meltdown

Meltdown is a significant vulnerability, a flaw in software design or implementation that was discovered in 2018. This vulnerability, along with Spectre, exposed computer memory as an easy target for hackers to inject malicious code and steal data. These vulnerabilities could be triggered when software is installed or updated, leading to potential global IT meltdowns. For instance, a corrupted update file called on during the boot process of a device could trigger a meltdown. Meltdown and Spectre used side-channel attacks to leak sensitive data, including usernames and passwords, highlighting the fragility of digital infrastructure. Various incidents have occurred due to this vulnerability. One notable event was when Optus' network experienced a 16-hour-long outage; its parent company Singtel distanced itself from claims that a routine upgrade at the parent company contributed to the meltdown. In another case, Delta Air Lines sued CrowdStrike over a system meltdown that occurred in July. Furthermore, the collapse of Three Arrows sparked a crypto meltdown last year. The discovery of the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities has prompted efforts to improve cyber defense. Researchers have been working on building novel side-channel attacks from transient-execution attacks to understand and mitigate such threats better. The Caliptra specification aims to protect against vulnerabilities like Meltdown and Spectre, which exposed confidential user data to hackers. However, one researcher who helped unveil the hardware bug suggests that these chip vulnerabilities could have been resolved much earlier had chip makers taken reports from academic researchers more seriously.