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New Spectre v2 attack variant leaks Linux root password hash in minutes

September 29, 2026 · BleepingComputer · Severity: MEDIUM

A new Branch Target Reuse (BTR) attack has been devised that can recover root password hashes on Intel computers running Linux in 3-5 minutes on average.

Key Takeaways

  • According to BleepingComputer, this cybersecurity development warrants attention from teams monitoring the threat landscape.
  • Security teams should review their exposure and implement appropriate defensive controls to protect organizational infrastructure.
  • Security teams should review their exposure and implement appropriate defensive controls to protect organizational infrastructure.
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