Abstract: An apparatus is provided for determining, for use in a tag-guarded memory, a selected tag value from a plurality of tag values. The apparatus comprises ordered list generation circuitry to receive an excluded tag vector comprising a plurality of fields, where each field is associated with a tag value and identifies whether the associated tag value is excluded from use. The ordered list generation circuitry is arranged to generate, from the excluded tag vector, an ordered list of non-excluded tag values. The apparatus further comprises count determination circuitry to determine, using the excluded tag vector and an identified start tag value, a count value indicative of a number of non-excluded tag values occurring in a region of the excluded tag vector bounded by an initial field and a field corresponding to the start tag value.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for determining, for use in a tag-guarded memory, a selected tag value from a plurality of tag values. The apparatus comprises ordered list generation circuitry to receive an excluded tag vector comprising a plurality of fields, where each field is associated with a tag value and identifies whether the associated tag value is excluded from use. The ordered list generation circuitry is arranged to generate, from the excluded tag vector, an ordered list of non-excluded tag values. The apparatus further comprises count determination circuitry to determine, using the excluded tag vector and an identified start tag value, a count value indicative of a number of non-excluded tag values occurring in a region of the excluded tag vector bounded by an initial field and a field corresponding to the start tag value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for enhancing resilience to attacks on reset of the apparatus. The apparatus comprises at least one storage element, and update circuitry that is configured to receive obscuring data, and which is responsive to a reset event to store in each of the at least one storage element a data value that is dependent on the current value of the obscuring data. For each such storage element, this ensures that the data value stored in that storage element is unpredictable following each reset event, thereby preventing the reproducibility of certain steps that would typically be taken by an attacker during an attack on the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for enhancing resilience to attacks on reset of the apparatus. The apparatus comprises at least one storage element, and update circuitry that is configured to receive obscuring data, and which is responsive to a reset event to store in each of the at least one storage element a data value that is dependent on the current value of the obscuring data. For each such storage element, this ensures that the data value stored in that storage element is unpredictable following each reset event, thereby preventing the reproducibility of certain steps that would typically be taken by an attacker during an attack on the apparatus.