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'Kernel memory leaking' Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign

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Puppy
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Re: 'Kernel memory leaking' Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign

#61 Post by Puppy » Thu Mar 01, 2018 2:16 pm

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperi ... s-devices/

We will offer additional microcode updates from Intel as they become available to Microsoft.

Good, Microsoft delivers CPU microcode updates via Windows Updates so it is not up to hw vendors to update BIOS.
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Re: 'Kernel memory leaking' Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign

#62 Post by Thinkpad4by3 » Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:32 pm

At the Microsoft headquarters:

Bigwig 1: Hey, we could make consumers happy by offerig microcode updates.
Bigwig 2: Yea, we could. Couldn't we also collect data too. Hey Mr. Coder, can you modify the microcode.
Coder: Sure, gimme a second
Bigwig 1: Runs the calculations we could make 4.5% more profit per sucker.
Bigwig 2: Do it.

And now all Intel processors collect data while they are in any powered state(even S4). Big Brother is watching you.
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The efficiency of two screens equally sized with equal numbers if pixels are equal. The time spent by a 4:3 user complaining about 16:9 is proportional to the inefficiency working with a 16:9 display, therefore the amount of useful work extracted is equal.

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Re: 'Kernel memory leaking' Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign

#63 Post by dr_st » Fri Mar 02, 2018 1:21 am

S4 is a system state, not a CPU state. Go back to the university! :lol:
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Re: 'Kernel memory leaking' Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign

#64 Post by Thinkpad4by3 » Fri Mar 02, 2018 7:23 am

So shoot me for not being 100% in a Microsoft Joke :lol: . Make that C6?
Thinkpad4by3's Law of the Universe.

The efficiency of two screens equally sized with equal numbers if pixels are equal. The time spent by a 4:3 user complaining about 16:9 is proportional to the inefficiency working with a 16:9 display, therefore the amount of useful work extracted is equal.

Puppy
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Re: 'Kernel memory leaking' Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign

#65 Post by Puppy » Wed Mar 28, 2018 6:42 pm

https://securityaffairs.co/wordpress/70 ... ttack.html

BranchScope is a new side-channel attack technique that like Meltdown and Spectre attacks can be exploited by an attacker to obtain sensitive information from vulnerable processors
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Re: 'Kernel memory leaking' Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign

#66 Post by shawross » Wed Mar 28, 2018 7:09 pm

Make sure you have the Security Updates for March installed if you are running Windows 7.

It seems a security researcher discovered Microsoft botched the earlier 2018 patches.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing ... en-server/

Can we trust Microsoft? Obviously no and it makes you wonder.

Intel are still working on Spectre Bios updates and Lenovo have released the Bios update for the X220 version 1.44. Hopefully we will get a modded bios of this going forward.

https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread- ... IOS?page=5

Previously it was thought that the Intel core 2 Duo processors weren't susceptible to Spectre but Intel have clarified that they definitely are. Intel are working on Microcode updates for dual core processors and also for Arandale CPUs as found in the X201.

https://newsroom.intel.com/wp-content/u ... idance.pdf

How effective these updates will be is an unknown also with regard to protection from new side channel exploit.
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Re: 'Kernel memory leaking' Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign

#67 Post by shawross » Thu Mar 29, 2018 11:01 pm

Follow up update to fix latest vulnerabilities induced by Microsoft for Windows 7 64 bit.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/hel ... -2018-1038
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Re: 'Kernel memory leaking' Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign

#68 Post by dr_st » Sun Apr 01, 2018 2:38 am

This has gotten so complicated. Patches, then patches that roll back patches, and patches that roll back patches that roll back patches.

I wish someone made a full list of related Windows updates for all currently supported versions (7, 8.1 and 10). This would help people who:
  • Want to manually pick their updates and want to patch against these serious vulnerabilities
  • Generally like to update Windows but want to avoid these patches due to the performance losses

I guess this is a good place to start:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/hel ... e-meltdown

I also guess that long-term it will be impossible to avoid the core patches that affect performance, while keeping the rest of Windows up-to-date. So users who would rather performance over security would have to use the registry-tweaking tools (as long as Microsoft keeps those available).
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Re: 'Kernel memory leaking' Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign

#69 Post by Puppy » Wed Apr 04, 2018 4:55 am

Intel Stops Development, Deployment of Spectre Microcode Update for Several CPU Families
https://www.techpowerup.com/242974/inte ... u-families
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Re: 'Kernel memory leaking' Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign

#70 Post by shawross » Wed Apr 04, 2018 7:39 am

I think the browser updates are probably the most important followed by OS updates and then BIOS or Microcode updates . Keep in mind that the success of these updates may not be 100% effective against the exploits without extensive CPU design.

It will be interesting to see if there are any attacks using these exploits so we can pause and see what gets reported.

I wouldn't be surprised if PC companies have asked Intel to stop work on older CPU Microcode updates because it affects their bottom line.
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Re: 'Kernel memory leaking' Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign

#71 Post by dr_st » Thu Apr 19, 2018 9:56 am

So, on X220 (Sandy Bridge), running Windows 7, the April Monthly Rollup (KB4091138) apparently includes a patch for Meltdown.

Before installing KB4091138 - InSpectre reports: no Meltdown protection, Good performance. After installing it - Meltdown protection active, Slower performance. After uninstalling KB4091138 -again: no Meltdown protection, Good performance.

Apparently (again, according to InSpectre), the Sandy Bridge generation has no "high-performance Meltdown fix" in the CPU, so some performance degradation is inevitable if one wants to patch for Meltdown.
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