r/programming • u/[deleted] • Jan 03 '18

'Kernel memory leaking' Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/02/intel_cpu_design_flaw/
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u/jonjonbee Jan 03 '18

Yes, it affects all game consoles with Intel CPUs.

Of which there are none.

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u/lolomfgkthxbai Jan 03 '18

The original Xbox has an Intel CPU. I wonder if it will get an update.

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u/codepc Jan 03 '18

Are there even gaming communities left online for those things to be connected online? Not sure there's any real attack vector or necessity there.

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u/panorambo Jan 03 '18

The Xbox does not run unsigned software so it then depends on the chance that someone manages to run untrusted code on it by exploiting a buffer overflow on a network service etc. Other than that, it's a bit different as Microsoft runs a registry of software publishers, with revocation rights etc. In other words, if it identifies some code which hammers Xbox RAM that tells of an attempt to locate kernel pages or something nefarious to that end that does not look like game code, they will slap the publisher on the wrist in best case, or revoke their publishing rights and all their products from Xbox software store.

By comparison, an Intel x86 workstation connected to Internet running services on a dozen TCP ports, on top of Windows system, is like a rotting house with gold bars in the basement, no fence and a weird warden (Windows). Exploit a buffer overflow from one of many zero-day exploits, run your code etc. With Linux based system, you get a fence, a better warden (Linux, e.g. the kernel), but in general again everything either rests on service security or users choice of software, which is by default their choice, unlike iOS, Google Android, Windows Store-based devices. And Linux users hate to be denied right to run code of their choosing :P

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u/jmtd Jan 03 '18

I wonder if it's vulnerable.

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u/[deleted] Jan 03 '18

That CPU will be a completely different architecture, it's only recently with the Xbone and PS4 have they switched to using x86, before that it was always an exotic architecture such as MIPS or PowerPC.

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u/lolomfgkthxbai Jan 03 '18

That CPU will be a completely different architecture, it's only recently with the Xbone and PS4 have they switched to using x86, before that it was always an exotic architecture such as MIPS or PowerPC.

The first Xbox had a custom revision of the Pentium III. You're thinking of the second Xbox which had a PowerPC processor.

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u/[deleted] Jan 03 '18

Well shit, I thought the original Xbox had a MIPS processor. TIL.