Intel released a new microcode to address Specter flaw for 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-gen chips

by do son · Published · Updated

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Intel has developed a stable new microcode that fixes the “specter” flaw in Skylake, Kaby Lake, and Coffee Lake processors and fixes for all variants. Microcode Update can mitigate the threat posed by Specter Variant 2. The processor then uses bad predictions to infer the value of the data, which is stored in memory, so the attacker can steal the information.

 

By updating the microcode, you can give the operating system better control over the branch predictor, preventing one process from being affected by another.

Last year Intel released its first microcode update and even upgraded its firmware for Broadwell, Haswell, Skylake, Kaby Lake and Coffee Lake machines, but users later found that the update caused the system to crash and reboot. Initially, only Broadwell and Haswell systems were identified that were affected, and later Skylake, Kaby Lake, and Coffee Lake were also reported to have restarted.

Earlier this month, Intel also offered new microcode for the Skylake processor, which is available on Skylake variant processors, including Skylake X, Skylake D, Skylake SP, and mainstream chips after Skylake, which are based on 7 or 8 generations of Core The identity of Kaby Lake or Coffee Lake. However older Broadwell and Haswell processors cannot be fixed, and Intel said micro-code for Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, Broadwell and Broadwell processors is under test.

Source: neowin, via Intel

Tags: microcode