What does it mean for masternode operators? Need to install a patch or something?
It's an operating-system issue, not a Dash/Bitcoin/WhatEverCoin problem.
The operating systems using those glibc versions (means: most Linux distributions) are vulnerable, therefore ALL software not statically linked to a 'safe' glibc version/replacement is vulnerable.
Update your Linux once a fix is available and you'll be okay.
to update Linux once a fix is available, would these be the commands to use ? (google provided those to me, i just need verification if these are the correct ones)
stopping dashd
go to root
./sudo apt-get update
./sudo apt-get upgrade
./sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
if new kernel
./sudo reboot
restart dashd
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade && sudo apt-get autoremove