Memory protection Computer multitasking

essential multitasking system safely , share access system resources. access memory must strictly managed ensure no process can inadvertently or deliberately read or write memory locations outside of process s address space. done purpose of general system stability , data integrity, data security.

in general, memory access management responsibility of operating system kernel, in combination hardware mechanisms provide supporting functionalities, such memory management unit (mmu). if process attempts access memory location outside of memory space, mmu denies request , signals kernel take appropriate actions; results in forcibly terminating offending process. depending on software , kernel design , specific error in question, user may receive access violation error message such segmentation fault .

in designed , correctly implemented multitasking system, given process can never directly access memory belongs process. exception rule in case of shared memory; example, in system v inter-process communication mechanism kernel allocates memory mutually shared multiple processes. such features used database management software such postgresql.

inadequate memory protection mechanisms, either due flaws in design or poor implementations, allow security vulnerabilities may potentially exploited malicious software.