CVE-2022-40982

CVE-2022-40982, also known as "Downfall," is a significant software vulnerability discovered in Intel processors. Revealed by Google researchers, this side-channel attack targets memory optimization within Intel Core processors from the 6th to 11th generations, and Xeon Intel x86-64 CPUs from the 1st through 4th generations. The flaw exposes these chips to potential security breaches via local access, putting a vast range of devices at risk. The Downfall vulnerability was publicly disclosed on August 8, 2023, following intensive research and analysis. It is part of a series of newly discovered vulnerabilities affecting CPUs, including Zenbleed (CVE-2023-20593) which affects AMD's Zen 2 architecture-based processors, and others named Collide+Power (CVE-2023-20583) and Inception (CVE-2023-20569). These vulnerabilities represent a broad spectrum of threats to CPU security, with Downfall being particularly concerning due to its impact on widely used Intel processors. Also known as Gather Data Sampling (GDS), Downfall presents a serious challenge to the security of affected Intel processors. The vulnerability lies in the design and implementation of the software, creating a potential avenue for attackers to exploit. As such, it is critical for users of the affected processors to apply any available patches or updates to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.