AMD сonfirms a serious issue in Ryzen processors

AMD has confirmed the existence of a vulnerability in its processors, with information about it leaking before the official release of a fix. The issue involves processor microcode and is presumed to affect Ryzen models. However, AMD has yet to disclose details about which specific chips are vulnerable or how the flaw manifests.

The vulnerability is tied to the verification of the digital signature of microcode, theoretically allowing unauthorized code to be loaded onto the processor. Microcode essentially controls the basic functions of the processor and is loaded during system boot. If the signature verification mechanism is compromised, attackers could alter the processor's operation or render it inoperable.

The vulnerability became public knowledge thanks to a researcher from Google Project Zero. He discovered that Asus had released a beta BIOS version for gaming motherboards mentioning a fix for the AMD microcode issue. After the publication of this information, the mention of the vulnerability was removed, but by that time, it had already caught the public’s attention.

AMD stated that it is aware of the issue and is working to address it in collaboration with partners and customers. The company recommended that users adhere to standard security measures, including using only verified software and updates.