Efficient user space driver isolation by shallow virtual machines

Abstract

Technology for configuring and executing a shallow virtual machine to enhance memory protection between different portions of user space memory of a particular computing process. An example method involves: receiving, by a processor of a host, a request to create a computing process comprising a first and second executable code, wherein the computing process comprises an instruction to cause the processor to switch between first and second page table structures; loading the first and second executable code into memory of the host, wherein the first page table structure comprises mapping data for the first executable code and for the second executable code and wherein the second executable code comprises driver code of a device; updating the second page table structure to disable execution of the first executable code and to provide the second executable code with access to the device; and restricting the first executable code from accessing the device.