Google engineer Daniel Mogimi has identified a critical vulnerability in Intel processors that could allow attackers to access sensitive user data. In this respect informs wired portal.
Mogimi developed an attack method called Downfall and with it managed to break into protected areas of system memory. Thus, it was able to access passwords, private messages, encryption keys and other sensitive data.
According to the researcher, the vulnerability affects millions of computers worldwide. It is available in Skylake, Tiger Lake, and Ice Lake processors that Intel released from 2015 to 2020. Existing Alder Lake, Raptor Lake, and Sapphire Rapids chips were unaffected.
Intel representatives said they have already released an update to fix the Downfall vulnerability.
This isn’t the first time user-threatening vulnerabilities have been identified in Intel processors. Specter and Meltdown were reported in 2018, which allowed hackers to access sensitive information.
Earlier hackers learned to play WhatsApp user data.