MIT Researchers Uncover Hardware-Driven Vulnerability Targeting ARM Chips
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have identified a new attack called PACMAN that hinges on a hardware weakness found in Apple’s M1 family of processors. The discovery suggests a pathway for attackers to potentially gain unfettered access to the central components of a computer’s operating system. This finding has been reported by the tech analysis site Tom’s Hardware.
The PACMAN technique leverages a blend of software and hardware methods to seize control of a system while leaving little to no trace. Unlike earlier flaws that were primarily software-based, this vulnerability exploits a physical mechanism embedded within the processor stack, making remediation far more challenging for affected devices.
Because the vulnerability is rooted in hardware, standard software patches would not fully mitigate the risk. There is a potential that other ARM-based chips beyond the M1 line, including Apple’s newer M2 processor, could be vulnerable as well. MIT researchers have not yet completed full testing across all ARM designs, and further evaluations are anticipated.
In response to the findings, CSAIL has informed Apple about the potential weakness. Additional details concerning the vulnerability are expected to emerge at a major international venue for computer architecture research, where researchers will discuss the implications and possible mitigation strategies for affected hardware.
Previously, a separate report noted a vulnerability in devices powered by certain Unisoc chips that could disrupt device communications. While not the same flaw, the example underscores a broader pattern where hardware-level weaknesses can enable new attack vectors that software protections alone may fail to address.