Using ARM64 Pointer Authentication to Harden Return Addresses
Learn how ARMv8.3-A Pointer Authentication (PAC) signs return addresses to detect tampering, how to enable it in your toolchain and kernel, and what trade‑offs to consider.
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aarch64Using ARMv8.3 Pointer Authentication to Harden Return Addresses on AArch64
ARMv8.3 Pointer Authentication signs return addresses with a per-process key so corrupted returns fault instead of redirecting execution. This note covers the minimal compiler-flag design, trust boundaries, verification tests, and failure modes.
Diagnosing AArch64 PAC/BTI Failures in Mixed C/C++/Assembly Deployments
A diagnostic guide for intermittent SIGSEGV/SIGILL crashes after enabling ARM PAC/BTI on AArch64. Covers binary metadata checks, hardware/kernel verification, crash context capture, and targeted fixes for mixed C/C++/assembly/JIT deployments.
Diagnosing ARM64 Pointer Authentication Faults: SIGSEGV on Signed Pointers
Step‑by‑step guide to diagnose ARM64 Pointer Authentication faults: check SCTLR_EL1, read PAC keys, inspect ESR/FAR, verify with a test program, and apply the appropriate fix.
Configuring per-process PAC key uniqueness for AArch64 user space
Goal: guarantee that each EL0 process executing on an AArch64 system uses a distinct set of Pointer Authentication (PAC) keys so that signed pointers cannot be forged across process boundaries. Constraint: the ARMv8.3‑A architecture defines IA and IB keys per Exception Level but does not require them to be unique across different processes at the same EL, le