Apparatus and method for controlling use of bounded pointers

Abstract

Memory allocation circuitry allocate a memory region in memory, and bounded pointer generation circuitry generates bounded pointers including a revocable bounded pointer that provides a pointer value and range information identifying an address range of the memory region. The memory allocation circuitry provides, at a header location in the memory, a header for the memory region with a first token field which is initialized to a first token value associated with the memory region. The memory allocation circuitry is responsive to the deallocation of the memory region to modify the stored value in the first token field of the header. In response to a request to generate a memory address using the revocable bounded pointer, a use authentication check prevents generation of the memory address when it is determined that the stored value in the first token field has been changed.