Supervisor Mode Information Protection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current information processing systems are vulnerable to malicious attacks due to the lack of effective protection for supervisor mode information, which can be accessed and manipulated by user mode software, potentially leading to security breaches.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a supervisor mode protection mechanism within the processor that uses enable bits and control blocks to restrict the execution of instructions accessing supervisor mode information to only privileged levels, preventing unauthorized access and ensuring that such information is only accessible and modifiable from supervisor mode, thereby preventing malicious attacks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If supervisor mode information is accessible to user mode software, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The processor privilege levels are segmented into supervisor mode and user mode, with distinct access rights. Supervisor mode information is segregated into protected regions that user mode software cannot access, while allowing controlled access through specific privileged instructions when appropriate
Solution Approach 2:
A control block acts as an intermediary between user mode software and supervisor mode information. This control block monitors and regulates access requests, allowing legitimate operations while blocking malicious attempts to access or manipulate protected supervisor mode data
2Reliability
If supervisor mode information is protected from user mode access, then security is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The protection mechanism uses dynamic enable bits that can be programmed to selectively enable or disable access to specific supervisor mode information. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt protection levels based on security requirements without requiring a completely complex static protection structure
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state of enable bits as parameters to control access permissions. By modifying these binary parameters, the processor can switch between protected and accessible states for different supervisor mode information, providing flexible security control without complex hardware structures
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of an invention for protecting supervisor mode information are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a storage location, instruction hardware, execution hardware, and control logic. The storage location is to store an indicator to enable supervisor mode information protection. The instruction hardware is to receive an instruction to access supervisor mode information. The execution hardware is to execute the instruction. The control logic is to prevent execution of the instruction if supervisor mode information protection is enabled and a current privilege level is less privileged than a supervisor mode.