Linux Kernel 5.17 Delayed by a Week to Tackle Spectre v2 Exploit
https://news.itsfoss.com/linux-kernel-5-17-spectre-delay/

With last-minute Spectre fixes, Linux Kernel 5.17 release was delayed while restarting the automated testing process.

Linux Kernel 5.17 was scheduled to release the previous day (Sunday).

Unfortunately, (or for better), Spectre V2, another variant of the Spectre vulnerability affecting the processors, was discovered.

But, what is the Spectre v2 vulnerability affecting the chips? Is it essential for the Linux Kernel 5.17 to include a fix?

Linux Kernel 5.17 Delayed
While the fixes for Spectre attacks made their way to the Linux Kernel 5.17, the automation testing in place needs time.

With the announcement of Linux Kernel 5.17 release candidate 8, Linus Torvalds mentions that the patches were “mostly fine” with some more fixes added. However, it is best to go through all the automated tests to make sure everything’s fine with the release

Intel and Arm processors were hit this last week by the Spectre V2 vulnerability, the Branch History Injection, or BHI. The Spectre exploit originated several years ago, but this new line of mitigation has had a significant effect on the two chip manufacturers. AMD has a much different design to their chips, allowing them to avoid harm this week. However, three security researchers from Intel have recently written a white paper outlining AMD’s chipset having code exposures. In review, AMD has now issued a new security bulletin to reflect the new efficiency for keeping their product safe.

AMD is moving forward with a “generic” Retpoline approach to fix insufficient procedures to ward off BHI vulnerability
The initial Spectre and Meltdown flaws discovered in December 2017 outline issues with Intel’s chip designs, which were found by four separate research teams and reported to the leading company around the same time frame.