Intel Meltdown / Spectre Patch Tested on Avigilon, Exacq and Milestone VMSes

By: IPVM Team, Published on Jan 23, 2018

Significant concern exists about the impact on VMS servers and video surveillance systems of patching the Meltdown and Spectre flaws. Generally, reports have claimed a significant increase in CPU loads, though the amounts have varied depending on the source and services being used. This could be very problematic for VMS servers as it risks problems in recording, watching or playing back video.

Meltdown / Spectre Summary

Meltdown is a flaw in protections allowing unauthorized applications to access OS kernel protected memory. Spectre allows unauthorized applications to trick other programs into divulging private data. For technical details on these, see The Meltdown and Spectre CPU Bugs, Explained or various other online tech sources.

How To Patch

Users may see if their Windows machine is vulnerable using PowerShell, following the steps in this guide.

If so, in order to avoid both of these vulnerabilities, users must install two updates:

  • Windows Update KB4056892: This update should have been included in regular Windows Updates as of early January. This fixes the Meltdown vulnerability.
  • BIOS update: To fix the Spectre vulnerability, users must update their system BIOS, provided by their hardware manufacturer.

However, many devices have not yet received a BIOS update. Out of four different hardware manufacturers we checked (Acer, Asus, HP, and Intel NUCs), only Intel had released a BIOS update for our machines.

Tests Performed

IPVM measured CPU load of server and client processes prior to applying Windows and BIOS updates, and again after updating, using two configurations:

  • Recording only, 25 cameras, ~150 Mb/s
  • Recording and viewing, 10 cameras, ~30 Mb/s

Test Machine Specs

IPVM tested on three separate machines, all with the same hardware configuration, as follows:

  • Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (10.0, Build 16299) (16299.rs3_release.170928-1534)
  • BIOS: RYBDWi35.86A.0350.2015.0812.1722 (pre-update)/RYBDWi35.86A.0368.2017.1220.0950 (post-update)
  • Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-5557U CPU @ 3.10GHz (4 CPUs), ~3.1GHz
  • Memory: 8192MB RAM

Note that these machines are fairly high spec, with relatively new processors (1-2 generations old). Older generation processors and lower spec machines are likely to see a greater impact.

Inside this report, we examine the results achieved across Avigilon, Exacq and Milestone plus our recommendations.

*********** ******* ****** ***** the ****** ** *** servers *** ***** ************ systems ** ******** *** Meltdown *** ******* *****. Generally, ******* **** ******* a *********** ******** ** CPU *****, ****** *** amounts **** ****** ********* on *** ****** *** services ***** ****. **** could ** **** *********** for *** ******* ** it ***** ******** ** recording, ******** ** ******* back *****.

Meltdown / ******* *******

******** ** * **** in *********** ******** ************ applications ** ****** ** kernel ********* ******. ******* allows ************ ************ ** trick ***** ******** **** divulging ******* ****. *** technical ******* ** *****, see*** ******** *** ******* CPU ****, *********** ******* ***** ****** tech *******.

How ** *****

***** *** *** ** their ******* ******* ** vulnerable ***** **********,********* *** ***** ** this *****.

** **, ** ***** to ***** **** ** these ***************, ***** **** install *** *******:

  • ******* ****** *********: **** update ****** **** **** included ** ******* ******* Updates ** ** ***** January. **** ***** *** Meltdown *************.
  • **** ******: ** *** the ******* *************, ***** must ****** ***** ****** BIOS, ******** ** ***** hardware ************.

*******, **** ******* **** not *** ******** * BIOS ******. *** ** four ********* ******** ************* we ******* (****, ****, HP, *** ***** ****), only ***** *** ******** a **** ****** *** our ********.

Tests *********

**** ******** *** **** of ****** *** ****** processes ***** ** ******** Windows *** **** *******, and ***** ***** ********, using *** **************:

  • ********* ****, ** *******, ~150 **/*
  • ********* *** *******, ** cameras, ~** **/*

Test ******* *****

**** ****** ** ***** separate ********, *** **** the **** ******** *************, as *******:

  • ********* ******:******* ** *** **-*** (10.0, ***** *****) (*****.***********.******-****)
  • ****:********.***.****.****.****.**** (***-******)/********.***.****.****.****.**** (****-******)
  • *********:*****(*) ****(**) **-***** *** @ *.***** (* ****), ~3.1GHz
  • ******:****** ***

**** **** ***** ******** are ****** **** ****, with ********** *** ********** (1-2 *********** ***). ***** generation ********** *** ***** spec ******** *** ****** to *** * ******* impact.

