Apparatus and method for controlling allocation of information into a cache storage

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for controlling allocation of information into a cache storage. The apparatus has processing circuitry for executing instructions, and for allowing speculative execution of one or more of those instructions. A cache storage is also provided having a plurality of entries to store information for reference by the processing circuitry, and cache control circuitry is used to control the cache storage, the cache control circuitry comprising a speculative allocation tracker having a plurality of tracking entries. The cache control circuitry is responsive to a speculative request associated with the speculative execution, requiring identified information to be allocated into a given entry of the cache storage, to allocate a tracking entry in the speculative allocation tracker for the speculative request before allowing the identified information to be allocated into the given entry of the cache storage. The allocated tracking entry is employed to maintain restore information sufficient to enable the given entry to be restored to an original state that existed prior to the identified information being allocated into the given entry. The cache control circuitry is further responsive to a mis-speculation condition being detected in respect of the speculative request, to employ the restore information maintained in the allocated tracking entry for that speculative request in order to restore the given entry in the cache storage to the original state. Such an approach can provide robust protection against speculation-based cache timing side-channel attacks whilst alleviating the performance and/or power consumption issues associated with known techniques.