CVE-2017-5715, also known as Spectre, is a medium-severity vulnerability that affects systems with microprocessors using speculative execution and indirect branch prediction. This vulnerability may allow unauthorized disclosure of information to an attacker with local user access via a side-channel analysis. The vulnerability is part of a larger group of CPU hardware vulnerabilities known as Meltdown and Spectre, which exploit CPU hardware implementations to extract sensitive information.

How do I know if I'm affected?

To determine if you're affected by the vulnerability, also known as Spectre, you'll need to check if your system uses microprocessors with speculative execution and indirect branch prediction. This vulnerability impacts various types of systems, including those with Intel and ARM Cortex processors, as well as certain software configurations like Ubuntu Linux, Debian Linux, and Oracle products. If your system falls into one of these categories, it's possible that you're affected by this vulnerability.

What should I do if I'm affected?

If you're affected by the vulnerability, it's important to take action to protect your system. Start by updating your system's software and firmware to the latest versions, as these updates often include patches for known vulnerabilities. Additionally, follow any specific guidance provided by your device manufacturer or software vendor. Keep your antivirus software up-to-date and enable any available security features to help protect your system from potential attacks.

Is this in CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog?

The CVE-2017-5715 vulnerability, also known as Spectre Variant 2, is indeed listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog. To address this vulnerability, it's essential to apply updates to your operating system, CPU microcode, and applications. Keep in mind that the full extent of this class of attack is still under investigation, and mitigations may continue to evolve over time.

Weakness enumeration

The weakness enumeration for this vulnerability is categorized as CWE-203, is an Observable Discrepancy, which may allow unauthorized disclosure of information through side-channel analysis. Mitigations include software updates and following vendor guidance.

For more details

CVE-2017-5715, also known as Spectre Variant 2, is a medium-severity vulnerability that affects systems with microprocessors using speculative execution and indirect branch prediction. By staying informed and applying necessary updates, users can mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability. For a comprehensive understanding of the vulnerability, including its description, severity, technical details, and known affected software configurations, visit the NVD page or the links below.

• Security update for ucode-intel - openSUSE Security Announce

• Security Notice: CPU Speculative Side Channel Vulnerabilities

• CPU hardware vulnerable to side-channel attacks

• Mitigations landing for new class of timing attack - Mozilla Security Blog