Bugtraq mailing list archives
Re: BoS: WARNING: Serious Pentium Bug
From: rcc () COMSECLTD COM (Robert C. Casas Ph.D.)
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 17:23:40 -0600
At 07:36 AM 11/8/97 +0100, you wrote:
There is a SERIOUS bug in all pentium CPUs. The following code will crash any machine running on a pentium CPU, MMX or no MMX, any speed, regardless of OS (crash as in instant seize, hard reboot the only cure): [SNIP]
FYI, this also crashes a 486 (iDX2-66 circa 1993 vintage)running MS-DOS 6.22. The effects on Pentiums (586) vary depending upon the family/stepping group, and OS (DOS/Win 3.x/Win95a or b, Win NT 4.0 w/SP3), and range from slow downs, erractic behavior, to hard system lock ups. Every machine/OS combination tested was affected. It is serious, mostly from a security perspective, though, since legitimate programmers would have no use for this snippit of code. Since this is a security issue, I agree with your position on replacements ( or some form of work around ) from Intel. The security risk scenarios are unpleasant to contemplate. The magnitude of the problem is enormous. Estimates suggest 80-90%+ computers are running Intel CPU's. I talked with an Intel representative today. They haven't yet established a policy on how to deal with the issue but I was told they are "aggressively" doing so and expect to have one set up within a week. The number to call at Intel to reach the group handling the bug issue is: 1-800-628-8686. -rcc ______________________________________________________________________ Robert C. Casas, Ph.D., COMSEC Ltd., Computer Security & Data Recovery Telephone: 847-729-3565 FAX: 847-729-3575 On CompuServe: GO COMSEC Email Address: rcc () comsecltd com Web site: http://www.comsecltd.com COMSEC Ltd., 1545 Waukegan Rd., Ste. 2, Glenview, IL, 60025-2166, USA ______________________________________________________________________
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- Re: BoS: WARNING: Serious Pentium Bug Robert C. Casas Ph.D. (Nov 11)