topic Re: When the microcode update for the 2nd/3rd generation (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge) for Spectre and Meltdown will be available? in Mobile and Desktop Processors

When the microcode update for the 2nd/3rd generation (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge) for Spectre and Meltdown will be available?

NKefa — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 13:51:57 GMT

When the microcode update for the 2nd generation and 3rd generation Intel Core (Sandy Bridge/Ivy Bridge) processors for patching the Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities will be available?

Microcode update is required for branch target injection mitigation (Spectre).

Moreoover, for example the Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2670QM CPU @ 2.20GHz (2nd Gen - Sandy Bridge) has also PCID capability, therefore the PCID performance optimization for Meltdown may be applicable.

Re: When the microcode update for the 2nd/3rd generation (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge) for Spectre and Meltdown will be available?

n_scott_pearson — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 21:14:13 GMT

Intel committed to delivering all fixes by the end of the month. Any requests for information about missing microcode, microcode orders, etc. short of then are premature and a waste of everyone's time.

Intel Customer Support is not going to be able to provide you with any better answers; all they can do it point you to the primary web page.

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Re: When the microcode update for the 2nd/3rd generation (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge) for Spectre and Meltdown will be available?

NKefa — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 09:16:24 GMT

Hi Scot, thank for your information.

Is it possible to clarify if the microcode update released at 1/8/2018 (https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27431/Linux-Processor-Microcode-Data-File?product=873 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27431/Linux-Processor-Microcode-Data-File?product=873) contains the Spectre and Meltdown patches ?

As I can understand not all processors listed in 1/8/2018 microcode have updated microcode for Spectre and Meltdown.

Re: When the microcode update for the 2nd/3rd generation (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge) for Spectre and Meltdown will be available?

n_scott_pearson — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 12:46:58 GMT

Yes, but not for all processors (basically a useless answer, I know).

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Re: When the microcode update for the 2nd/3rd generation (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge) for Spectre and Meltdown will be available?

NKefa — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 08:57:10 GMT

Is there an accurate OFFICIAL processor model list with which Microcode has been patched and which not, to stop making speculations ...?

Re: When the microcode update for the 2nd/3rd generation (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge) for Spectre and Meltdown will be available?

n_scott_pearson — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 21:19:48 GMT

Everything is detailed on the main page: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/facts-about-side-channel-analysis-and-intel-products.html Facts about The New Security Research Findings and Intel Products. If the information isn't there or isn't linked from there (or isn't there in the form you want), it isn't available.

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[Edit: I know that a by-model list isn't provided. Know that you can use the string names for each family to search for specific models in that family at http://ark.intel.com/ Intel® Product Specifications (ark.intel.com).

Re: When the microcode update for the 2nd/3rd generation (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge) for Spectre and Meltdown will be available?

NKefa — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 14:49:32 GMT

Well Intel decided to release a decent report at February 12 2018 that states that the microcode update for the Sandy Bridge desktop processors with CPUID 206A7 that includes the following Desktop/Mobile processors:

Intel® Core™ i3-21xx/23xx-T/M/E/UE Processor

Intel® Core™ i5-23xx/24xx/25xx-T/S/M/K Processor

Intel® Core™ i7-2xxx-S/K/M/QM/LE/UE/QE Processor

Intel® Core™ i7-29xxXM Extreme Processor

Intel® Celeron® Desktop G4xx, G5xx Processor

Intel® Celeron® Mobile 8xx, B8xx Processor

Intel® Pentium® Desktop 350, G6xx, G6xxT, G8xx Processor

Intel® Pentium® Mobile 9xx, B9xx Processo

Is for the moment at Pre-Beta stage.

https://newsroom.intel.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2018/02/microcode-update-guidance.pdf https://newsroom.intel.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2018/02/microcode-update-guidance.pdf

Re: When the microcode update for the 2nd/3rd generation (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge) for Spectre and Meltdown will be available?

n_scott_pearson — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 23:00:50 GMT

Thank you for posting this information.

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Re: When the microcode update for the 2nd/3rd generation (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge) for Spectre and Meltdown will be available?

SJord — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 07:46:35 GMT

Now it says in https://newsroom.intel.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2018/03/microcode-update-guidance.pdf https://newsroom.intel.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2018/03/microcode-update-guidance.pdf on page 12 for Sandy Bridge, e.q.

Intel® Core™ i7 - 2xxx - S/K/M/QM/LE/UE/QE Processor -> Production with New Production MCU Rev: 0x2D, but on the download page of the CPU (https://downloadcenter.intel.com/de/product/61275/Intel-Core-i7-2700K-Prozessor-8-MB-Cache-bis-zu-3-90-GHz- Downloads für Intel® Core™ i7-2700K Prozessor (8 MB Cache, bis zu 3,90 GHz) ) there is still only a microcode file from 17.11.2017. Why saying in production when there is no update to download?

Re: When the microcode update for the 2nd/3rd generation (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge) for Spectre and Meltdown will be available?

PLiv — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 15:34:12 GMT

I checked that page you linked and the microcode update is there now. For old systems like SandyBridge you can only update the microcode via https://labs.vmware.com/flings/vmware-cpu-microcode-update-driver VMWare CPU Microcode Update Driver at least until Microsoft updates https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4090007 KB4090007. Due to the way that driver install process was designed you need both Intel and AMD microcode stacks. Fortunately the instructions from the driver download page are well written saving you the hassle of searching for microcode stacks. What they don't specifically mention is that Linux* Processor Microcode Data File can be extracted with 7-Zip.

Re: When the microcode update for the 2nd/3rd generation (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge) for Spectre and Meltdown will be available?

MGorb1 — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 15:17:27 GMT

pal1000. Using VMWare CPU microcode updater won't help if you do not create Virtual Machines. That driver updates microcode too late for Windows kernel to make any effect in mitigation of Spectre v2/4 vulnerability.

Re: When the microcode update for the 2nd/3rd generation (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge) for Spectre and Meltdown will be available?

MGorb1 — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 06:29:19 GMT

Intel released all due microcodes on 7th August. Right now only for Linux. I suppose Microsoft will eventually follow suit.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28039/Linux-Processor-Microcode-Data-File?product=873 Download Linux* Processor Microcode Data File