Meltdown (Rogue Data Cache Load)
CVE-2017-5754, commonly known as Meltdown and also referred to as Variant 3 or Rogue Data Cache Load (RDCL), is a speculative-execution side-channel vulnerability in affected microprocessors, most notably Intel CPUs and some ARM designs such as Cortex-A75. The flaw arises because, on affected processors, permission checks for privileged memory access are not enforced early enough to prevent transient execution from loading kernel-resident data into the CPU cache. Although the illegal access is eventually blocked architecturally, the transiently accessed data influences cache state and can then be recovered through cache timing side-channel techniques. The provided content describes this as allowing a user-mode process to speculatively access virtual memory as if it were running in kernel mode, enabling unauthorized disclosure of kernel memory to a local attacker.
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Impact, mitigation & remediation
What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.
Impact
What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.
Mitigation
If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.
Remediation
Patch, then assume compromise.
Exploits
1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos (4 hidden).
This repository is a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit for the Meltdown vulnerability (CVE-2017-5754) affecting certain CPUs and the Linux kernel. The structure consists of two main directories: 'cache' (demonstrating cache timing) and 'meltdown' (the actual exploit). The 'meltdown' directory contains the main exploit code, which uses speculative execution and cache side-channel techniques to read arbitrary memory from protected kernel space. The exploit is run from the command line, requiring the user to specify a memory address and size. The code is written in C and is intended for research and demonstration purposes, not for weaponization. No network or remote endpoints are involved; the attack vector is purely local, requiring code execution privileges on the target system.
Affected products & vendors
Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.
Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.
Recent activity
42 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
A speculative execution side-channel vulnerability affecting multiple CPU architectures, allowing unauthorized data disclosure across privilege boundaries.
A CPU speculative execution vulnerability for which Google references KPTI-based mitigations, including Android and Chrome OS patching.
The Meltdown speculative execution vulnerability referenced in mitigation guidance.
A critical Intel CPU vulnerability (Meltdown) with weaponized and PoC exploits, high likelihood of exploitation.
The version that knows your environment.
Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.
Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.