Google researchers uncover critical security flaw in all AMD Zen processors ( www.techspot.com )

TheGrandNagus , 6 days ago (edited 6 days ago)

This flaw allows attackers with local administrator privileges to bypass AMD's cryptographic verification system and install custom microcode updates on affected CPUs.

If you already have local administrator privileges, you have access to the system and its data anyway. Doesn't seem that critical a flaw. It doesn't even survive reboots.

Regardless, AMD has already issued a fix.

devfuuu , 6 days ago

It sound's more like a feature.

palordrolap , 6 days ago

local administrator privileges

... are used by distro update mechanisms and very few people turn those off, even if they don't use elevated privileges for anything else.

Admittedly, it's unlikely that a distro's repository will end up with a compromised microcode package, but it's not impossible (Remember the 7zip debacle?). And if it happens, you can be sure that whoever designs the payload will use the temporary access to install something ugly that has more permanent access.

But as you say, AMD have issued a fix. And that'd be why.

Rin , 5 days ago

7z? You mean xz??

palordrolap , 3 days ago

Whoops. It looks like I conflated it with the more recent 7zip vulnerability, which didn't affect Linux much at all.

Just goes to show how often these things crop up though.

wewbull , 6 days ago

That's not a flaw. That's a right to repair requirement.