CPUsec

CPUsec is a security vulnerability that affects certain Intel processors, particularly those based on the Intel microarchitecture code-named Skylake. The vulnerability allows a malicious actor to potentially access sensitive data, such as encryption keys or passwords, stored in the CPU's cache. The issue arises from a design flaw in the way the CPU handles speculative execution, a technique used to improve performance by predicting the outcome of branch instructions.

The vulnerability was discovered by researchers from Google's Project Zero and was publicly disclosed in January 2018. Intel has since released microcode updates to mitigate the risk, but the vulnerability remains a concern for users who have not applied the updates or are using affected processors that do not support the updates.

CPUsec is one of several vulnerabilities related to speculative execution, including Meltdown and Spectre. While the impact of CPUsec is generally considered lower than Meltdown and Spectre, it is still a significant security concern. Users are advised to keep their systems up to date with the latest microcode and software patches to protect against these vulnerabilities.