System and method of determining memory ownership on cache line basis for detecting self-modifying code including code with instruction that overlaps cache line boundaries

Abstract

A system and method for determining memory ownership on a cache line basis for detecting self-modifying code with instructions that overlap cache line boundaries. An ownership index and a cache line address are entered into the ownership queue for each cache line. The cache lines are translated into instructions, and a straddle bit is set for each instruction that was derived from cache line data that overlapped two cache lines. A stale bit is set for any entry of the ownership queue that collides with a store instruction. Each instruction issued for execution is marked with a first exception when the stale bit of the corresponding ownership queue entry is set, or when the straddle bit of the issued instruction and a stale bit of a next sequential entry are both set. A first exception is performed for each instruction ready to retire that is marked with the first exception.