An Open Letter from Brian Krzanich, CEO of Intel Corporation, to Technology Industry Leaders.
Last updated May 3, 2018 12:00 pm EST
On January 3, 2018 a team of security researchers disclosed several software analysis methods that, when used for malicious purposes, have the potential to improperly gather sensitive data from many types of computing devices with many different vendors’ processors and operating systems.
Intel is committed to product and customer security and to coordinated disclosure. We worked closely with many other technology companies, including AMD, ARM Holdings and several operating system vendors, to develop an industry-wide approach to mitigate this issue promptly and constructively.
Below are the latest facts, news and updates about these new exploits, and as well as steps you can take to help protect your systems and information.
May 3, 2018: Addressing Questions Regarding Additional Security Issues
Apr. 16, 2018: Securing the Digital World: Intel Announces Silicon-Level Security Technologies, Industry Adoption at RSA 2018
Apr. 12, 2018: Furthering Intel's Security First Pledge with Cybersecurity Public Policy
Apr. 6, 2018: Bringing the Security-First Pledge to Life with New Intel Product Assurance and Security Group
Mar. 15, 2018: Advancing Security at the Silicon Level
Feb. 14, 2018: Expanding Intel’s Bug Bounty Program: New Side Channel Program, Increased Awards
Feb. 7, 2018: Security Issue Update: Progress Continues on Firmware Updates
Jan. 22, 2018: Root Cause of Reboot Issue Identified; Updated Guidance for Customers and Partners
Jan. 17, 2018: Firmware Updates and Initial Performance Data for Data Center Systems (Includes performance data results)
Jan. 11, 2018: Intel Security Issue Update: Addressing Reboot Issues
Jan. 11, 2018: Intel’s Security-First Pledge
Jan. 10, 2018: Intel Security Issue Update: Initial Performance Data Results for Client Systems (Includes performance data results)
Jan. 9, 2018: Intel Offers Security Issue Update
Jan. 8, 2018: Intel CEO Addresses Security Research Findings during 2018 CES Keynote Address
Jan. 4, 2018: Intel Issues Updates to Protect Systems from Security Exploits
Jan. 4, 2018: Industry Testing Shows Recently Released Security Updates Not Impacting Performance in Real-World Deployments
Jan. 3, 2018: Intel Responds to Security Research Findings
These exploits are based on side-channel analysis. A side-channel is some observable aspect of a computer system’s physical operation, such as timing, power consumption or even sound. The statistical analysis of these behaviors can in some cases be used to potentially expose sensitive data on computer systems that are operating as designed. These exploits do not have the potential to corrupt, modify or delete data.
Most modern CPUs are able to predict what code they might need to run for a given process, and run it in advance so the results are ready before they are needed. This can significantly improve the overall performance and efficiency of a CPU, resulting in a faster and more capable computer or mobile device. CPUs may sometimes move data from one memory location to another for use by these processes. Although the system is operating exactly as it is designed to, in certain cases some of this data may be observable through these exploits.
We have begun providing software and firmware updates to mitigate these exploits. End users and systems administrators should check with their operating system vendors and system manufacturers, and apply any updates as soon as they are available.
For malware to compromise security using these exploits, it must be running locally on a system. Intel strongly recommends following good security practices that protect against malware in general, as that will also help protect against possible exploitation.
The threat environment continues to evolve. Intel is committed to investing in the security and reliability of our products, and to working constructively with security researchers and others in the industry to help safeguard users’ sensitive information.
This is list is not comprehensive. System manufacturers, operating system vendors, and others not listed here may have published information regarding this situation. You should check for updates or advisories from your system manufacturer or operating system vendor.
Resources From Intel
Resources From OS and Hardware Vendors
Information From System Manufacturers
Third-party Information on Sound Security Practices
These exploits, when used for malicious purposes, have the potential to improperly gather sensitive data. Intel believes these exploits do not have the potential to corrupt, modify or delete data. You should check with your operating system vendor and system manufacturer, and apply any available updates as soon as practical. Intel strongly recommends following good security practices that protect against malware in general. Doing so will also help protect against possible exploitation of these analysis methods.
