Security Vulnerability: Power Consumption based side-channel attacks aka PLATYPUS (RAPL / CVE-2020-8694 / CVE-2020-8695)
This document (000019778) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.
Environment
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12
Situation
Security researchers have identified a new side-channel information leak attack against Intel CPU's.
Current Intel CPU's expose fine-grained power consumption meter values of various CPU components, which can be used as a information leak side channel to CPU operations with varying power consumption, including cryptographic operations.
Researchers have shown potential extraction of cryptographic key material in controlled settings when executing code on a non-loaded machine.
Current Intel CPU's expose fine-grained power consumption meter values of various CPU components, which can be used as a information leak side channel to CPU operations with varying power consumption, including cryptographic operations.
Researchers have shown potential extraction of cryptographic key material in controlled settings when executing code on a non-loaded machine.
Resolution
SUSE is addressing the two separate sets of area's affecting this issue as outlined below :
- CVE-2020-8694: The Linux kernel was exposing the power consumption counters to local users.
SUSE has released Linux kernel updates to restrict these registers to the "root" user only.
- CVE-2020-8695: The Intel CPU Microcode was updated to adjust the SGX enclaves power metering to be less fine-grained, avoiding the side channel leakage of information out of SGX enclaves.
SUSE has released Intel CPU Microcode updates to address this issue.
Cause
Status
Security Alert
Additional Information
For reference :
As a workaround for the following vulnerability:
- https://platypusattack.com/
- https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00389.html
As a workaround for the following vulnerability:
- CVE-2020-8694
On a running system the permissions of the power registers can be restricted to 'root' using the following command:
chmod og-rwx /sys/class/powercap/intel_rapl/*/energy_uj
Disclaimer
This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.
- Document ID:000019778
- Creation Date: 10-Nov-2020
- Modified Date:10-Nov-2020
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- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications
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