Detecting Spectre and Meltdown Issues through SCCM

Detecting Spectre and Meltdown Issues through SCCM

In the ongoing quest to secure computer systems against the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities, System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) offers a powerful solution. This article will guide you through the process of creating Configuration Baselines and Items in SCCM that can run PowerShell detection scripts to check system registry keys, firmware versions, microcode updates, and patch levels related to Spectre and Meltdown mitigations.

First, it's essential to understand the registry locations involved. Compliance for this vulnerability can be tracked by checking the registry location . The key under plays a crucial role, with specific values for and determining the system's vulnerability status.

To create the necessary registry values if they are not present, an auto-remediation will create the following registry values: - with a value of - with a value of

It's important to note that enabling mitigations through this method may affect system performance. Additionally, if the computer is a client, the will be empty.

To find more information about PowerShell scripts and Configuration Items (CIs) for detecting and remediating Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities in SCCM, the best approach is to consult:

1. Official Microsoft and SCCM documentation/forums: These often include baseline security scripts and configuration items tailored for platform vulnerabilities.
2. Community and vendor script repositories: For example, ManageEngine offers PowerShell scripts related to checking Meltdown and Spectre patch status which could be adapted or serve as reference for SCCM deployment.
3. Security solution vendors' documentation: While not SCCM-specific, Nessus guides include PowerShell commands for vulnerability checks on Spectre and Meltdown, which might be useful in building detection scripts for SCCM.

More specifically:

• ManageEngine script templates provide scripts to check AV compatibility and update status related to Meltdown and Spectre, which can inform script creation for SCCM Configuration Items.
• Tenable Nessus user guides describe running PowerShell with admin privileges to check for Spectre and Meltdown issues, explaining command structure that can be adapted for automated SCCM detection and remediation tasks.

Since your query is about SCCM-specific use, you will likely want to:

• Create Configuration Baselines and Configuration Items in SCCM that run PowerShell detection scripts to check system registry keys, firmware versions, microcode updates, and patch levels related to Spectre and Meltdown mitigations.
• Deploy remediation scripts via SCCM to apply OS patches, firmware updates, or registry settings.
• Leverage community repositories like ManageEngine's script templates as references or direct resources to build your SCCM scripts.

Lastly, Dell’s security update advisories provide context on vendor remediation patches for these vulnerabilities but are not directly related to PowerShell or SCCM scripts.

A PowerShell function is provided to return registry value results as shown above, which is a modification to the function provided by Microsoft. This function can be integrated into your SCCM scripts to streamline the vulnerability check process.

In conclusion, by leveraging community resources and adapting PowerShell scripts from vendors like ManageEngine and Nessus, you can create effective Configuration Baselines and Items in SCCM to automate the detection and remediation of Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities on your systems.

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