{"id":2772,"date":"2018-01-15T19:06:27","date_gmt":"2018-01-15T19:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ptp.cloud\/ptp\/?p=2772"},"modified":"2025-06-25T23:41:35","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T03:41:35","slug":"meltdown-spectre-vulnerabilities-threat-hunting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ptp.cloud\/meltdown-spectre-vulnerabilities-threat-hunting\/","title":{"rendered":"Meltdown and Spectre Vulnerabilities\u2014and How to Spot Them"},"content":{"rendered":"[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ptp.cloud\/ptp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/meltdown-spectre-post-feature.jpg” title_text=”meltdown-spectre-post-feature” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n

Two processor vulnerabilities are currently in the news, and here\u2019s a summary on the vulnerabilities and how customers may be affected, in addition to how Pinnacle\u2019s threat hunting services detect and mitigate risks in these exploits.<\/p>\n

In a nutshell:<\/strong>
Meltdown allows a program to access the memory of other programs as well as the OS.
Spectre allows an attacker to trick error-free programs into leaking privileged data.<\/p>\n

Spectre affects all of the processors, whereas Meltdown hits Intel and ARM processors.<\/p>\n

Although these are new threats, current endpoint protections that perform memory anomaly scanning, like Cybereason<\/a> or Cylance<\/a>, may detect\/prevent these memory exploits and feed our PeakPlus\u2122 SECURE<\/a> Platform with specifics.<\/p>\n

The method of launching these attacks is similar to, if not exactly the same as, landing page exploits used for ransomware or exploit kits. We would expect to see Spectre and Meltdown use the same common attack vectors. Examples would be alerts similar to landing page or phishing attacks.<\/p>\n