Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 12:26:17 -0500 From: Christopher Masto <chris@netmonger.net> To: jerry_hicks@bigfoot.com Cc: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Pentium bug (really) Message-ID: <19971112122617.23109@netmonger.net> In-Reply-To: <3469E12E.7C08C8C3@ix.netcom.com>; from Jerry Hicks on Wed, Nov 12, 1997 at 12:02:38PM -0500 References: <64cier$a60$1@schenectady.netmonger.net> <3469E12E.7C08C8C3@ix.netcom.com>
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On Wed, Nov 12, 1997 at 12:02:38PM -0500, Jerry Hicks wrote: > Christopher Masto wrote: > > > > I either joined this mailing list too late or joined the wrong mailing > > lists. Since I'm in charge of an ISP that provides shell accounts, I > > am on the brink of making a rather important decision. I am pretty > > sick of Intel, so replacing our P166s with K6s is somewhat attractive. > > Still, BSDI claims that Intel has helped them to develop a workaround > > (which they're not at liberty to explain in detail). Even if Intel > > isn't being cooperative with the free software community, it is > > plausible that "a workaround exists" implies "someone will find it and > > publish it". > > > > Of course, this is all moot if I missed the announcement that FreeBSD > > already has the same fix. Anyway, the big question is.. does it or > > might it in the near future? > > Seems to me they would have to examine the executable for the pattern in > question before executing it... > > A malicious person could subvert that quite easily, right? > > Skeptical, > > Jerry Hicks > jerry_hicks@bigfoot.com The fact is that they have a workaround. The bug is bizzare, the workaround may be just as bizzare - perhaps the failure doesn't occur given certain register settings that don't affect anything else.. I don't know, and I'm not particularly interested in speculating on how it works. I would consider getting the patch and disassembling it, but at this time I'd rather not paint myself into a legal corner. -- = Christopher Masto = chris@netmonger.net = http://www.netmonger.net/ = = NetMonger Communications = finger for PGP key = $19.95/mo unlimited access = = Director of Operations = (516) 221-6664 = mailto:info@netmonger.net = v---(cut here)---v -- yourname@some.dumb.host.com "Keep in mind that anything Kibo says makes a great sig." -- Kibo ^---(cut here)---^
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