Micro-architectural Cache Side-Channel Attacks and Countermeasures

Abstract

Central Processing Unit (CPU) is considered as the brain of a computer. If the CPU has vulnerabilities, the security of software running on it is difficult to be guaranteed. In recent years, various micro-architectural cache side-channel attacks on the CPU such as Spectre and Meltdown have appeared. They exploit contention on internal components of the processor to leak secret information between processes. This newly evolving research area has aroused significant interest due to the broad application range and harmfulness of these attacks. This article reviews recent research progress on micro-architectural cache side-channel attacks and defenses. First, the various micro-architectural cache side-channel attacks are classified and discussed. Then, the corresponding countermeasures are summarized. Finally, the limitations and future development trends are prospected.