System and method for code and data security in a semiconductor device

A semiconductor device, comprising

• a processor core;
• memory;
• a memory buffer positioned between the processor core and memory;
• and
• wherein the memory buffer selectively allows or prevents data to pass between the memory and the processor core responsive to a comparison of a first set of data to a second set of data.

A semiconductor device, comprising

• a processor core;
• memory;
• security logic;
• a memory buffer positioned between the processor core and memory;
• and
• wherein the memory buffer selectively allows or prevents data to pass between the memory and processor core responsive to a signal received from security logic;
• and
• wherein the security logic generates the signal to the memory buffer on the basis of the content of password data.

A method for securing a semiconductor device to prevent access to data on a local memory of the semiconductor device, comprising the steps of:

• executing a read operation in the processor core of the device, the read operation directed to a predefined location in the memory housing a first set of password data;
• copying the first set of password data to a first password register;
• comparing the first set of password data of the first password register to a second set of password data;
• and
• transmitting a data pass signal to a memory buffer between the processor core and the memory if the first set of password data is identical to the second set of password data.