The good news is that in order to exploit the new vulnerability, the attacker first has to obtain kernel level access to the system somehow - by exploiting some other vulnerabilities perhaps.
The bad news is once Sinkclose attack is performed, it can be hard to detect and mitigate: it can even survive an OS reinstall.
So basically what you are saying is we just need one pvp game with kernel level anti cheat to fuck up somewhere… yeah I’m sure that’s not going to happen.
we just need one pvp game with kernel level anti cheat
Leaving aside that security patches should be done, if you install that kind of game on a system where you have any data worth protecting, you’re a dumb ass mtherfcker. Sorry, but seriously, that’s just how it is.
Despite this being reported on tech news, most people won’t even be aware that it’s a thing because most people won’t actually read about it. And the majority of gamers probably don’t even know what a kernel is or why an anti-cheat with elevated privileges would be a bad thing.
Most people buy their computers with Windows preinstalled and probably couldn’t tell you if the CPU is Intel or AMD.
Okay, fair point, let me rephrase: if someone knows what kernel (admin) level execution means, and installs a game that requires this on a computer where they keep important data, they are a dumbass mtherfcker :)
Generally speaking though: most people shouldn’t be allowed to use technology - humans are unbelievably stupid for the most part.
Kernel level and admin level is not the same thing. For example on windows, you can’t really write your own kernel driver, and on Linux even root can’t do everything if capabilities have been revoked.
For the purpose of protecting important data, the distinction really doesn’t matter. And the good old xkcd comic has a point - for many people, all relevant data is in the user’s accessible storage area anyways. Hence me running almost all internet applications and steam in a jail.
The other bad news: there are so many vulnerabilities on all systems which can be used to gain root-level access, it’s just a matter of time. Also, even future vulnerabilities will be an issue, as the underlying Sinkclose attacks will still work.
The good news is that in order to exploit the new vulnerability, the attacker first has to obtain kernel level access to the system somehow - by exploiting some other vulnerabilities perhaps.
The bad news is once Sinkclose attack is performed, it can be hard to detect and mitigate: it can even survive an OS reinstall.
So basically what you are saying is we just need one pvp game with kernel level anti cheat to fuck up somewhere… yeah I’m sure that’s not going to happen.
Leaving aside that security patches should be done, if you install that kind of game on a system where you have any data worth protecting, you’re a dumb ass mtherfcker. Sorry, but seriously, that’s just how it is.
Ignorance is not stupidity.
Despite this being reported on tech news, most people won’t even be aware that it’s a thing because most people won’t actually read about it. And the majority of gamers probably don’t even know what a kernel is or why an anti-cheat with elevated privileges would be a bad thing.
Most people buy their computers with Windows preinstalled and probably couldn’t tell you if the CPU is Intel or AMD.
Okay, fair point, let me rephrase: if someone knows what kernel (admin) level execution means, and installs a game that requires this on a computer where they keep important data, they are a dumbass mtherfcker :) Generally speaking though: most people shouldn’t be allowed to use technology - humans are unbelievably stupid for the most part.
Kernel level and admin level is not the same thing. For example on windows, you can’t really write your own kernel driver, and on Linux even root can’t do everything if capabilities have been revoked.
For the purpose of protecting important data, the distinction really doesn’t matter. And the good old xkcd comic has a point - for many people, all relevant data is in the user’s accessible storage area anyways. Hence me running almost all internet applications and steam in a jail.
The other bad news: there are so many vulnerabilities on all systems which can be used to gain root-level access, it’s just a matter of time. Also, even future vulnerabilities will be an issue, as the underlying Sinkclose attacks will still work.
Honestly not on a hardened setup
Sure, if you’d rather like to believe that.
If it was that easy to get root then we would be in serious trouble. The best way I can think of is social engineering.