Assistant Core download and installation, and mDNS announcements have been fixed to enable device discovery in mobile apps immediately.
Platform-Specific Notes
- Raspberry Pi: Due to issues with older firmware versions, the 18.0 release was temporarily removed from the stable update channel. Users who have already upgraded should update their Raspberry Pi 5 firmware before applying further OS updates to ensure display functionality.
- Home Assistant Yellow: Firmware updates are currently unsupported on Yellow devices with CM4 due to an incorrect
unsupported_boot_deviceerror.
Home Assistant OS 17.3: Security-Focused Kernel Update
Released on May 6, 2026, version 17.3 is a targeted security update addressing a Linux kernel vulnerability (CVE-2026-31431) related to the algif_aead component. The update includes:
- Linux Kernel Update: The kernel has been updated to the latest version to incorporate security patches.
- Raspberry Pi Backports: The relevant fixes have been backported explicitly to the Raspberry Pi 6.12.75 kernel.
Security Context
The vulnerability primarily affects applications running with dropped privileges. Since Home Assistant OS operates as a single-application appliance where most components run as root, the practical impact is limited. However, the fix improves security for apps (formerly add-ons) that run as non-root users.
Summary
These two releases highlight the ongoing maintenance and enhancement efforts for Home Assistant OS. Version 18.0 brings broad improvements in kernel support, system performance, and user experience, particularly for Raspberry Pi users. Meanwhile, version 17.3 ensures the platform remains secure against emerging Linux kernel vulnerabilities. Users of Home Assistant OS are encouraged to update accordingly, paying special attention to firmware updates on Raspberry Pi devices to maintain system stability and functionality.