abstract:A CPU cache is a cache used by the central processing unit of a computer to reduce the average time to access memory. The cache is a smaller, faster memory which stores copies of the data from frequently used main memory locations.
In a computer with thecontrasting von Neumannarchitecture (and noCPUcache), the CPU can be either readingan instructionorreading/writing datafROM/to the memory.
Of course, the exploit that they've actually released is completely harmless, but it demonstrates that the CPUcache can be "poisoned" to let folks read and write into the otherwise protected SMRAM memory.