****** **** ******, ** examine *** ******* ******** across ********, ***** *** Milestone **** *** ***************.

[***************]

Test *******

** *** *****, ******** system **** ** ***** the ******* ************* *** a *********** ****** ** CPU ****, ********** *** load ** ********* ******** by ** **** **-**%. Impact ** ****** **** when ******* **** ** playback ***** *** **** more ***********, ****** ******** CPU **** ** *** camera ***** ******* ***** Avigilon *** ***** (** increase ** **-**% ****). Applying *******' ******** ****** to ***** ******** ***** had * ********** ******, increasing **** **** **** 1%.

****** *******, ** *** no *** ******* **** these *******/******** *******, **** as ******* ******, **** loading *****, ******** ** video, ** ***** *** malfunctions ***** *** ***** when **********. *******, **** that *** ******* *** load **** ** **** testing *** ***** ***** 50% ***********. ***** **** higher ********** ******* ** lower **** ******* *** see ****** ** ***** camera ******/***********.

***************

******* ** *** *********** impact ** **** ******* on *** ****, ** strongly ********* **** ***** of ****** **********/****** ****** count ******* ****** ***** system *** ******** ***** to ********. ***** ********* running ** **-**% **** are ****** ** ******** to **-***%, **** *** potential *** ****** **** higher.

***** **** *** ****** count/throughput ******* *** ****** to *** ****** *********** difference ****** **** ******* locally ** *** ****** machine.

Intel ***** ******** ******* - ****** *****

******* *** **** ******* have ****** ****** ****** on ******* ******** (****: IPVM *** *** ********** this, *** ** *** be ******** *********). ***** released * ********* ** January **** ******** *** ***** ******** BIOS ********** **** ****** **** updated ******* ****. ******* indications *** **** *** updated ******* **** **** roughly ******* *********** *******, and ***** ** ************ partners ** ******** ** test **** *** ******* patches ** *** **** data ** *********** *******.

Biggest ******: **** ******

** ***** ** ***** repair *** ******** *** Spectre ***************, ***** **** apply **** ******* ******* and **** *******. ** these ***, *** **** update *** * *********** impact ** *** ****, while ******* ******* *** minimal ******, **** ***** 1% ** *** ***** tested, **** ********* *** viewing.

Significant ****** ** **** ********** ****

** *** ***** ** 24 ****** *******, ~*** Mb/s ***** **********, ****** process *** **** ********* significantly ***** ******** *** BIOS ** **** *******, with *********** ************ ********** by ~*% *** ********* XProtect ********* ** ~**%.

**** **** ** ******** no ****** ** *********** in ****** *** ****** testing (******* ******, **** loading, ********/******* *****, ***.), but ***** **** ****** throughput *** *** ****** as **** ***** ***** updating.

Low ********** ********* *******

******* **** ** ******* at ***** ** **/* total, ****** **** *** usage ********* **** *****, but *************** ****** **** 24 ****** *******, **** Exacq ********** ** *% load (* **% ********) and ********* ** *% (a ~**% ********). *******, Avigilon ******* ****** ****** significantly, **** ~*% ** 8%, *** ** **** higher ********** *******, ***** increases *** *** ****** in ********** *********** ******.

Live **** ******* *** ******

*** **** ********* *** those ******* ***** ***** viewing **** *** **** significant, **** ******** *** Exacq ********** ** **-**% when **** ******* ** playing **** *** ******* on *** ********* ******. Milestone ********* ** ***** the **** *** **** percentage, *** * *************** smaller ******.

Test ********* ****** ********

***** ** *** ******* state ** *****'* **** patches **** ***** ******* users ** **** ********* before ******** ******* ** production ********. ***** *** cannot ***** **** ** a ***-********** *********** *** want ** **** *** the ******* **** ******* to ******** **** ** unanticipated *******.

Manufacturer ********

**** *** **** ** communication **** *** ************* regarding *********** ******* **** patches. ** ***, ************* have ********* **** *** still ** *** ******* of *********** ******* *********** impact, *** *********** ********** for ******** *******.

