Not every Intel, AMD or Arm processor is vulnerable to SLAM. The researchers’ affected categories depend on specific address-masking features and paging configurations. Their list includes existing AMD CPUs vulnerable to CVE-2020-12965, plus future Intel, AMD and Arm processors with particular features enabled. For most users, the practical next step is to identify the exact processor and follow applicable operating-system and system-manufacturer security guidance.
What is the SLAM attack?
SLAM stands for “Spectre based on Linear Address Masking.” VUSec describes it as a transient-execution attack that targets unmasked Spectre disclosure gadgets, particularly code that follows pointers. Speculative execution can leave traces in a processor’s microarchitectural state; the researchers use address-translation channels to infer secret data. Their demonstration leaked ASCII kernel data on an Ubuntu system emulating Intel LAM. It is a research proof of concept, not evidence that attackers are exploiting SLAM in the wild. VUSec’s SLAM project page
The work is described in the paper “Leaky Address Masking: Exploiting Unmasked Spectre Gadgets with Noncanonical Address Translation,” presented at IEEE S&P ’24, according to the VUSec project page and the project repository. The researchers say their method was designed to bypass SMAP. That research result should not be read as proof that every system using address masking is exposed.
Which CPUs may be affected?
VUSec’s categories are conditional: they depend on a processor’s address-masking feature and paging mode, not just the vendor logo. “Future” in the Intel, AMD and Arm entries describes the feature-enabled processor categories in the researchers’ list; it does not mean every product currently sold by those companies is vulnerable. VUSec
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| Vendor and platform category | Feature and configuration identified by VUSec | Published guidance or response |
|---|---|---|
| Existing AMD CPUs | Processors vulnerable to CVE-2020-12965; the SLAM category is not defined by a universal AMD model list on the project page. | AMD’s bulletin discusses transient execution of non-canonical loads and stores using only the lower 48 address bits, which may result in data leakage. AMD advises software vendors to analyze code and use LFENCE or established speculation mitigations where appropriate. AMD-SB-1010 |
| Future Intel CPUs | Intel Linear Address Masking (LAM), with either four- or five-level paging. | VUSec reported that Intel planned software guidance before releasing LAM-supporting processors, including deploying LAM jointly with LASS; Linux engineers prepared patches to disable LAM by default until further guidance. VUSec |
| Future AMD CPUs | Upper Address Ignore (UAI) and five-level paging. | The project page identifies this feature and paging combination as a conditional category; it does not establish that all current AMD processors meet it. VUSec |
| Future Arm CPUs | Top Byte Ignore (TBI) and five-level paging. | Arm says its assessment depends on the system and configuration. Without another vulnerability such as Spectre v2 or BHB, Arm considers SLAM risk low and says no further action is required under its stated assumptions. Arm Architecture Security Advisory |
What does AMD’s existing vulnerability mean?
AMD’s bulletin, AMD-SB-1010, describes behavior associated with CVE-2020-12965: some CPUs may transiently execute non-canonical memory accesses using only the lower 48 address bits, potentially exposing data. This is the existing-AMD condition cited by VUSec, rather than evidence that every AMD processor is affected. The bulletin’s mitigation guidance is aimed at software vendors: examine code for potential vulnerabilities and apply LFENCE or existing speculation defenses when appropriate. AMD security bulletin AMD-SB-1010
What should computer owners do?
There is no consumer setting or replacement component identified in the cited guidance as a general SLAM fix. Start with the exact system, then use updates and advice that apply to that system.
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- Identify your processor model. Check your operating system’s system-information screen or the system manufacturer’s specifications. A vendor name alone does not determine whether the relevant feature and paging configuration apply.
- Install supported operating-system and firmware updates. Use the update tools and security guidance provided for your operating system and computer model. Follow any vendor instructions specific to the processor and configuration.
- Check Intel guidance carefully if you have an Intel system. Intel’s processor guidance covers supported products, but says processors past end of servicing may not be listed or evaluated. A missing model in a current table therefore does not prove the processor is safe. Intel affected-processor guidance
- Developers and administrators should assess software exposure. AMD’s published guidance calls for code analysis and use of LFENCE or established speculation mitigations where applicable. Apply operating-system or firmware controls according to the relevant vendor’s and platform maintainer’s guidance.
Do not confuse SLAM with Intel advisory INTEL-SA-00828
Intel advisory INTEL-SA-00828 addresses CVE-2022-40982, a separate information-exposure issue involving microarchitectural state after transient execution in certain vector execution units. Intel recommends firmware updates for processors affected by that advisory. Its existence does not establish that a processor is vulnerable to SLAM, and its firmware advice should not be presented as a SLAM-specific fix. Intel advisory INTEL-SA-00828
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