The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 2026
Filed:
May. 31, 2023
Applicant:
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Inventors:
Yin Zin Mark Lam, Milpitas, CA (US);
Jeff Gonion, Campbell, CA (US);
Assignee:
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 21/52 (2013.01); H04L 9/32 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04L 9/3247 (2013.01); G06F 21/52 (2013.01);
Abstract
In an embodiment, a processor includes hardware circuitry which may be used to detect that a return address has been modified since it was generated. In response to detecting the modification, the processor may be configured to signal an exception or otherwise initiate error handling to prevent execution at the modified return address. In an embodiment, the processor may perform a cryptographic signature operation on the return address to generate a signed return address, and the signature may be verified before the address is used as a return target.