If idle resources are available, the CPU “speculates” about what it would be like to go down the path it thinks is the most likely next choice. When it reaches a fork in the road, the CPU has to wait for the program to tell it which way to go.

Think of a program’s code as a long, branching path, and your CPU runs along the path the code tells it to follow. That’s where “speculative execution” comes into play. That includes processing things out of order from which they were received. To make sure everything works out properly and to minimize the effects of latency as much as possible, processors employ a number of clever tricks to stay ahead of the game when it comes to executing instructions. Each of these flaws rely on exploiting problems surrounding a special type of work done by the Intel processor called “speculative execution.” It helps to understand how speculative execution functions so we can paint a picture of just how serious these vulnerabilities really are.ĬPUs today handle a ton of work, calculating millions of operations every second and coordinating the action of everything that goes on inside your computer or mobile device. Altogether, there are three distinct flaws at play here: one called Meltdown, and two separate but related vulnerabilities that both get the name Spectre. What are Spectre and Meltdown?īefore we can get into addressing all the actions taken by tech giants since the disclosure of these problems, we need a good working definition for what they are. Let’s kick things off by diving right into the issue, cutting through the jargon, and breaking down exactly what makes these flaws so serious and concerning.

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