ARM Exception Handling: Synchronous Exceptions and Stack Pointer Selection In ARM architectures, particularly in ARMv8 and later, exception handling is a critical aspect of system design and debugging. A synchronous exception is one that occurs as a direct result of the execution of an instruction, such as an undefined instruction, a memory access fault, or…
ARM Cortex-A Series DDR Memory Vulnerability to Rowhammer Attacks The Rowhammer vulnerability is a significant security concern in modern computing systems, particularly those utilizing DDR memory. This issue arises due to the high-density nature of modern DRAM cells, where repeated access to a specific row of memory can cause bit flips in adjacent rows. On…
ARM Cortex-M33/M55 Vector Table Relocation and INVSTATE Fault Overview The ARM Cortex-M33 and Cortex-M55 processors, based on the ARMv8-M architecture, provide advanced features such as TrustZone security, enhanced DSP capabilities, and improved performance. One of the critical aspects of these processors is the Vector Table, which holds the addresses of exception handlers and is essential…
ARM Cortex-A53 Cryptography Extension: Undefined Abort Exception During SHA256 Operation The ARM Cortex-A53 processor, part of the ARMv8-A architecture, is widely used in embedded systems for its balance of performance and power efficiency. One of its notable features is the optional support for cryptographic extensions, which accelerate encryption and decryption operations. However, when attempting to…
ARM Cortex-R7 Asynchronous External Abort Exception Analysis The ARM Cortex-R7 processor is a high-performance real-time processor designed for safety-critical and deeply embedded applications. One of the critical exceptions that can occur in such systems is the Asynchronous External Abort, which is a type of SError interrupt. This exception is particularly challenging to debug because it…
ARM Cortex-R82 Cache Coherency in Multi-CPU Systems with ACE5-LITE The ARM Cortex-R82 processor, equipped with an ACE5-LITE interface, is designed for high-performance real-time applications. However, maintaining cache coherency in systems where the Cortex-R82 interacts with multiple CPUs or hardware modules can present significant challenges. The ACE5-LITE interface, while providing some level of coherency support, does…
ARM PL310 L2 Cache Controller SLVERR Interrupt Not Raised in ISR The ARM PL310 Level 2 Cache Controller (L2C) is a critical component in many ARM-based systems, providing high-performance caching mechanisms to optimize memory access. However, a specific issue arises when attempting to handle AXI slave errors (SLVERR) within the PL310 L2C, particularly when these…
ARMv8 AArch64 and AArch32 Compatibility Constraints The ARMv8 architecture introduces a significant shift in the way 32-bit and 64-bit applications and libraries interact. ARMv8 supports two execution states: AArch64, which is the 64-bit execution state, and AArch32, which is the 32-bit execution state. While ARMv8 processors are designed to be backward compatible with ARMv7 (32-bit)…
ARMv8 Cortex-A72 Thread Pinning and Core Affinity Implementation Understanding Thread Pinning and Core Affinity on ARMv8 Cortex-A72 Thread pinning, also known as thread affinity, is a technique used in multi-core systems to bind a specific thread to a particular CPU core. This is particularly useful in scenarios where you want to control the execution environment…
ARM Cortex-A76/77/78 NEON Performance Evaluation Challenges When working with advanced ARM Cortex-A series processors such as the A76, A77, and A78, evaluating the performance and energy efficiency of compiler techniques involving NEON instructions can be particularly challenging. NEON, ARM’s advanced SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) technology, is crucial for accelerating multimedia and signal processing applications….