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Questions tagged [intel]

For security questions specifically related to Intel processors or other Intel hardware.

0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Which Intel CPUs do not have Management Engine (ME) [duplicate]

The Intel Management Engine (ME) is a security risk which I would prefer not to take. I do not trust it, it seems to be a backdoor, and there are reported vulnerabilities on it. I do not trust the ...
user5623335's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
693 views

Intel CET more secure than AMD Shadow Stack?

I'm trying to decide between AMD or Intel for a new build. I was reading about protection from ROP-attacks and it seems like Intel and AMD are handling this in different ways. AMD Zen 3 and later ...
Cass9000's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
579 views

What is the difference between Soft mode and HAP mode for disabling Intel ME?

Today is finally arrived the Dasharo Firmware with the option to disable the Intel ME from bios. My question is: Which method is better? Soft or HAP? I actually choose soft, and seems no problem given....
elbarna's user avatar
  • 175
0 votes
2 answers
206 views

How do you detect attacks on Intel ME firmware and the AMD equivalent?

Since there are quite a few exploits of Intel ME firmware in the CPU (same applies to AMD), I would like to know what SIEM solutions are there for detecting these kinds of attacks. To be more exact, I ...
Sir Muffington's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
5k views

What is the function of Intel's Total Memory Encryption (TME)?

https://edc.intel.com/content/www/us/en/design/ipla/software-development-platforms/client/platforms/alder-lake-desktop/12th-generation-intel-core-processors-datasheet-volume-1-of-2/002/intel-multi-key-...
Grant Curell's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

What is the latest version of ThinkPad laptops that doesn't have Intel Management Engine or similar remote controller built-in?

I work in cybersecurity and would like to find an older laptop that doesn't have the Intel Management Engine built-in, while still able to run a Debian OS well. I have an IBM ThinkPad t42 with 42T0273 ...
Eduard's user avatar
  • 61
0 votes
0 answers
252 views

Feasibility of CPU Backdoors

Recently I was thinking of the feasibility of hardware backdoors in the CPU introduced by manufacturers at the behest of three letter agencies. I can think of two potential backdoors that seem ...
RubberbandMan's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
390 views

Intel Ethernet Driver Advanced Settings for Security/Privacy

There are some settings found on Device Manager > Ethernet Driver > Advanced Tab. Are there suggestions for any of these settings? or any suggestion to improve ethernet driver security? Adaptive ...
Quvok's user avatar
  • 1
6 votes
1 answer
865 views

INTEL-SA-00086 extracting the secret key used to encrypt Intel CPU code: is the digital signature bypassed?

In a recent attack to INTEL-SA-00086, the researchers are able to extract the secret key that encrypts updates to various Intel CPUs. In the arstechnica blog it is mentioned as The key may also allow ...
kelalaka's user avatar
  • 5,559
4 votes
0 answers
490 views

FLUSH + RELOAD Proof of Concept - Why do we need to flush more than needed?

Problem I am putting together a proof of concept for the FLUSH + RELOAD attack. The method is outlined in great detail in this paper. The general idea is simple - cached addresses can be accessed with ...
K. Jiang's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
433 views

Is it possible to debunk Intel Management Engine conspiracy theories using a data usage monitor device?

If there would be any backdoor in recent Intel CPU's, then it should send and receive data secretly. Isn't it possible to easily debunk this conspiracy theory by implementing a third physical device ...
Steve's user avatar
  • 139
1 vote
0 answers
355 views

How can access to Intel ME / AMT be disabled with firewall? [duplicate]

Short of flashing BIOS, there seems to be no way to disable the Intel ME. So, is there a reliable way to block access to Intel ME, such using HW firewall (Firewall in front of the machine, not ...
Martin Vegter's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
5k views

Sacrificing 30% of my CPU performance (by disabling Hyper-Threading) to fully mitigate CPU vulnerabilities, necessary?

I used the spectre-meltdown-checker, version 0.42, without any option resulting in all-green results. But, in a help page, I found the --paranoid switch, which resulted in about a half of later CVEs ...
Vlastimil Burián's user avatar
12 votes
3 answers
4k views

Ring -3 exploits and existence of other rings

Concept of Rings Rings were introduced in the forerunner of UNIX, Multics, and had 8 rings for reading, writing, executing and calling (I don't quite understand why it needed 8 rings to do this, if ...
LTPCGO's user avatar
  • 1,065
0 votes
1 answer
262 views

A new exploit in town: SWAPGS. How and why did it happen?

Apparently, there's a new speculative execution exploit in town on Intel CPUs: SWAPGS. It takes research on Meltdown and Spectre to the next level and targets the root of the CPU. This is not the ...
Mast's user avatar
  • 445

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