Hardened extended firmware interface framework

An apparatus comprising:

• a non-volatile memory component on which a plurality of instructions are stored comprising a set of trusted core firmware components that when executed by a processor initialize a computer system prior to launching an operating system on the computer system by performing the operations of:
• executing the trusted core firmware components using a privileged execution mode of the processor;
• locating a plurality of extended firmware components stored on the non-volatile memory component and/or other firmware devices in the computer system;
• and
• executing the extended firmware components using a non-privileged execution mode of the processor.

A method for initializing a computer system, comprising:

• executing firmware code corresponding to a pre-extensible firmware interface initializing (PEI) framework using a privileged execution mode of a processor for the computer system;
• locating one or more PEI modules that are stored on one or more firmware devices in the computer system;
• and
• executing firmware code corresponding to said one or more PEI modules using a non-privileged execution mode of the processor.

A computer system comprising:

• system memory;
• a processor, coupled to the system memory;
• and
• a first firmware device coupled to the processor on which a plurality of instructions are stored comprising at least one extended firmware component and a set of trusted core firmware components and that when executed by the processor initialize the computer system prior to launching an operating system on the computer system by performing the operations of:
• executing the trusted core firmware components using a privileged execution mode of the processor;
• and
• executing said at least one extended firmware component using a non-privileged execution mode of the processor.