

The x86 platform allows researchers to make use of the full power of binary code analysis tools.

One of the reasons is the transition of this subsystem to new hardware (x86) and software (modified MINIX as an operating system). We see increasing interest in Intel ME internals from researchers all over the world.

The ability to execute third-party code on Intel ME would allow for a complete compromise of the platform. The PCH carries almost all communication between the processor and external devices therefore Intel ME has access to almost all data on the computer. Intel Management Engine is a proprietary technology that consists of a microcontroller integrated into the Platform Controller Hub (PCH) chip and a set of built-in peripherals. For those who are aware of the risks and decide to experiment anyway, we recommend using an SPI programmer. We take no responsibility for any attempts inspired by our work and do not guarantee the operability of anything. government's High Assurance Platform (HAP) program.ĭisclaimer: The methods described here are risky and may damage or destroy your computer. In this article, we describe how we discovered this undocumented mode and how it is connected with the U.S. Our team of Positive Technologies researchers has delved deep into the internal architecture of Intel Management Engine (ME) 11, revealing a mechanism that can disable Intel ME after hardware is initialized and the main processor starts.
