Intel Corporation
DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD TO IDENTIFY A SOURCE OF DATA POISONING

Abstract:

Techniques and mechanisms for a processor to efficiently identify a circuit resource as being a source of data poisoning. In an embodiment, metadata is communicated, in association with a communication of poisoned data to which the metadata pertains, to a first circuit block of a processor. The metadata indicates a poisoned state of the data, wherein the metadata identifies a second circuit block--which is included in or coupled to the processor--as being a poisoner of the data. Based on the metadata, the first circuit block generates a fault message which identifies the second circuit block as the poisoner of the data. In another embodiment, the processor further comprises the second circuit block, which poisons the data (based on the detection of an error condition) by providing in the metadata a unique identifier which is assigned to the second circuit block.