Robustly Safe Compilation, an Efficient Form of Secure Compilation

Security-preserving compilers generate compiled code that withstands target-level attacks such as alteration of control flow, data leaks, or memory corruption. Many existing security-preserving are proven to be fully abstract, meaning they reflect and preserve observational equivalence. Fully abstract compilation is strong useful but, in certain cases, comes at the cost requiring expensive runtime constructs code. These may have no relevance for security, but needed accommodate differences between source target languages necessarily needs. As an alternative compilation, this article explores a different criterion secure called robustly safe RSC . Briefly, means preserves relevant safety properties program against all adversarial contexts interacting with program. We show can proved more easily than also often results efficient present two proof techniques establishing compiler attains and, illustrate them, develop three illustrative rely on protection mechanisms. then proceed turn one our into through example argue proving simpler full abstraction. To better explain clarify notions, uses syntax highlighting way colourblind black-8-white readers benefit from Reference [58]. For experience, please print view colour 1