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Daniel Gruss

In this course, we build upon the knowledge we built up so far on cache side-channel attacks as well as the side-channel and security mindset. We will then go beyond software-based side-channel attacks and study transient-execution attacks. Transient execution is a mechanism present in modern processors, where the processor performs operations, often speculatively, that it later on has to undo. However, the side effects of these operations remain and leak data (not meta-data!) to the attacker. Similar to the prior courses, we provide you with the experience of discovering these attacks yourself in a group of students, living in a shared appartment. We again dive deeper into the microarchitecture and will now understand out-of-order pipelines and how their behavior introduces leakage. We will then use side channels to exfiltrate data and transmit it to an attacker-controlled application. We will learn about the most prominent of these attacks: Meltdown, Spectre, Foreshadow, and ZombieLoad. You will implement some of these attacks yourself, which requires skills in reading and writing C code. You will learn which attacks are relevant in the concrete native and virtualized environments you are working with, contributing to your risk assessment skills. In a set of small exercises, you will implement some of these attacks and show that you understood out-of-order execution pipelines, transient-execution attacks and potential mitigations against them.

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What's inside

Learning objective

- understand the difference between side-channel attacks and transient-execution attacks- build up the ability to recognize which software may be exposed to transient-execution vulnerabilities- understand the immense security risks posed by transient-execution attacks and how these attacks can be mitigated

Syllabus

- Episode 1: Haunted by Spectre
Speculative behaviors can leak secrets from other programs.
- Episode 2: Daniel has a Meltdown
Computers sometimes leak secrets before realizing they shouldn't.
Read more
- Episode 3: Trust Issues
We investigate trusted execution environments for isolation.
- Episode 4: Foreshadow
We investigate transient-execution attacks on trusted execution environments.
- Episode 5: Noise is just someone else's data
Remaining noise turns out to still be data leakage.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Guides learners who are already familiar with side-channel attacks as well as the side-channel and security mindset
Taught by Daniel Gruss, who holds respect in the field of side-channel attacks
Examines skills, knowledge, and tools that may be relevant in ethical hacking or other related security fields
Introduces out-of-order pipelines, a relatively recent innovation in chip design, increasing its relevance in the field of security
Requires students to read and write C code

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Transient-Execution Attacks: Understanding Meltdown and Spectre with these activities:
Review C Programming Concepts
A solid understanding of C programming is necessary to fully grasp the implementation of transient-execution attacks.
Browse courses on C Programming
Show steps
  • Review the basics of C programming, including data types, variables, and control flow.
  • Practice writing simple C programs to reinforce your understanding.
Read & Review: Microcomputer Systems: The 8086 / 8088 Family: Architecture, Programming and Design
Review the basics of computer architecture, which is critical for understanding transient-execution attacks.
Show steps
  • Read Chapters 1-3 to understand basic computer architecture.
  • Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Form a Study Group to Discuss Transient-execution Attacks
Discussing transient-execution attacks with peers will help you clarify your understanding and learn from others' perspectives.
Show steps
  • Find a group of classmates who are interested in forming a study group.
  • Set regular meeting times and discuss topics related to transient-execution attacks.
  • Take turns presenting your understanding of different attacks and facilitating discussions.
Five other activities
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Show all eight activities
Follow Tutorials on Foreshadow Attacks
Following tutorials on Foreshadow attacks will help you gain a practical understanding of these attacks and their implications for trusted execution environments.
Show steps
  • Search for tutorials on Foreshadow attacks.
  • Select a tutorial that aligns with your knowledge level.
  • Follow the tutorial steps and complete the exercises.
Solve Practice Problems on Meltdown and Spectre
Practice solving problems related to Meltdown and Spectre to solidify your understanding of these attacks.
Browse courses on Meltdown
Show steps
  • Review the course materials on Meltdown and Spectre.
  • Solve the practice problems provided in the course.
  • Check your answers against the provided solutions.
Create a Course Summary
Creating a course summary will help you synthesize and retain the key concepts of the course.
Show steps
  • Review your notes, assignments, and readings.
  • Identify the main topics and concepts covered in the course.
  • Write a concise summary that outlines these topics and concepts.
Create a Visual Explanation of a Transient-execution Attack
Creating a visual explanation will force you to deeply understand the inner workings and mechanics of a transient execution attack.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific transient-execution attack to explain.
  • Research the attack and gather relevant information.
  • Create a visual representation of the attack using a tool like diagrams, flowcharts, or animations.
  • Write a brief description of the attack and how your visual representation illustrates it.
Build a Demonstration of a ZombieLoad Attack
Building a demonstration will test your ability to implement and execute a transient-execution attack and provide a tangible way to showcase your understanding.
Show steps
  • Plan the demonstration, including the attack scenario and the tools you will use.
  • Implement the attack in a controlled environment.
  • Capture the results of the attack for presentation.
  • Create a presentation or documentation to explain the demonstration.

