Method for the execution of a binary code of a computer program by a microprocessor

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a binary code that when read and executed by a microprocessor, causes the microprocessor to perform a method by executing the binary code, said binary code defining a data structure comprising multiple fields able to be accessed independently of one another, including a particular field to be read using a pointer, said method comprising:

• (a) writing, to a main memory, a value of the particular field, which is associated with a first field pointer identifier, said first field pointer identifier identifying the field pointer to be used to read the value of said particular field, and
• (b) reading the value of said particular field of the data structure from the main memory, said reading step comprising the following operations:
• (b1) obtaining a data structure pointer that points to a start of the data structure, said data structure pointer containing a first range of bits containing a starting address of the data structure in an address space of the computer program, and a second, different range of bits containing a data structure pointer identifier, said data structure pointer identifier uniquely identifying said data structure pointer among a set containing multiple different data structure pointers implemented in a same execution of the binary code by said microprocessor,
• (b2) constructing the field pointer that points directly to the particular field of the data structure to be read, said field pointer containing a first range of bits containing a starting address of the particular field in the address space of the computer program, and a second range of bits containing a second field pointer identifier, the constructing operation (b2) comprising the following sub-operations:
• (b2.1) determining the starting address of the particular field from the starting address contained in the first range of bits of the data structure pointer and a position of the particular field with respect to the start of the data structure,
• (b2.2) determining the second field pointer identifier from the data structure pointer identifier contained in the second range of bits of the data structure pointer obtained in operation (b1), and
• (b3) loading, from the main memory, the value of the particular field using the address contained in the first range of bits of the field pointer constructed in operation (b2), and
• (b4) checking that the second field identifier contained in the second range of bits of the field pointer constructed in operation (b2) corresponds to the first field pointer identifier associated with the particular field when said value is written to the main memory, and when the first and second field pointer identifiers do not match, triggering a signalling of an execution fault, and when the first and second field point identifiers match, suppressing the triggering of the signalling of an execution fault and processing, with the microprocessor, the loaded value of the particular field,
• wherein in step (a), the first field pointer identifier associated with the particular field is determined from the data structure pointer identifier and from an identifier of the particular field that differs for all fields of the data structure that are adjacent to the particular field to be read, and
• in operation (b2), the second field pointer identifier is additionally determined from the same identifier of the particular field in order to obtain the second field pointer identifier that systematically corresponds to the first field pointer identifier when the data structure pointer identifier is identical to one used to determine the first field pointer identifier.

A microprocessor configured to execute a binary code of a computer program, said binary code defining a data structure comprising multiple fields able to be accessed independently of one another, including a particular field to be read using a pointer, said microprocessor being configured to:

• (a) write, to a main electronic memory, a value of the particular field, which is associated with a first field pointer identifier, said first field pointer identifier identifying a field pointer to be used to read the value of said particular field, and
• (b) read the value of said particular field of the data structure from the main electronic memory, said reading step comprising the following operations:
• (b1) obtaining a data structure pointer that points to a start of the data structure, said data structure pointer containing a first range of bits containing a starting address of the data structure in an address space of the computer program, and a second, different range of bits containing a data structure pointer identifier, said data structure pointer identifier uniquely identifying said data structure pointer among a set containing multiple different data structure pointers implemented in a same execution of the binary code by said microprocessor,
• (b2) constructing the field pointer that points directly to the particular field of the data structure to be read, said field pointer containing a first range of bits containing a starting address of the particular field in the address space of the computer program, and a second range of bits containing a second field pointer identifier, said constructing operation (b2) comprising the following sub-operations:
• (b2.1) determining the starting address of the particular field from the starting address contained in the first range of bits of the data structure pointer and a position of the particular field with respect to the start of the data structure, and
• (b2.2) determining the second field pointer identifier from the data structure pointer identifier contained in the second range of bits of the data structure pointer obtained in operation (b1),
• (b3) loading, from the main memory, the value of the particular field using the address contained in the first range of bits of the field pointer constructed in operation (b2), and
• (b4) checking that the second field identifier contained in the second range of bits of the field pointer constructed in operation (b2) corresponds to the first field pointer identifier associated with the particular field when its value is written to the main memory, and when the first and second field pointer identifiers do not match, triggering the signalling of an execution fault, and when the first and second field point identifiers match, suppressing the triggering of the signalling of an execution fault and processing, with the microprocessor, the loaded value of the particular field,
• wherein said microprocessor is further configured to:
• in step (a), determine the first field pointer identifier associated with the particular field from the data structure pointer identifier and from an identifier of the particular field that differs for all fields of the data structure that are adjacent to the particular field to be read, and
• in operation (b2), additionally determine the second field pointer identifier from the same identifier of the particular field in order to obtain the second field pointer identifier that systematically corresponds to the first field pointer identifier when the data structure pointer identifier is identical to one used to determine the first field pointer identifier.