Intel and AMD standardise ChkTag to bring Memory Safety to x86
8 days ago
- #hardware security
- #memory safety
- #x86
- Intel and AMD are collaborating to create ChkTag, a unified x86 memory tagging instruction set architecture to address memory safety issues.
- Memory safety violations are a major source of insecurity and unreliability, as highlighted by government guidance.
- Hardware acceleration is necessary for effective memory safety checking, as software-based solutions like address sanitizers have performance limitations.
- ChkTag includes new and enhanced x86 instructions to detect memory safety violations, such as buffer overflows and use-after-free errors.
- ChkTag is designed for applications, OS kernels, hypervisors, and UEFI firmware, offering developers control over memory access checks.
- The x86 ecosystem's diversity and legacy require new technologies like ChkTag to ensure compatibility and complement existing security mechanisms.
- ChkTag supports future scenarios with increasing use of memory-safe languages alongside other languages.