Amazon patents hardware chip that watches memory for security threats
Amazon has been granted a patent for a hardware component built into a computer's memory controller. This circuitry checks if a computer is trying to access specific memory areas that hold sensitive software, like firmware. If a security rule is triggered, the hardware automatically starts steps to block or fix the potential threat.
In the filing’s own words
A device comprises memory monitor circuitry configured to access one or more sensitive region descriptors to detect that a security rule applies to a target memory location of a memory access requested from a compute engine. The memory monitor circuitry determines that one or more mitigation operations associated with the security rule are to be performed, and initiates the mitigation operations.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A system, comprising: a memory monitor implemented in hardware and incorporated within a memory controller that receives memory access requests from a compute engine distinct from the memory controller; wherein the memory monitor comprises hardware circuitry is distinct from the compute engine and is configured in hardware to: detect that a target memory location of a memory access requested from the compute engine of the system is part of a particular region indicated in one or more sensitive region registers, wherein the particular region comprises one or more elements of firmware to which at least a first security rule applies; evaluate the first security rule with respect to the memory access; and based at least in part on a result of evaluating the first security rule, initiate one or more mitigation operations.
Facts
- Company
- Amazon (Amazon Technologies, Inc.)
- Official title
- Efficient monitoring of memory regions containing sensitive artifacts
- Patent number
- US12748837B1
- Application number
- 16699361
- Filed
- Nov 29, 2019
- Granted
- Sep 29, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 19
Classified under
G06F 21/554 Physics & computingG06N 20/00 Physics & computingG06F 2221/034 Physics & computingMore from Amazon in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.