Ubuntu
linux package

  1. Bug #1734147
  2. Comment #162

Comment 162 for bug 1734147

Revision history for this message
Paul Sladen (sladen) wrote : Re: Ubuntu 17.10 corrupting BIOS - many LENOVO laptops models

Page 5 of:

  http://opensecuritytraining.info/IntroBIOS_files/Day2_03_Advanced%20x86%20-%20BIOS%20and%20SMM%20Internals%20-%20SPI%20Flash%20Protection%20Mechanisms.pptx

Talks about "Flash Protection Mechanism";

  "Write Protect / Writes blocked / Not Range Specific / SMI# override: Same as Write Protect in previous ICHs for FWH"

  "Applies to the entire flash chip (Global Flash Protection)"

  "Provides SMM the ability to determine whether or not a request to unlock the BIOS flash for writing will be permitted"

So possibly a situation where the writes are being marshalled to go via the System Management Mode, where there is lack of correct code there to handle it. (Or the opposite).

[Or I could be barking up completely the wrong tree]