DRAM bitflipping exploits that hijack computers just got easier

[Dan Goodin]

(credit: An-d)
New research into the "Rowhammer" bug that resides in certain types of DDR memory chips raises a troubling new prospect: attacks that use Web applications or booby-trapped videos and documents to trigger so-called bitflipping exploits that allow hackers to take control of vulnerable computers.

Continue reading on ArsTechnica...

 

[RMerlin]

I can see how this can possibly cause crashes or random data corruption. But leading to "taking control of computers"? I'm very, very skeptical. That would imply a) knowing the content of those neighbour cells, and b) being able to control what type of flip happens. Weak cells failing to refresh in time before decaying makes it unpredictable AFAIK.

I also assume that ECC would prevent this from happening.