Apple patents chip feature to stop hackers from hijacking program flow
Apple has filed a patent for a processor feature that checks if a program's return address has been tampered with. It uses a cryptographic signature to verify the address is valid before the computer jumps back to it, triggering an error if the check fails.
In the filing’s own words
In an embodiment, a processor includes hardware circuitry which may be used to detect that a return address has been modified since it was generated. In response to detecting the modification, the processor may be configured to signal an exception or otherwise initiate error handling to prevent execution at the modified return address. In an embodiment, the processor may perform a cryptographic signature operation on the return address to generate a signed return address, and the signature may be verified before the address is used as a return target.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1.- 20. (canceled)
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Pointer Authentication
- Publication number
- US20260322621A1
- Application number
- 19466142
- Filed
- Jan 30, 2026
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 21
Classified under
H04L 9/3247 Electricity & electronicsG06F 21/52 Physics & computingMore from Apple 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.