Mainstream chips are affected, and new reports indicate that attackers can adjust DVFS to steal user data

CTOnews.com, May 30 (Xinhua)-- the cyber security team recently reported that there are vulnerabilities in ARM-based processors such as Apple, Nvidia and AMD chips, and Intel and Apple Apple Silicon chips that allow attackers to steal data through complex means.

CTOnews.com attached this report paper [PDF], where researchers use dynamic frequency and voltage scaling (DVFS) mechanisms in existing chips to collect and analyze data from power sensors, temperature and frequency within the processor.

DVFS modulates frequency and power in real time, keeping heat dissipation and TDP at acceptable levels, providing the best power efficiency or performance for the task at hand.

The security team, funded by the Defense Advanced Research projects Agency (DARPA) and the US Air Force, can adjust the other two variables and implement different command attacks during the adjustment process by setting a constant value for one of the power, heat and working frequency.

The good news is that this kind of attack is expensive, technologically complex, and requires direct access to the system, and attackers will not launch such attacks against ordinary users.