Description
Hyper-Threading technology, as used in FreeBSD and other operating systems that are run on Intel Pentium and other processors, allows local users to use a malicious thread to create covert channels, monitor the execution of other threads, and obtain sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, via a timing attack on memory cache misses.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | openssl +2 | 0.9.7a-43.2 | RHSA-2005:800, RHSA-2005:476 |
| RHEL 4 | openssl096b | 0.9.6b-22.3 | RHSA-2005:800, RHSA-2005:476 |
| RHEL 3 | openssl +2 | 0.9.7a-33.15 | RHSA-2005:800, RHSA-2005:476 |
| RHEL 3 | openssl096b | 0.9.6b-16.22.3 | RHSA-2005:800, RHSA-2005:476 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2005:800 Red Hat Security Advisory: openssl security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2005:476 Red Hat Security Advisory: openssl security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
References
- VU#911878 third-party-advisory
- 18165 third-party-advisory
- http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg1SSRVHMCHMC_C081516_754
- [freebsd-hackers] 20050304 Re: FW:FreeBSD hiding security stuff mailing-list
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9747 vdb-entry signature
- ADV-2005-3002 vdb-entry
- 15348 third-party-advisory
- 12724 vdb-entry
- [freebsd-security] 20050304 [Fwd: Re: FW:FreeBSD hiding security stuff] mailing-list
- RHSA-2005:476 vendor-advisory
- 1013967 vdb-entry
- ADV-2005-0540 vdb-entry
- http://www.daemonology.net/papers/htt.pdf
- RHSA-2005:800 vendor-advisory
- http://www.daemonology.net/hyperthreading-considered-harmful/
- 101739 vendor-advisory
- [openbsd-misc] 20050304 Re: FreeBSD hiding security stuff mailing-list