One of the virtues of out-of-order processors is something called prediction or speculative execution, which has significant performance benefits. However, it opens a window so that during this period of execution of potential predictive threads, traps can be used so that the CPU executes programs or parts of code that it could not under normal conditions and for hierarchical and security reasons.
The discovery of Specter and Meltdown a few years ago was a real blow for Intel, because it jeopardized the security of sensitive data of hundreds of millions of users. The solution? Take advantage of the fact that the CPU control unit is itself a microcontroller to update it. The results? A loss of performance in CPUs already marketed
What is the new Specter vulnerability affecting Core 12?
Intel and security research group VUSec reported on a Specter-like vulnerability in Core 12 called history of the Injection branch O BHI. Your reach level not just limited to the latest generation of Intel processorsbut also to previous already a series of processors with ISA ARM. So this is an exploit in a way that speculative execution has been implemented on these processors. As for AMD, your CPUs are not affected by this issue.
The new exploit bypasses elBRS mitigations for Intel processors and ARM CSV2 processors. This allows them to manipulate the kernel of the operating system through the CPU so that there are data leaks. Said in a summarized way and that everyone can understand, It is used to obtain confidential information, in particular users’ private access codes.
Let’s not forget that speculative execution relies on harnessing the high power of today’s CPUs to execute branches of code that depend on a condition to be activated without it occurring. That is, the processor anticipates them and executes them beforehand in private mode, when the condition is met, the rest of the unconfirmed branches of the code are rejected. The security flaw is inject code into the data cache or instructions in order to steal data
Which processors are affected by this vulnerability?
If we talk about Intel, everything they released is affected from 2013 and rest assured that Core 13 with Raptor Lake and Core 14 with Meteor Lake They will also be affected because their design is already complete and in production. As for those of ARMS are the Cortex A15, A57, A72 and the cores Neoverse V1, N1 and N2. It’s unclear if Apple’s and Qualcomm’s are affected because they’re custom designs.
Therefore, Intel and ARM will have to release fixes for the problem, but we don’t know how much we’ll see the performance of our devices’ processors decrease again. Without a doubt, Specter on Core 12 and ARM is one of the worst news we’ve given in a long time.