Intel has quietly patched a security vulnerability that may affect processors such as Core

Intel has quietly patched a security vulnerability that may impact a wide range of processors, including those from the Core series. This update, which addresses an undisclosed CPU security issue, traces back to the Coffee Lake architecture. However, the company has not provided detailed information about the problem, leaving many questions unanswered. The only update available is a new microcode that fixes the Intel security vulnerability.

Intel

Phoronix Discovers Intel Security Vulnerability

The vulnerability was first discovered by Phoronix, which reported that the security issue was not included in Intel’s “Patch Tuesday” list. Patch Tuesday is a term used to refer to the second Tuesday of each month when tech companies release their security patches. Intel has not provided a clear explanation for this omission but has referred to the issue as [INTEL-SA-NA]. The “SA” is likely an abbreviation for security advisory, while “NA” may stand for unavailable or unspecified details.

Impact of the Intel Security Vulnerability on Multiple Processors

This undisclosed Intel security vulnerability affects a wide range of Intel processors, including those from the Core, Xeon, and Atom series. Essentially, any Intel processor from the 8th generation onward can benefit from the updated microcode. The release of this update indicates that it is a high-priority fix, designed to address significant security concerns.

In addition, the microcode update could also affect chips that are currently undergoing binary microcode updates. While the microcode fixes vulnerabilities such as Spectre and Meltdown, users should note that the performance impact of these firmware updates could be substantial, depending on the platform.

No Firmware Updates Yet for Some Users

It is reported that, for the time being, motherboard manufacturers will not provide firmware updates to users. However, the new microcode is already available for Linux, and Phoronix is currently testing and analyzing its effects. The tests aim to determine whether the updated microcode impacts the performance of Intel’s mobile Alder Lake-P processors or the desktop Raptor Lake processors.

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