The researchers demonstrated a proof of concept, and Intel was able to replicate the findings. Intel is not currently aware of any malware based on these exploits. However, end users and systems administrators should apply any available updates as soon as practical, and follow good security practices in general.
No. This is not a bug or a flaw in Intel® products. These new exploits leverage data about the proper operation of processing techniques common to modern computing platforms, potentially compromising security even though a system is operating exactly as it is designed to. Based on the analysis to date, many types of computing devices — with many different vendors’ processors and operating systems — are susceptible to these exploits.
Many modern microprocessor architectures, including but not limited to Intel’s, are impacted. Refer to the security researchers’ blog post for more information.
Simply put, a side-channel is some observable aspect of a computer system’s physical operation, such as timing, power consumption or even sound. As such, they can’t be eliminated. However, Intel is committed to rapidly addressing issues such as these as they arise, and providing recommendations through security advisories and security notices. The latest security information on Intel® products can be found here.
No. Any malware using this side channel analysis method must be running locally on the machine. Following good security practices that protect against malware in general will also help to protect against possible exploitation until updates can be applied.
The security researchers notified Intel and other companies about this issue in June 2017. Intel is committed to coordinated disclosure. In this case, the security researchers presented their findings in confidence, and we and other companies worked together to verify their results, develop and validate firmware and operating system updates for impacted technologies, and make them widely available as rapidly as possible.
Coordinated disclosure (also referred to as “responsible disclosure”) is widely regarded as the best way to responsibly protect customers from security exploits. Coordinated disclosure is based on two foundational concepts: (1) when companies become aware of security vulnerabilities, they work as quickly, collaboratively, and effectively as possible to mitigate those vulnerabilities, and (2) the companies simultaneously take steps to minimize the risk that exploitable information becomes available before mitigations are available – through leaks or otherwise – to those who would use it for malicious purposes.
These principles are perhaps best expressed by the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) at Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute:
“The public and especially users of vulnerable products deserve to be informed about issues with those products and how the vendor handles those issues. At the same time, disclosing such information without review and mitigation only opens the public up to exploitation. The ideal scenario occurs when everyone coordinates and cooperates to protect the public.”
More information on coordinated disclosure and its importance can be found in the Guide to Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure.
Intel and other companies have begun providing software and firmware updates to mitigate these exploits. End users and systems administrators should check with their operating system vendors and system manufacturers, and apply any available updates as soon as practical.
With regard to Intel’s products, all the issues disclosed by researchers can be mitigated either by software or firmware updates. End users and systems administrators should check with their operating system vendors and system manufacturers, and apply any available updates as soon as practical.
Applications using Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX) are vulnerable to the ‘Spectre’ exploit. We are actively working with our customers and industry partners to address this as a part of our ongoing work to develop and deploy mitigations for Spectre. For more information on mitigations available for Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX), please see our whitepaper.
End users and systems administrators should check with their operating system vendors and system manufacturers, and apply any available updates as soon as practical. Following good security practices protect against malware in general will also help to protect against possible exploitation of these analysis methods. Some of these include:
More information on good security practices can be found at:
Performance on some workloads or benchmarks may be impacted and will vary depending on the microprocessor and platform configuration (hardware and software). While some specialized workloads may see a noticeable performance impact, for most users any impact will be modest.
The most effective solution to this situation can vary, and may include updates to the operating system and firmware.
In some cases, the issue is addressed by an operating system update. You should check with your equipment manufacturer or operating system vendor for any available updates and apply them as soon as practical. If no updates are available, or you have not been able to install them yet, following good security practices protect against malware in general will also help to protect against possible exploitation.
The following Intel®-based platforms are impacted by this issue. Intel may modify this list at a later time.
Please check with your system vendor or equipment manufacturer (see links above) for more information regarding your system.