A newly discovered attack named "New Phoenix" has been found to bypass existing Rowhammer defenses in DDR5 memory modules. Rowhammer is a hardware vulnerability that allows attackers to manipulate memory cells by repeatedly accessing adjacent rows, potentially leading to data corruption or privilege escalation. DDR5 memory, the latest generation of DRAM, introduced new mitigation techniques to counteract Rowhammer attacks. However, the New Phoenix attack demonstrates that these defenses can be circumvented, posing a significant security risk to systems using DDR5 memory.
This attack exploits specific weaknesses in the DDR5 Rowhammer mitigation mechanisms, enabling attackers to induce bit flips despite the enhanced protections. The implications are serious for both consumer and enterprise environments, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to compromise system integrity, escalate privileges, or bypass security controls. The research behind New Phoenix highlights the evolving nature of hardware-based attacks and the need for continuous innovation in defense strategies.
Security professionals and hardware manufacturers must take note of this development and work towards strengthening DDR5 memory protections. This may involve revising current mitigation techniques, improving hardware design, or implementing additional software-level safeguards. Awareness and proactive measures are crucial to prevent exploitation of the New Phoenix attack and to maintain the security of modern computing systems.
In conclusion, the New Phoenix attack serves as a reminder that even advanced hardware defenses can be vulnerable. Ongoing research and collaboration between the cybersecurity community and hardware vendors are essential to address these challenges and protect against emerging threats in memory security.
This Cyber News was published on www.bleepingcomputer.com. Publication date: Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:05:31 +0000