New Attacks Target Apple M-Series Chips, Exposing Data Risks

New Attacks Target Apple M-Series Chips, Exposing Data Risks

New Side-Channel Attacks Target Apple Silicon: SLAP and FLOP Vulnerabilities Exposed

A groundbreaking study by researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Ruhr University Bochum has unveiled two significant side-channel attacks targeting Apple silicon, raising concerns about the security of sensitive information in popular web browsers like Safari and Google Chrome. These newly discovered vulnerabilities, known as SLAP (Data Speculation Attacks via Load Address Prediction) and FLOP (Breaking the Apple M3 CPU via False Load Output Predictions), could potentially allow malicious actors to exploit weaknesses in Apple’s processors.

In May and September 2024, Apple was alerted to these vulnerabilities, which are reminiscent of the previously reported iLeakage attack and build upon the well-known Spectre exploits. The essence of these vulnerabilities lies in speculative execution, a performance optimization technique in modern processors that aims to enhance efficiency by predicting the control flow of applications.

Understanding Speculative Execution and Its Risks

Speculative execution allows CPUs to predict which instructions to execute ahead of time. When a prediction is incorrect, the CPU discards any transient instructions executed during the mispredicted state. However, SLAP and FLOP take advantage of the traces left behind by this process, enabling attackers to infer sensitive data even after the CPU has reverted to its previous state.

  • SLAP targets Apple chips like the M2 and A15, exploiting the Load Address Predictor (LAP). If the LAP makes an incorrect prediction about the next memory address, it can lead to unauthorized computations on out-of-bounds data, potentially exposing sensitive email content and browsing behaviors.

  • FLOP, affecting newer M3, M4, and A17 chips, leverages the Load Value Predictor (LVP) to bypass critical memory safety checks. This vulnerability could allow attackers to access sensitive data such as location history, calendar events, and credit card information stored in memory.

Implications of SLAP and FLOP for Users

These vulnerabilities could have serious implications for users of Apple products. By exploiting SLAP and FLOP, attackers could:

  • Access sensitive information from web browsers like Safari and Chrome.
  • Recover personal data, including email content and browsing history.
  • Bypass security measures that protect against unauthorized memory access.

The discovery of these attacks comes shortly after a separate report from Korea University detailing a vulnerability that breaks kernel address space layout randomization (KASLR) on macOS for Apple silicon, further highlighting the need for enhanced security measures in modern computing architectures.

The Ongoing Fight Against Side-Channel Attacks

New research continues to shed light on vulnerabilities within modern processors. For instance, a recent study identified an attack called TagBleed, which exploits tagged translation lookaside buffers (TLBs) to break KASLR protections. This highlights the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats and the importance of staying informed about potential risks.

As the tech community responds to these findings, users are encouraged to remain vigilant about their online security and keep their devices updated with the latest security patches.

Stay Informed and Secure

For those concerned about the implications of SLAP and FLOP, it’s crucial to stay updated on security best practices and emerging threats. Follow our articles for more insights into cybersecurity and technology news. What are your thoughts on these vulnerabilities? Share your opinions in the comments below!

For more information on speculative execution and side-channel attacks, check out these resources from Krebs on Security and The Hacker News.

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