Career center

Learners who complete Transient-Execution Attacks: Understanding Meltdown and Spectre will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Security Researcher
Security researchers develop new ways to protect computer systems and networks from attacks. They study the latest threats and vulnerabilities and develop new technologies and techniques to counter them. This course can help security researchers understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to develop mitigations for them. This knowledge can help security researchers to develop more effective security solutions.
Security Auditor
Security auditors assess the security of computer systems and networks. They review security policies and procedures, and they test systems and networks for vulnerabilities. This course can help security auditors understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to audit for them. This knowledge can help security auditors to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in systems and networks.
Information Security Manager
Information security managers oversee the security of an organization's computer systems and networks. They develop and implement security policies and procedures, and they manage the organization's security team. This course can help information security managers understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to mitigate them. This knowledge can help information security managers to protect their organizations from these attacks.
Ethical Hacker
Ethical hackers use their knowledge of computer security to help organizations find and fix vulnerabilities in their systems and networks. This course can help ethical hackers understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to exploit them. This knowledge can help ethical hackers to develop more effective ways to test systems for vulnerabilities.
Computer Security Analyst
Computer security analysts monitor computer systems and networks for security breaches and take steps to prevent them. They also investigate security incidents and develop security plans and procedures. This course can help computer security analysts understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to mitigate them. This knowledge can help computer security analysts to protect their organizations from these attacks.
Network Security Engineer
Network security engineers design, implement, and maintain the security of computer networks. They work to protect networks from attacks, such as viruses, malware, and hackers. This course can help network security engineers understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to mitigate them. This knowledge can help network security engineers to protect their networks from these attacks.
Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst
Cyber threat intelligence analysts collect and analyze information about cyber threats. They work to identify and track threats, and to develop strategies to mitigate them. This course can help cyber threat intelligence analysts understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to track them. This knowledge can help cyber threat intelligence analysts to develop more effective strategies to protect organizations from cyber threats.
Incident Responder
Incident responders investigate and respond to security incidents. They work to contain the damage caused by an incident and to restore systems and networks to normal operation. This course can help incident responders understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to respond to them. This knowledge can help incident responders to more effectively handle security incidents.
Cybersecurity Engineer
Cybersecurity engineers design, implement, and maintain cybersecurity solutions. They work to protect organizations from cyber attacks, such as viruses, malware, and hackers. This course can help cybersecurity engineers understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to mitigate them. This knowledge can help cybersecurity engineers to develop more effective cybersecurity solutions.
Digital Forensics Analyst
Digital forensics analysts investigate and analyze digital evidence. They work to recover and analyze data from computers and other devices. This course can help digital forensics analysts understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to investigate them. This knowledge can help digital forensics analysts to more effectively investigate and prosecute cybercrimes.
Penetration Tester
Penetration testers look for vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. They use their knowledge of how computers work to find ways to break into systems and exploit vulnerabilities. This course can help penetration testers understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to exploit them. This knowledge can help penetration testers to develop new and more effective ways to test systems for vulnerabilities.
Malware Analyst
Malware analysts investigate and analyze malware, such as viruses, worms, and trojans. They work to understand how malware works and how to detect and remove it. This course can help malware analysts understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to detect and mitigate them. This knowledge can help malware analysts to develop more effective ways to protect systems from malware.
Software Developer
Software developers design, develop, and test software applications. They work to ensure that software applications are secure and reliable. This course can help software developers understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to mitigate them. This knowledge can help software developers to develop more secure software applications.
Computer Scientist
Computer scientists research and develop new computer technologies. They work to solve problems in areas such as artificial intelligence, computer security, and data science. This course can help computer scientists understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to develop new ways to mitigate them. This knowledge can help computer scientists to develop more secure computer technologies.
Systems Administrator
Systems administrators manage and maintain computer systems and networks. They work to ensure that systems and networks are running smoothly and securely. This course can help systems administrators understand how transient-execution attacks work and how to mitigate them. This knowledge can help systems administrators to protect their systems and networks from these attacks.

Reading list

We've selected eight books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Transient-Execution Attacks: Understanding Meltdown and Spectre.
Covers a wide range of web security topics, including side-channel attacks and transient-execution attacks. It provides practical guidance for web developers and security professionals on how to protect web applications from these threats.
This hands-on guide to malware analysis includes a section on transient-execution attacks, providing practical examples of how these attacks can be used by malware to compromise systems. It valuable resource for those interested in understanding the real-world implications of these attacks.
Delves into the technical details of exploitation techniques, including those used in transient-execution attacks, providing a deeper understanding of how these attacks work and how to defend against them.
This comprehensive textbook on security engineering includes a chapter on side-channel attacks, providing a high-level overview of transient-execution attacks and their implications for system security. It valuable resource for those interested in understanding the broader context of these attacks.
This textbook covers advanced topics in microprocessor and microcontroller architecture, including out-of-order execution pipelines and speculative execution. It provides a good foundation for understanding the microarchitectural features that can be exploited by transient-execution attacks.
Covers software security testing techniques, including methods for detecting transient-execution vulnerabilities. It provides practical guidance for software developers and testers on how to identify and fix these vulnerabilities in their code.
This widely used textbook on computer security includes a chapter on side-channel attacks, providing a general overview of transient-execution attacks and their potential impact on system security. It good starting point for those new to the subject.

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