Intel Comments on CPU Bug – Says Not Unique to Intel and Has Low Performance Impact

Intel has released a statement about the issue where pretty much all Intel CPUs seem vulnerable to leaking kernel memory to user space. It basically states that this issue is not unique to them and that other computing devices are susceptible to the exploit. Intel has also started providing software and firmware updates to mitigate the exploits to the needed parties.

The chip giant also noted that media coverage of the issue and calling this an Intel ‘bug’ is “incorrect” and “inaccurate,” saying it had planned to discuss this very issue next week when more software fixes were ready. Intel is clearly downplaying the significance of the issue and we’ll find out more about the software fixes soon enough with real benchmark data.

You can read the full statement below.

Intel and other technology companies have been made aware of new security research describing software analysis methods that, when used for malicious purposes, have the potential to improperly gather sensitive data from computing devices that are operating as designed. Intel believes these exploits do not have the potential to corrupt, modify or delete data.

Recent reports that these exploits are caused by a bug or a flaw and are unique to Intel products are incorrect. Based on the analysis to date, many types of computing devices with many different vendors processors and operating systems are susceptible to these exploits.

Intel is committed to product and customer security and is working closely with many other technology companies, including AMD, ARM Holdings and several operating system vendors, to develop an industry-wide approach to resolve this issue promptly and constructively. Intel has begun providing software and firmware updates to mitigate these exploits. Contrary to some reports, any performance impacts are workload-dependent, and, for the average computer user, should not be significant and will be mitigated over time.

Intel is committed to the industry best practice of responsible disclosure of potential security issues, which is why Intel and other vendors had planned to disclose this issue next week when more software and firmware updates will be available. However, Intel is making this statement today because of the current inaccurate media reports.

Check with your operating system vendor or system manufacturer and apply any available updates as soon as they are available. Following good security practices that protect against malware in general will also help protect against possible exploitation until updates can be applied.

Intel believes its products are the most secure in the world and that, with the support of its partners, the current solutions to this issue provide the best possible security for its customers.