Use Linux’s built-in vulnerability status files to check Spectre variant 1 and variant 2 separately. Run:
cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/vulnerabilities/spectre_v1
cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/vulnerabilities/spectre_v2These files describe the running kernel’s assessment of the processor and the mitigations currently enabled. The result is not a generic security certificate: it depends on the processor, microcode, kernel version and build, available CPU features, and boot configuration.
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Run the two Spectre checks
There is no single file named simply spectre that covers every case. Linux exposes separate status files for the two principal Spectre variants:
/sys/devices/system/cpu/vulnerabilities/spectre_v1reports Spectre variant 1./sys/devices/system/cpu/vulnerabilities/spectre_v2reports Spectre variant 2.
Check each variant separately
Open a terminal and run the commands exactly as shown:
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cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/vulnerabilities/spectre_v1Then check variant 2:
cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/vulnerabilities/spectre_v2Each command prints one status line. Keep the variant names with the results when recording them; a result for variant 1 does not answer the variant 2 question.
Display both results in one command
To print both files consecutively, use:
cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/vulnerabilities/spectre_v1 /sys/devices/system/cpu/vulnerabilities/spectre_v2This is convenient for a quick check, but the output may not visually identify which line belongs to which file. Running the commands separately, or adding your own labels in a shell script, makes an audit record easier to read.
What these files actually tell you
The files are part of Linux’s documented sysfs vulnerability interface. They report the running kernel’s view of whether the processor is affected and which mitigation is active. That wording matters: the check is about the combination of hardware and the currently running kernel, not about a kernel package in isolation.
The result is specific to the current machine state
Two computers with the same distribution can print different text. Linux considers the CPU model and features, loaded processor microcode, kernel version and build options, and boot-time configuration when it determines the status. A kernel update, firmware or microcode update, a change in boot parameters, or moving the disk to another processor can therefore change the message.
The exact wording also changes between kernel versions. Do not treat a line copied from an older kernel as a fixed vocabulary that every current release must use. Read the complete line shown by the machine you are checking.
This is a mitigation report, not an immunity guarantee
A status such as Not affected has a defined meaning for the vulnerability interface: the kernel considers the processor not vulnerable to that variant. A line naming a mitigation means Linux has enabled a protection it considers applicable. Neither interpretation should be expanded into a claim that every speculative-execution attack, every processor flaw, or every possible attack path is eliminated.
How to read the Spectre variant 1 result
Not affected
For Spectre variant 1, Not affected means the kernel’s status logic considers the processor not vulnerable to that variant. It is a statement about the processor as assessed by the running kernel, not a promise that unrelated vulnerabilities are absent.
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Mitigation text for variant 1
On an affected processor, Linux can report protections such as user-pointer sanitization or barriers associated with usercopy and swapgs operations. The precise wording depends on the kernel release and on which protections apply to that CPU and build.
Variant 1 handling is deliberately granular. Linux may protect particular code paths rather than applying one universal switch to every operation. The Linux kernel documentation states:
However, the protections are put in place on a case by case basis, and there is no guarantee that all possible attack vectors for Spectre variant 1 are covered.
Consequently, a variant 1 line that names a mitigation should be read as evidence of the protections reported by this interface, not as proof that every conceivable variant 1 technique is blocked.
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- A mitigation message does not prove that every application, driver, virtual machine, or workload has identical protection.
- It does not describe Spectre variant 2; that requires reading the separate
spectre_v2file. - It does not establish the status of other CPU vulnerabilities that have their own interfaces or controls.
How to read the Spectre variant 2 result
Not affected
For variant 2, Not affected means Linux assesses the processor as not vulnerable to that variant. As with variant 1, this is the kernel’s current assessment and is tied to the machine’s processor, microcode, kernel, and boot configuration.
Mitigation: None
Mitigation: None has a more urgent meaning: the processor is vulnerable and no variant 2 mitigation is currently enabled according to the status interface. Treat that as an unmitigated state and investigate the kernel configuration, boot parameters, firmware or microcode, and distribution guidance rather than assuming the line is harmless.
Software and hardware mitigation messages
Other variant 2 lines identify the approach Linux is using. The documentation describes software retpoline mitigation, hardware mitigation, and protections that apply to individual processes. A line may include more than one component because the effective protection can combine mechanisms.
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Retpoline is a software technique used by supported kernels to constrain indirect branch speculation. Hardware mitigation indicates that the processor’s capabilities are being used where applicable. The exact status wording is kernel-version dependent, so preserve the entire line when reporting an issue or comparing two systems.
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IBPB and STIBP indicators
The variant 2 status can also mention process-isolation features such as IBPB and STIBP. These controls are intended to limit certain forms of speculative branch information crossing process or thread boundaries. Their use can affect performance, so an administrator should evaluate the workload and the distribution’s documented defaults before changing them.
The presence or absence of an IBPB or STIBP phrase is an additional detail within the variant 2 report. It does not replace the main interpretation of whether Linux considers the processor affected and which principal mitigation is active.
Compare the two status files without conflating them
| File | Variant covered | Examples of reported meaning | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
/sys/devices/system/cpu/vulnerabilities/spectre_v1 |
Spectre variant 1 | Not affected, or text describing user-pointer sanitization and usercopy or swapgs barriers |
Protections are applied case by case; the documentation does not guarantee that every possible variant 1 attack vector is covered. |
/sys/devices/system/cpu/vulnerabilities/spectre_v2 |
Spectre variant 2 | Not affected, Mitigation: None, retpoline, hardware mitigation, process-specific protections, and possible IBPB or STIBP details |
Output varies with kernel version, CPU features, microcode, and boot configuration; a mitigation line is not universal immunity. |
A single positive-looking line cannot stand in for both checks. Always retain the file name alongside the value.
