Intel CPUs Vulnerable to New 'Indirector' Attacks: A Deep Dive into the Spectre-Style Threat

July 3, 2024 Hardware

In the evolving field of cyber-security, a new kind of Spectre-style attack has emerged, targeting newer Intel CPUs. Known as the 'Indirector' attack, it poses a potential risk of stealing sensitive data from the system, as revealed by experts in the field.

Spectre-style attacks exploit speculative execution, a feature designed to improve performance by predicting and executing future computational tasks. These attacks trick the processor into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords and encryption keys. The Indirector attack is a new variant of this category.

Researchers from the VU University in Amsterdam and the Helmholtz Center for Information Security (CISPA) in Germany, together with other experts, have been instrumental in uncovering this new potential threat. In a detailed paper, they have elucidated the modus operandi of the Indirector attack.

The Indirector attack exploits the indirect branch predictor, a component of the CPU, to potentially access sensitive data. This component is used to predict the destination of future indirect branches in the code, thus improving the overall speed of the processor. The attack manipulates the indirect branch predictor, causing it to disclose data it is not supposed to.

Despite the potential risk, Intel has responded by stating that no new mitigations are required to counter the Indirector attack. The company has assured that the measures already in place to counter Spectre-style attacks are sufficient to address this new vulnerability as well.

Intel's statement reads, We believe existing mitigations are not rendered ineffective, and additional mitigations for constant-time programming are not warranted. Protecting customers continues to be a critical priority for us, and we appreciate the efforts of the security community in surfacing these issues.

However, the researchers who discovered the Indirector attack argue that the existing countermeasures may not be entirely effective. They believe that while some measures can mitigate the risk, others might be bypassed, making the system vulnerable to the attack.

The Indirector attack's discovery comes amidst a time when cyber-security is of paramount importance. With increasing digitization and a significant rise in remote work due to the ongoing pandemic, ensuring the safety and security of sensitive data is crucial.

While Intel reassures the effectiveness of existing mitigations, it's important to consider the new findings seriously. Continued research and development in the field of cyber-security are essential to stay ahead of potential threats and ensure the safety of our digital lives.

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