Intel Security Issue Update: Progress Continues on Firmware Updates

    Intel Security Issue Update: Progress Continues on Firmware Updates


    Posted: 08 Feb 2018
    Intel continues to work closely with industry partners to protect customers against the security exploits disclosed by Google Project Zero. As I shared January 22, we identified the root cause of the reboot issue affecting the initial Broadwell and Haswell microcode updates. Since then, we’ve been focused on developing and validating updated microcode solutions for those and other impacted platforms.

    More: Security Exploits and Intel Products (Press Kit) | Security Research Findings (Intel.com)

    Earlier this week, we released production microcode updates for several Skylake-based platforms to our OEM customers and industry partners, and we expect to do the same for more platforms in the coming days. We also continue to release beta microcode updates so that customers and partners have the opportunity to conduct extensive testing before we move them into production.

    Ultimately, these updates will be made available in most cases through OEM firmware updates. I can’t emphasize enough how critical it is for everyone to always keep their systems up-to-date. Research tells us there is frequently a substantial lag between when people receive updates and when they actually implement them. In today’s environment, that must change. According to the Department of Homeland Security’s cyber-emergency unit, US-CERT, as many as 85 percent of all targeted attacks1 can be prevented with – among other things – regular system updates.

    This is especially top-of-mind because new categories of security exploits often follow a similar lifecycle. This lifecycle tends to include new derivatives of the original exploit as security researchers – or bad actors – direct their time and energy at it. We expect this new category of side channel exploits to be no different. We will, of course, work closely with the industry to address these situations if and when they arise, but it again underscores the importance of regular system updates, now and in the future.

    Finally, while we continue to make progress, I recognize there is still more work to do. To our industry partners, I thank you again for your support and partnership as we advance through this process. We remain as committed as ever to addressing these issues and providing transparent and timely information.

    Navin Shenoy
    Executive vice president and general manager of the Data Center Group at Intel Corporation


    Source: https://newsroom.intel.com/news/secu...mware-updates/
    Brink's Avatar Posted By: Brink
    08 Feb 2018



  1. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #1

    One of my PCs is a home build with an ASUS H97-Pro motherboard with an i5 4590. The test tool says it may have a vulnerability. It's not an OEM manufactured PC so I'm unsure how to correct it.
    Any suggestions?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,797
    Win 7 Ultimate, Win 8.1 Pro, Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon (All 64-Bit)
       #2

    mjf said:
    One of my PCs is a home build with an ASUS H97-Pro motherboard with an i5 4590. The test tool says it may have a vulnerability. It's not an OEM manufactured PC so I'm unsure how to correct it.
    Any suggestions?
    I'm using an i5 4690k with Z97 board from Gigabyte, and I've been checking everyday on their website for firmware updates, but I have a feeling they are not going to patch the BIOS for Haswell. They're only going as far back as X99, so I might be out of luck.

    If that's the case, I'll be very disappointed. Pretty poor support really as those chips/boards haven't been out that long.

    GIGABYTE BIOS update
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #3

    The problem is the OEMs are coming out with patches only for their very latest boards (one released in the past year) and apparently have no plans to patch older ones (I'm talking about you, ASUS; mutter, mutter, mumble, mumble).
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,797
    Win 7 Ultimate, Win 8.1 Pro, Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon (All 64-Bit)
       #4

    Lady Fitzgerald said:
    The problem is the OEMs are coming out with patches only for their very latest boards (one released in the past year) and apparently have no plans to patch older ones (I'm talking about you, ASUS; mutter, mutter, mumble, mumble).
    I'm hoping (with fingers tightly crossed) that some of these board manufacturers are going to start pushing out more updates for earlier boards after Intel's revised patches have been pushed out. Hopefully, it might just be down to the fact that some of the firmware updates were pulled due to issues.

    I'm trying to stay positive, but I haven't seen any mention of Haswell being patched other than info directly from Intel.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 7,100
    W7 home premium 32bit/W7HP 64bit/w10 tp insider ring
       #5

    I've got NO chance on either of my OLD rigs
    Both OEM - last BIOS updates issued 2009 and 2011.

    Think your gonna have to change your signature @Brds7t7

    Roy
      My Computer


  6. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #6

    The PC I use most of the time it is quite old now (but still a good performer). It is a Sandy Bridge Asus P8z68 Deluxe motherboard and an i7 2600k cpu. The test tool reports no vulnerabilities!
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,797
    Win 7 Ultimate, Win 8.1 Pro, Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon (All 64-Bit)
       #7

    torchwood said:
    I've got NO chance on either of my OLD rigs
    Both OEM - last BIOS updates issued 2009 and 2011.

    Think your gonna have to change your signature @Brds7t7

    Roy
    Nobody is allowed to walk past Roy's house - unless they're wearing a hard hat!

    I'm in the same boat with a couple of older PCs I use around the house. They aren't used for anything heavy duty, just for testing.
    No way those are going to get updated, I keep those offline mostly though.
      My Computer


 

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