A practical checking procedure
- Open a shell on the Linux system you want to assess. Run the commands locally, because the files describe the kernel that is actually running on that machine.
- Read the variant 1 file. Use
cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/vulnerabilities/spectre_v1and copy the complete output, including every qualifier after a mitigation label. - Read the variant 2 file. Use
cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/vulnerabilities/spectre_v2and record the complete line separately from variant 1. - Classify each line using its own vocabulary. Treat
Not affectedas the kernel’s statement that the processor is not vulnerable to that variant. TreatMitigation: Nonein the variant 2 report as vulnerable without mitigation. For other text, identify the named software, hardware, or process-specific protections instead of reducing the line to a simple yes or no. - Record the context. Note the distribution, kernel release, CPU details, and any administrator-controlled boot settings when you need to explain the result to someone else. Those details help distinguish a hardware difference from a kernel or configuration difference.
- Recheck after relevant changes. A kernel update, microcode or firmware change, or boot-parameter change can alter the reported state. Run both commands again after such a change rather than carrying forward an old status line.
When the files are missing
The documented method depends on the kernel exposing these sysfs paths. If one or both files do not exist, absence alone does not establish that the processor is safe and does not prove that it is vulnerable.
Do not substitute a guess for the missing interface
Different distributions, kernel builds, older kernels, restricted environments, and unusual system arrangements can expose different interfaces. The official documentation does not provide one universal command that resolves every missing-file case. Avoid declaring the machine safe merely because cat reports that a path is absent.
Collect the details needed for a platform-specific answer
Before choosing a next step, gather the Linux distribution and release, the running kernel release, and the CPU model and relevant system details. Also note whether the system is a virtual machine or a host whose firmware and microcode are managed separately. Those facts determine which distribution or hardware documentation applies.
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If you are escalating the issue, provide the exact path that was missing, the complete output of the other vulnerability file if it exists, and the circumstances in which the check was performed. This is more useful than reporting only that Linux showed no result.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Kernel command-line settings can change the result
Linux normally selects mitigation defaults based on the current CPU, but an administrator can alter selected behavior through kernel command-line parameters. The documented examples include:
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The brace notation indicates that the parameter accepts an option; it is not a literal value to paste unchanged. The available choices and their effects depend on the kernel version and configuration.
Why boot settings matter during troubleshooting
Two otherwise identical installations can report different protection states when their boot entries use different parameters. A status line therefore has to be interpreted together with the boot configuration that produced it. If an administrator has deliberately disabled or selected a mitigation, the sysfs result reflects that decision.
Do not disable mitigations as a casual fix
Turning off a mitigation can expose a vulnerable processor and may change the security boundary between processes. It can also alter performance characteristics in ways that are difficult to judge from a single benchmark. Use a documented, deliberate change-management process, understand the security trade-off, and verify the resulting status files afterward. A missing performance explanation is not a reason to remove protection.
Performance and operational context
Some variant 2 protections, including IBPB and STIBP where reported, can affect performance. The cost depends on the processor, kernel, workload, and how frequently protected transitions occur; the status interface itself does not provide a universal percentage. Do not attach a numeric performance penalty to a status line without measurements for the specific system.
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Common interpretation mistakes
Checking only one file
Spectre variant 1 and variant 2 are distinct entries. Checking spectre_v1 and assuming variant 2 has the same state leaves half of the requested assessment undone.
Reading only the first word
Variant 2 output can include multiple qualifiers, and the trailing details can identify process-specific protections or IBPB and STIBP behavior. Copy the whole line instead of reducing it to the word Mitigation.
Treating every mitigation as a guarantee
A mitigation message describes the protection Linux has selected for the reported variant. Variant 1 is explicitly handled case by case, and the documentation warns that all possible attack vectors are not guaranteed to be covered.
Assuming old wording is still current
Kernel status strings change as support for CPUs and mitigations evolves. Compare the complete output and kernel release, not just whether a phrase matches a screenshot from another system.
Ignoring boot configuration
Parameters such as nospectre_v1 and nospectre_v2 can alter the effective state. A result obtained with those settings should not be presented as the default state of an unmodified boot configuration.
How to report a result clearly
A useful report includes four pieces of information:
- The exact contents of the
spectre_v1file. - The exact contents of the
spectre_v2file. - The distribution, running kernel release, and CPU details.
- Any relevant boot parameters that select, limit, or disable Spectre mitigations.
Label each output with its file name. For example, write the variant 1 result under a spectre_v1 heading and the variant 2 result under a spectre_v2 heading rather than pasting two unlabeled lines. Include the date and the reason for the check when maintaining an administrative record, because later kernel or firmware changes can legitimately produce different text.
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A complete check has two dimensions: which Spectre variant is being discussed and what state Linux reports for that variant. For variant 1, distinguish Not affected from case-specific mitigation text and remember the documented coverage limitation. For variant 2, distinguish Not affected, a named mitigation such as retpoline or hardware protection, and Mitigation: None, which indicates a vulnerable processor without mitigation.
Finally, interpret both lines in context. They describe the running kernel’s assessment of the current processor and configuration. They do not certify that the computer is immune to every speculative-execution attack, nor do they replace updates and configuration review when the status reports a vulnerable or unmitigated state.
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