Comments (21)

John Honovich

IPVM | 01/23/18 05:48pm

**** ** *** **, ** ***** *** ******* / *****, you ******* *** **** * *********** ******* ** **** ***? Replace *** ***? ******* *** ******? **** *** ***'* ********* options?

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to John Honovich | 01/23/18 05:55pm

** ** **** ** *** **** ******* **** ***** ******** so ***. ** **** *****, *** *** ** **** ** upgrade ** * ****** *********. *********, ********* ** ****** *** (if ********) *** **** ****.

***** *** ************* *** ***** **** ***** ******** ** ****, I ***** ***** *********** ** ********* **********, ** *******, ** much ** ********. ** ***** **** *** **** ****** ******** are *** **** ********* ******** *** ***** ********, ** *** would ****** **** ** ***** * ****** ***** ** **** CPU ** ****** *** ****** ************ **** **** *** ** processor ***********.

****, **** *** *** **** ********* ** ***, *** ** the ****** ** ********** ******** ************ (*.*.: *** ****** *** also ****** ******* ******, ***.), ** *** ** ****-********* ** off-load **** ************ ** ***** ******** ** **** ** *** for *** **** ***.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

In reply to John Honovich | 01/26/18 04:33pm

**** ********* **** ** *** **** *** ****** ** *** one ** **** ****** ***** ** * ****** ******* ** increase ********** *****. ********* ************* **** ******** *** ***'* *** uses *** *** ******** *****. *** *** *** **, ****

**** ********* **** **, *** **** *** ****** ** **** one ** **** ****** ***** **** **** ********* ******* ** offload *** ************* *****. **** ** *** *** *** **** mid-summer ** * *** ** * *** *** ***** ******** now, *** ** ***** ** ** * **** *** ********** low-cost ****** **** ** ****.

Thumbnail tompic

Tom Sharples

01/23/18 06:13pm

*** *** ***** ******** **** ** ***** ** * ****** environment **** ** * *** ******? ** *** ** ***** to ** ***** *** ** **** *** *** ** ****** random ****, ** ** * ******* *********?

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Tom Sharples | 01/24/18 01:38pm

************* **** *** **********'* ***** ** ****, ******** ******** *** not ** ****** ************ *******.

** *********** *** ******* ******* ******* ******** ******** ** ***** segments ** *** *******, *** ********* *** **** *** **** to *** ******** ** **** ****** *** ****** **********, ****** monitoring ** ********** ****** *****.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

01/23/18 07:07pm

****** ** ****** **** **** ******* **** ** ******** ***** was **** **** ***********, ********** *** **** ** **-**% ** low ****** ***** ******* ***** ******** *** *****

******* ** *** ******* ************* *** ** * ************* **** right? *'* ****** **** ** ***** ** **** ** **'** at **% **** ** ** ******* ** **%-**%.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 01/23/18 10:19pm

***, ****'* *******. *'** **** **** ** **'* **** *****.

Thumbnail 20180219 112642

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 01/23/18 10:28pm

***, *** **** ******* ** *********.

*** *******, *** ***** ****** ** *** *** ********** **** increased ** *% *** *****, ***** **** *% ***-***** ** 12% **** *****, **** *** * **% ********.

Bob Schenck

IPVMU Certified | 01/24/18 04:18am

*** ******* ***** *** **** **** ******* ** ***** ******** code **** ** ******* * ****** *******. ****, **, *** Lenovo **** *** ******* *** ****** **** ******* **** ***** downloads *** *** ************ ****** *** ********* **** ** **** back. ** *** ******** ******* **** ****, *** ****** ** back *** ***** ** ** **** *** ****'* ******* * version **** *** **** *********.

**** *** ** ***** *****’* ******* ***** **** ****** ****

Michael Miller

01/24/18 02:39pm

“** ********* **** ****, ***** ******* *********, ****** *************, ******** vendors *** *** ***** **** ********** ** ******* ********, ** they *** ********* ****** **** ******** ******* *** ***** ************* system ********,” ** *****.

*****://***.**********.***/*****-*******-*********-**-****-**********-***************-******/*******/******/

Thumbnail ack head zy

Alex Knapik

Milestone Systems | 01/24/18 11:11pm

****** **** * ******* *********** **********, *** ******* **** **** Milestone ***** ****** ******** ************ *******? ** ***** ***** ** reason *** ***** *** ****** ***** ** **** **** **** if **** ***** ***** **** ** ****** *** ******...

