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: Embodiments of an invention for memory management in secure enclaves are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes an instruction unit and an execution unit. The instruction unit is to receive a first instruction and a second instruction. The execution unit is to execute the first instruction, wherein execution of the first instruction includes allocating a page in an enclave page cache to a secure enclave. The execution unit is also to execute the second instruction, wherein execution of the second instruction includes confirming the allocation of the page.

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 includes a decode unit to decode an instruction that is to indicate a page of a protected container memory, and a storage location outside of the protected container memory. An execution unit, in response to the instruction, is to ensure that there are no writable references to the page of the protected container memory while it has a write protected state. The execution unit is to encrypt a copy of the page of the protected container memory. The execution unit is to store the encrypted copy of the page to the storage location outside of the protected container memory, after it has been ensured that there are no writable references. The execution unit is to leave the page of the protected container memory in the write protected state, which is also valid and readable, after the encrypted copy has been stored to the storage location.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having an execution logic to execute instructions and a control transfer termination (CTT) logic coupled to the execution logic. This logic is to cause a CTT fault to be raised if a target instruction of a control transfer instruction is not a CTT instruction. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Instructions and logic interrupt and resume paging in secure enclaves. Embodiments include instructions, specify page addresses allocated to a secure enclave, the instructions are decoded for execution by a processor. The processor includes an enclave page cache to store secure data in a first cache line and in a last cache line for a page corresponding to the page address. A page state is read from the first or last cache line for the page when an entry in an enclave page cache mapping for the page indicates only a partial page is stored in the enclave page cache. The entry for a partial page may be set, and a new page state may be recorded in the first cache line when writing-back, or in the last cache line when loading the page when the instruction's execution is being interrupted. Thus the writing-back, or loading can be resumed.

Abstract: Generally, this disclosure provides systems, devices, methods and computer readable media for controlled memory view switching. The system may include a memory module comprising a shared address space between a first memory view and a second memory view. The system may also include a virtual machine monitor (VMM) to maintain a list of Controlled View Switch (CVS) descriptors. The system may further include a processor to receive a memory view switch request and to execute an instruction to save processor state information and switch from the first memory view to the second memory view, wherein the second memory view is specified by an extended page table pointer (EPTP) provided by one of the CVS descriptors.

Abstract: A processor includes an execution unit and a processing logic operatively coupled to the execution unit, the processing logic to: enter a first execution state and transition to a second execution state responsive to executing a control transfer instruction. Responsive to executing a target instruction of the control transfer instruction, the processing logic further transitions to the first execution state responsive to the target instruction being a control transfer termination instruction of a mode identical to a mode of the processing logic following the execution of the control transfer instruction; and raises an execution exception responsive to the target instruction being a control transfer termination instruction of a mode different than the mode of the processing logic following the execution of the control transfer instruction.

Abstract: Instructions and logic support suspending and resuming migration of enclaves in a secure enclave page cache (EPC). An EPC stores a secure domain control structure (SDCS) in storage accessible by an enclave for a management process, and by a domain of enclaves. A second processor checks if a corresponding version array (VA) page is bound to the SDCS, and if so: increments a version counter in the SDCS for the page, performs an authenticated encryption of the page from the EPC using the version counter in the SDCS, and writes the encrypted page to external memory. A second processor checks if a corresponding VA page is bound to a second SDCS of the second processor, and if so: performs an authenticated decryption of the page using a version counter in the second SDCS, and loads the decrypted page to the EPC in the second processor if authentication passes.

Abstract: A processor includes an execution unit and a processing logic operatively coupled to the execution unit, the processing logic to: enter a first execution state; responsive to executing a control transfer instruction having a pre-defined subcode, remain in the first execution state; responsive to executing a control transfer instruction not having the pre-defined subcode, transition into a second execution state; and responsive to determining, in the second execution state, that a next instruction to be executed differs from an ENDBRANCH instruction, raise an execution exception.

Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus, method, and other techniques to handle interrupts directed to secure virtual machines. Work is added to a work queue in a shared memory buffer in accordance with a received request, and a task-priority register is updated to block interrupts not directed toward the secure virtual machine. A timer that expires after a number of cycles of the computer processor have elapsed is started. The secure virtual machine is launched on the computer processor, and a work queue in a shared memory buffer is polled for work to be executed by the secure virtual machine until the work queue is empty or until the timer expires.

Abstract: Embodiments of an invention for paging in secure enclaves are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes an instruction unit and an execution unit. The instruction unit is to receive a first instruction. The execution unit is to execute the first instruction, wherein execution of the first instruction includes evicting a first page from an enclave page cache.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sub-page extended page table protection. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises: a page miss handler to perform a page walk using a guest physical address (GPA) and to detect whether a page identified with the GPA is mapped with sub-page permissions; a sub-page control storage to store at least one GPA and other data related to a sub-page; the page miss handler to determine whether the GPA is programmed in the sub-page control storage; and the page miss handler to send a translation to a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) with a sub-page protection indication set to cause a matching of the sub-page control storage when an access matches a TLB entry with sub-page protection indication.

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 an invention for a guest-physical address translation lookaside buffer are disclosed. In an embodiment, a processor includes an instruction decoder, a control register, and memory address translation hardware. The instruction decoder is to receive an instruction to transfer control of the processor to guest software to execute on a virtual machine. The virtual machine is to have a plurality of resources to be controlled by a virtual machine monitor. The virtual machine monitor is to execute on a host machine having a host-physical memory to be accessed using a plurality of host-physical addresses. The plurality of resources is to include a guest-physical memory. The guest software is to access the guest-physical memory using a plurality of guest-virtual addresses. The control register is to store a pointer to a plurality of virtual address page tables.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having a decode unit, an execution unit, and a retirement unit. The decode unit is to decode control transfer instructions and the execution unit is to execute control transfer instructions. The retirement unit is to retire a first control transfer instruction, and to raise a fault if a next instruction to be retired after the first control transfer instruction is not a second control transfer instruction and a target instruction of the first control transfer instruction is in code using the control transfer instructions.

Abstract: Embodiments of an invention for maintaining a secure processing environment across power cycles are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes an instruction unit and an execution unit. The instruction unit is to receive an instruction to evict a root version array page entry from a secure cache. The execution unit is to execute the instruction. Execution of the instruction includes generating a blob to contain information to maintain a secure processing environment across a power cycle and storing the blob in a non-volatile memory.

Abstract: Embodiments of an invention for logging in secure enclaves are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes an instruction unit and an execution unit. The instruction unit is to receive an instruction having an associated enclave page cache address. The execution unit is to execute the instruction without causing a virtual machine exit, wherein execution of the instruction includes logging the instruction and the associated enclave page cache address.

Abstract: Generally, this disclosure provides systems, devices, methods and computer readable media for protecting confidential data with transactional processing in execute-only memory. The system may include a memory module configured to store an execute-only code page. The system may also include a transaction processor configured to enforce a transaction region associated with at least a portion of the code page. The system may further include a processor configured to execute a load instruction fetched from the code page, the load instruction configured to load at least a portion of the confidential data from an immediate operand of the load instruction if a transaction mode of the transaction region is enabled.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a host controller is configured to control communication with a plurality of universal serial bus (USB) devices, and to couple to a management controller and a host processor. The host controller includes a filter logic to filter information from a management control transmission protocol (MCTP) endpoint of a first USB device from being communicated to the host processor and to provide the MCTP endpoint information to the management controller. Other embodiments are described and claimed.