Question: Explain in detail the types of interrupts caused by sensitive instructions in x86 architecture and methods to handle them.
Explain in detail the types of interrupts caused by sensitive instructions in x86 architecture and methods to handle them.
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In the x86 architecture interrupts are signals that cause the CPU to stop its current activities and execute a special piece of code known as an interrupt handler When discussing sensitive instructions these are instructions that when executed can affect or reveal certain controlsensitive information about the system Sensitive instructions are particularly relevant in the context of virtualization where multiple operating systems are running on a single physical machine Types of Sensitive Instructions in x86 Sensitive instructions can be divided into the following types based on their characteristics 1 Controlsensitive Instructions These instructions attempt to change the processors state or mode Examples include POPF IRET LIDT and LLDT which modify control registers or descriptor tables 2 Behaviorsensitive Instructions Instructions whose behavior or result depends on the current state of the processor For instance the PUSHF and POPF instructions can be considered behaviorsensitive as they interact with the flags register 3 Resourcesensitive Instructions These instructions access or modify system resources like memory or hardware devices Examples can include direct access to hardware IO ports using instructions like IN and OUT Interrupts Related to Sensitive Instructions 1 Faults These interrupts occur when the processor detects an error condition while executing an instruction ... View full answer
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