Mitigation for "Meltdown" on 32-bit (x86_32) is available - please update 'SpectreAndMeltdown' on Ubuntu Wiki.

Registered by daniel CURTIS

Hello.

Linux v4.19 kernel, finally have a Kernel Page-Table Isolation, which means that 'PTI' (previously known as 'KAISER') support for x86_32 architecture is available. 'PTI' provides protection against attack, known as "Meltdown" (CVE-2017-5754), that breaks isolation between user applications and the operating system etc. However, this protection - needed for mitigation - wasn't available on 32-bit x86 systems. Until now.

In my opinion, that is something we really need to be looking at (I mean "Meltdown" mitigation for x86_32 architecture etc.). We should also give attention to the "SpectreAndMeltdown" wiki page and especially "Current Status" section. This chapter is a cause of particular anxiety, and it should be corrected, because contains such an information:

✗ No fix is currently available for Meltdown on 32-bit x86; moving to a 64-bit kernel is the currently recommended mitigation.

However, that's not true anymore. I think, that it could literally, I mean "Current Status" chapter, be changed and updated with a proper informations etc. I would like to help to correct this situation and suggest something. So here are some ideas:

✓ 32-bit x86 finally have Kernel Page-Table Isolation support to mitigate "Meltdown" attack. It is available in Linux v4.19. 'PTI' will be backported to all supported Ubuntu releases.

✓ Fix/mitigation for Meltdown on 32-bit x86 is already available in Linux v4.19 and - in nearly future - will be backported to all Ubuntu supported releases.

These are just my ideas. Honestly, I think, that since 'PTI' is available for x86_32 architecture, "SpectreAndMeltdown" ("Current Status" section) wiki page should be updated quickly, because that site should not mislead Users. It should not longer be possible to deceive them with incorrect statement. That's wrong.

Thanks, best regards.

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daniel CURTIS
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