USN-4985-1: Intel Microcode vulnerabilities

9 June 2021

Several security issues were fixed in Intel Microcode.

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Details

It was discovered that some Intel processors may not properly invalidate
cache entries used by Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O
(VT-d). This may allow a local user to perform a privilege escalation
attack. (CVE-2020-24489)

Joseph Nuzman discovered that some Intel processors may not properly apply
EIBRS mitigations (originally developed for CVE-2017-5715) and hence may
allow unauthorized memory reads via sidechannel attacks. A local attacker
could use this to expose sensitive information, including kernel
memory. (CVE-2020-24511)

Travis Downs discovered that some Intel processors did not properly flush
cache-lines for trivial-data values. This may allow an unauthorized user to
infer the presence of these trivial-data-cache-lines via timing sidechannel
attacks. A local attacker could use this to expose sensitive
information. (CVE-2020-24512)

It was discovered that certain Intel Atom processors could expose memory
contents stored in microarchitectural buffers. A local attacker could use
this to expose sensitive information. (CVE-2020-24513)

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Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.

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Update instructions

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu 21.04
Ubuntu 20.10
Ubuntu 20.04
Ubuntu 18.04
Ubuntu 16.04
Ubuntu 14.04

After a standard system update you need to reboot your computer to make
all the necessary changes.

References

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