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Alex Knapik | 01/24/18 11:17pm

****, ***** *** *** **** *********, **** **** **** ******** testing ****?

Thumbnail me

Campbell Chang

01/25/18 01:25am

***'* ******* *** *** ***** ** *** ***** ******* *** retest ****?

***** *** **** * ***** *** ********** ******** **** ******** affects ******** ******* *** ***** ******** ********** ** ****. ** I'd ** ***** ******* ** **** *** *** **** *** Meltdown ***** ******* *** ***** ** *******.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

01/25/18 11:17am

** *** ********* ********** **** ********* *** ********** **** ********* whether ** *** ** ******** ******** *** **** *******.

*** ****** *** **** ** **** ** **** *** ********* to **** * ******. **** ** *** ********* **** ********** disconnected ******** *** **** *** **** **** ******* **** **** can ** ********* ** ***** ********, **** *** ********.

** ** **** ** **** ** **** ** *** ********* security ******* ** **** ** *** ****** ******* *** ********* actions.

**** ***** **** ******* ** *** ******, **** ** *** customers **** **** ** ** ********* *** **** ********* ******** if ***** ** ** *** ****** *** **** *******.

Tim Cook

IPVMU Certified | 01/25/18 02:25pm

**** **** *************, *** ** ****** ********* ***** ** *********/***'* with ***** ***** ** **** *******/***** *******?

*** ***** *** ******** ************* ** ***** **** *******?

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Tim Cook | 01/25/18 02:36pm

***** *** ********* ***************, ** **** *** ****** *** ** really.

***** *** ********* ** ********, ******** ******** *** **** * *** ******** ** ***** ** this.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Brian Karas | 01/26/18 02:34am

*****,

**** **** * **** **** ******* ** ******* * **** smaller *** ** *** ***** *** ******** ** ****. **** this **** *** ********* ****** ** ******** ****/**** ** **** their ******** ****** ******* ****?

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 01/25/18 09:40pm

***, **** *** ***** *** ******** ****. ******** ********* ** the **** **** ** *** ***** *** ** **** ******** software/apps/etc., *** ******* ********** ******** ** ******** ******** ****** *** less ****** ** ** ********. * ****** ** ****** ***** that *** ** *** **** ****** **** ******, ***, ***, open ***** ** ******** ***** ****** * ****** ******** ** the ******.

********* ******** **** ** **** ********* ******** ***** ******** ** the ****** **** ** ******** ** ******** ***** ***************. (**** it *** *** *********** **** ** ** *********, ** ***** have **** **** *******-***** ***'*). **** **** ******** **** *** do *** **** * *** ** **** ****** ******** ** even ******* * *******, ** **** *** ***** **** **-***** systems ** **** ******.

**** **** ** **** *** ***** ** ***** ** ******* knowledge ** *** *************** *** ********. ** **** ******* ***** these *************** ********* ***** *****-*** ******* ***** ***** ** *** exploits ******* **** *** ******** **** ** ******* ****.

bashis mcw

01/29/18 07:44pm

** ** ******* *** *************, **** ** * *** *****... sure **'* ******* ***, **** *** **** ******* ** ********* executing ** **** ****.

Thumbnail me

Campbell Chang

In reply to bashis mcw | 02/01/18 05:01am

*** ******* ***** *** ** **** ** *** *** *** itself *** *** ********* *********** ** *** **** **** ***.

** ****** ****, ******* *** ******** * ******** ** **% performance */* ********* *****. **** ** ***** *** **** ***** with ******** *** ******* ****.

Boris Biryuchkov

02/01/18 04:24am

* ***** ** ********* ** ******.

******** **** ** *** (*********) *****'* **** ********/******* *** ********* on *** ***** ******* (****** **** ****** ** *** ****).

***** ** **** **** ******** (********.***.****.****.****.****) *** ****** *****.

*** **** **** **** ****** ***** ** ********://**************.*****.***/*****/***/********************.***

** ***** ********* *** **** ***** (*********)

*****://**************.*****.***/*******/*****/*****-***-***-*********

*** ****** **** ****** ** ***** ********* ****.

***** **** ***** ***** **** *** **** ******* ** ***** is *** **** ****** **** *** *******.

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