[PATCH v2 2/2] x86/cpu/intel: Add implicit RFDS mitigation for Goldmont and Tremont-D

From: Joongsun Moon-Lee

Date: Fri Jan 30 2026 - 07:34:48 EST


Goldmont and Tremont-D CPUs support RFDS mitigation via VERW but do not
enumerate the RFDS_CLEAR bit in the IA32_ARCH_CAPABILITIES MSR.

Force X86_FEATURE_RFDS_CLEAR for these models in init_intel() to enable
the mitigation automatically. For Tremont-D, limit the quirk to stepping 7,
as stepping 5 does not support mitigation according to Intel's guidance [1].

To ensure safety, only enable this quirk when X86_BUG_OLD_MICROCODE is
not set, guaranteeing the microcode implements the VERW side-effect.

Verification was performed on an Intel NUC8CCHKR (Celeron N3350 / Goldmont)
with microcode 0x48, confirming the status change from
"Vulnerable: No microcode" to "Mitigation: Clear Register File".

[1] https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/developer/topic-technology/software-security-guidance/processors-affected-consolidated-product-cpu-model.html#tab-blade-1-1

Suggested-by: Dave Hansen <dave.hansen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/all/20260129154342.3867-1-moontorise@xxxxxx/
Signed-off-by: Joongsun Moon-Lee <moontorise@xxxxxx>
---
arch/x86/kernel/cpu/intel.c | 14 ++++++++++++++
1 file changed, 14 insertions(+)

diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/intel.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/intel.c
index 646ff33c4651..9867ca383621 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/intel.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/intel.c
@@ -531,6 +531,16 @@ static const struct x86_cpu_id zmm_exclusion_list[] = {
{},
};

+/*
+ * These CPUs mitigate RFDS via VERW but do not enumerate the RFDS_CLEAR bit
+ * in IA32_ARCH_CAPABILITIES MSR.
+ */
+static const struct x86_cpu_id implicit_rfds_list[] = {
+ X86_MATCH_VFM(INTEL_ATOM_GOLDMONT, 0),
+ X86_MATCH_VFM_STEPS(INTEL_ATOM_TREMONT_D, 7, 7, 0),
+ {},
+};
+
static void init_intel(struct cpuinfo_x86 *c)
{
early_init_intel(c);
@@ -612,6 +622,10 @@ static void init_intel(struct cpuinfo_x86 *c)
if (x86_match_cpu(zmm_exclusion_list))
set_cpu_cap(c, X86_FEATURE_PREFER_YMM);

+ if (x86_match_cpu(implicit_rfds_list) &&
+ !boot_cpu_has_bug(X86_BUG_OLD_MICROCODE))
+ setup_force_cpu_cap(X86_FEATURE_RFDS_CLEAR);
+
/* Work around errata */
srat_detect_node(c);

--
2.52.0