Abstract: Methods and apparatuses relating to switching of a shadow stack pointer are described. In one embodiment, a hardware processor includes a hardware decode unit to decode an instruction, and a hardware execution unit to execute the instruction to: pop a token for a thread from a shadow stack, wherein the token includes a shadow stack pointer for the thread with at least one least significant bit (LSB) of the shadow stack pointer overwritten with a bit value of an operating mode of the hardware processor for the thread, remove the bit value in the at least one LSB from the token to generate the shadow stack pointer, and set a current shadow stack pointer to the shadow stack pointer from the token when the operating mode from the token matches a current operating mode of the hardware processor.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems, apparatuses and methods provide enhanced function as a service (FaaS) to users, e.g., computer developers and cloud service providers (CSPs). A computing system configured to provide such enhanced FaaS service include one or more controls architectural subsystems, software and orchestration subsystems, network and storage subsystems, and security subsystems. The computing system executes functions in response to events triggered by the users in an execution environment provided by the architectural subsystems, which represent an abstraction of execution management and shield the users from the burden of managing the execution. The software and orchestration subsystems allocate computing resources for the function execution by intelligently spinning up and down containers for function code with decreased instantiation latency and increased execution scalability while maintaining secured execution.

Abstract: A processor implementing techniques for processor extensions to protect stacks during ring transitions is provided. In one embodiment, the processor includes a plurality of registers and a processor core, operatively coupled to the plurality of registers. The plurality of registers is used to store data used in privilege level transitions. Each register of the plurality of registers is associated with a privilege level. An indicator to change a first privilege level of a currently active application to a second privilege level is received. In view of the second privilege level, a shadow stack pointer (SSP) stored in a register of the plurality of registers is selected. The register is associated with the second privilege level. By using the SSP, a shadow stack for use by the processor at the second privilege level is identified.

Abstract: A processor of an aspect includes a decode unit to decode an instruction. The processor also includes an execution unit coupled with the decode unit. The execution unit, in response to the instruction, is to determine that an attempted change due to the instruction, to a shadow stack pointer of a shadow stack, would cause the shadow stack pointer to exceed an allowed range. The execution unit is also to take an exception in response to determining that the attempted change to the shadow stack pointer would cause the shadow stack pointer to exceed the allowed range. Other processors, methods, systems, and instructions are disclosed.

Abstract: Implementations describe providing isolation in virtualized systems using trust domains. In one implementation, a processing device includes a memory ownership table (MOT) that is access-controlled against software access. The processing device further includes a processing core to execute a trust domain resource manager (TDRM) to manage a trust domain (TD), maintain a trust domain control structure (TDCS) for managing global metadata for each TD, maintain an execution state of the TD in at least one trust domain thread control structure (TD-TCS) that is access-controlled against software accesses, and reference the MOT to obtain at least one key identifier (key ID) corresponding to an encryption key assigned to the TD, the key ID to allow the processing device to decrypt memory pages assigned to the TD responsive to the processing device executing in the context of the TD, the memory pages assigned to the TD encrypted with the encryption key.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a processor to read a data line from memory in response to a read request from a VM. The data line comprises encrypted memory data. The apparatus also comprises a memory encryption circuit in the processor. The memory encryption circuit is to use an address of the read request to select an entry from a P2K table; obtain a key identifier from the selected entry of the P2K table; use the key identifier to select a key for the read request; and use the selected key to decrypt the encrypted memory data into decrypted memory data. The processor is further to make the decrypted memory data available to the VM. The P2K table comprises multiple entries, each comprising (a) a key identifier for a page of memory and (b) an encrypted address for that page of memory. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A processor implementing techniques for processor extensions to protect stacks during ring transitions is provided. In one embodiment, the processor includes a plurality of registers and a processor core, operatively coupled to the plurality of registers. The plurality of registers is used to store data used in privilege level transitions. Each register of the plurality of registers is associated with a privilege level. An indicator to change a first privilege level of a currently active application to a second privilege level is received. In view of the second privilege level, a shadow stack pointer (SSP) stored in a register of the plurality of registers is selected. The register is associated with the second privilege level. By using the SSP, a shadow stack for use by the processor at the second privilege level is identified.

Abstract: Implementations describe providing isolation in virtualized systems using trust domains. In one implementation, a processing device includes a memory ownership table (MOT) that is access-controlled against software access. The processing device further includes a processing core to execute a trust domain resource manager (TDRM) to manage a trust domain (TD), maintain a trust domain control structure (TDCS) for managing global metadata for each TD, maintain an execution state of the TD in at least one trust domain thread control structure (TD-TCS) that is access-controlled against software accesses, and reference the MOT to obtain at least one key identifier (key ID) corresponding to an encryption key assigned to the TD, the key ID to allow the processing device to decrypt memory pages assigned to the TD responsive to the processing device executing in the context of the TD, the memory pages assigned to the TD encrypted with the encryption key.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses relating to switching of a shadow stack pointer are described. In one embodiment, a hardware processor includes a hardware decode unit to decode an instruction, and a hardware execution unit to execute the instruction to: pop a token for a thread from a shadow stack, wherein the token includes a shadow stack pointer for the thread with at least one least significant bit (LSB) of the shadow stack pointer overwritten with a bit value of an operating mode of the hardware processor for the thread, remove the bit value in the at least one LSB from the token to generate the shadow stack pointer, and set a current shadow stack pointer to the shadow stack pointer from the token when the operating mode from the token matches a current operating mode of the hardware processor.

