Meltdown is a class of hardware vulnerabilities that primarily affect microprocessors. These vulnerabilities allow malicious programs to access sensitive data, including system memory and data belonging to other applications or users.
Meltdown attacks exploit a vulnerability in the design of modern processors that allows unauthorised access to privileged memory. Attackers can potentially access sensitive information, such as passwords or encryption keys, residing in memory. The consequences may include:
Data Leakage: Sensitive data can be exfiltrated from the system.
Privilege Escalation: Attackers may gain elevated privileges.
Information Theft: Access to confidential information can lead to identity theft or data breaches.
Meltdown attacks are concerning due to:
Data Exposure: Attackers can access and steal sensitive data.
Privilege Elevation:: Attackers can escalate their privileges, potentially taking control of the system.
Widespread Impact: Meltdown affects a wide range of processors, making it a significant security concern.
Mitigating Meltdown vulnerabilities involves:
Patch and Update: Apply microcode and operating system updates that address Meltdown.
Isolation: Implement hardware and software-based isolation mechanisms.
Least Privilege: Limit access to sensitive system memory.
Virtualization: Use virtualization techniques that provide isolation between guest and host systems.
