MIT Builds Custom OS to Study Chip Functionality
MIT researchers have developed a custom operating system kernel called Fractal to analyze processor behavior at a granular level. The tool has already identified previously unknown security vulnerabilities in Apple's M1 chip.
Why it matters
This innovation provides a powerful new method for security researchers to audit hardware, potentially leading to more secure processor designs.
A new kernel, or core program within an operating system, gives researchers a cleaner view of what's happening inside a processor. Called Fractal and developed at MIT, the kernel has already surfaced previously unknown behavior in Apple's M1.
The article is a technical report on academic research and its implications for hardware security.
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