Abstract: A processor of an aspect includes a decode unit to decode an instruction. The processor also includes an execution unit coupled with the decode unit. The execution unit, in response to the instruction, is to determine that an attempted change due to the instruction, to a shadow stack pointer of a shadow stack, would cause the shadow stack pointer to exceed an allowed range. The execution unit is also to take an exception in response to determining that the attempted change to the shadow stack pointer would cause the shadow stack pointer to exceed the allowed range. Other processors, methods, systems, and instructions are disclosed.

Abstract: A processor executes an untrusted VMM that manages execution of a guest workload. The processor also populates an entry in a memory ownership table for the guest workload. The memory ownership table is indexed by an original hardware physical address, the entry comprises an expected guest address that corresponds to the original hardware physical address, and the entry is encrypted with a key domain key. In response to receiving a request from the guest workload to access memory using a requested guest address, the processor (a) obtains, from the untrusted VMM, a hardware physical address that corresponds to the requested guest address; (b) uses that physical address as an index to find an entry in the memory ownership table; and (c) verifies whether the expected guest address from the found entry matches the requested guest address. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium comprises instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to execute an untrusted workload manager to manage execution of at least one guest workload.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a system for address mapping and translation protection. In one embodiment, processing circuitry may include a virtual machine manager (VMM) to control specific guest linear address (GLA) translations. Control may be implemented in a performance sensitive and secure manner, and may be capable of improving performance for critical linear address page walks over legacy operation by removing some or all of the cost of page walking extended page tables (EPTs) for critical mappings. Alone or in combination with the above, certain portions of a page table structure may be selectively made immutable by a VMM or early boot process using a sub-page policy (SPP). For example, SPP may enable non-volatile kernel and/or user space code and data virtual-to-physical memory mappings to be made immutable (e.g., non-writable) while allowing for modifications to non-protected portions of the OS paging structures and particularly the user space.

Abstract: Encryption interface technologies are described. A processor can include a system agent, an encryption interface, and a memory controller. The system agent can communicate data with a hardware functional block. The encryption interface can be coupled between the system agent and a memory controller. The encryption interface can receive a plaintext request from the system agent, encrypt the plaintext request to obtain an encrypted request, and communicate the encrypted request to the memory controller. The memory controller can communicate the encrypted request to a main memory of the computing device.

Abstract: A method of handling a firmware update for a device is disclosed, comprising: determining a device to be in an updatable state; setting the device into an updating state after determining the updatable state; and after the device is in the updating state, writing a firmware update to memory for the device. After writing the firmware update, the device is switchable to a working state in which the device operates based on the firmware update.

Abstract: Encryption interface technologies are described. A processor can include a system agent, an encryption interface, and a memory controller. The system agent can communicate data with a hardware functional block. The encryption interface can be coupled between the system agent and a memory controller. The encryption interface can receive a plaintext request from the system agent, encrypt the plaintext request to obtain an encrypted request, and communicate the encrypted request to the memory controller. The memory controller can communicate the encrypted request to a main memory of the computing device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a processor to read a data line from memory in response to a read request from a VM. The data line comprises encrypted memory data. The apparatus also comprises a memory encryption circuit in the processor. The memory encryption circuit is to use an address of the read request to select an entry from a P2K table; obtain a key identifier from the selected entry of the P2K table; use the key identifier to select a key for the read request; and use the selected key to decrypt the encrypted memory data into decrypted memory data. The processor is further to make the decrypted memory data available to the VM. The P2K table comprises multiple entries, each comprising (a) a key identifier for a page of memory and (b) an encrypted address for that page of memory. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a system for address mapping and translation protection. In one embodiment, processing circuitry may include a virtual machine manager (VMM) to control specific guest linear address (GLA) translations. Control may be implemented in a performance sensitive and secure manner, and may be capable of improving performance for critical linear address page walks over legacy operation by removing some or all of the cost of page walking extended page tables (EPTs) for critical mappings. Alone or in combination with the above, certain portions of a page table structure may be selectively made immutable by a VMM or early boot process using a sub-page policy (SPP). For example, SPP may enable non-volatile kernel and/or user space code and data virtual-to-physical memory mappings to be made immutable (e.g., non-writable) while allowing for modifications to non-protected portions of the OS paging structures and particularly the user space.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method comprises executing an untrusted host virtual machine monitor (VMM) to manage execution of at least one guest virtual machine (VM). The VMM receives an encrypted key domain key, an encrypted guest code image, and an encrypted guest control structure. The VM also issues a create command. In response, a processor creates a first key domain comprising a region of memory to be encrypted by a key domain key. The encrypted key domain key is decrypted to produce the key domain key, which is inaccessible to the VMM. The VMM issues a launch command. In response, a first guest VM is launched within the first key domain. In response to a second launch command, a second guest VM is launched within the first key domain. The second guest VM provides an agent to act on behalf of the VMM. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A processor implementing techniques for processor extensions to protect stacks during ring transitions is provided. In one embodiment, the processor includes a plurality of registers and a processor core, operatively coupled to the plurality of registers. The plurality of registers is used to store data used in privilege level transitions. Each register of the plurality of registers is associated with a privilege level. An indicator to change a first privilege level of a currently active application to a second privilege level is received. In view of the second privilege level, a shadow stack pointer (SSP) stored in a register of the plurality of registers is selected. The register is associated with the second privilege level. By using the SSP, a shadow stack for use by the processor at the second privilege level is identified.