
Bill Roberts delivered foundational ARM64 Pointer Authentication Code (PAC) support for the golang/go repository, focusing on strengthening security against control-flow attacks. He implemented PAC instruction handling in the Go assembly backend using assembly language and Go, enabling signing and verification of the link register during function calls. This approach aligns with ARM ELF ABI requirements and establishes the groundwork for PAC-aware binaries, reducing the risk of return-oriented programming exploits in ARM64 builds. Bill’s work included detailed commit metadata to support future integration with the compiler, demonstrating depth in low-level programming and security enhancements within the Go toolchain’s architecture.
For 2025-09, delivered foundational ARM64 Pointer Authentication Code (PAC) support in the Go project (golang/go), strengthening defense against control-flow attacks and aligning with ELF ABI requirements. Implemented PAC instruction support in cmd/internal/obj/arm64 to enable signing and verification of the link register during function calls, paving the way for the compiler to emit PAC sequences. This work establishes the groundwork for PAC-aware binaries and reduces ROP risk in ARM64 builds. The main commit (11d3d2f77d8293fe14638e74cbf52d1241b60e78) adds PAC instructions with a path for future compiler integration. Review context and references were captured in the commit metadata to support follow-up changes. Impact: improved security posture, better reliability against return-oriented attacks, and alignment with external ARMv8.3+ PAC guidance; sets foundations for broader hardening across the Go toolchain.
For 2025-09, delivered foundational ARM64 Pointer Authentication Code (PAC) support in the Go project (golang/go), strengthening defense against control-flow attacks and aligning with ELF ABI requirements. Implemented PAC instruction support in cmd/internal/obj/arm64 to enable signing and verification of the link register during function calls, paving the way for the compiler to emit PAC sequences. This work establishes the groundwork for PAC-aware binaries and reduces ROP risk in ARM64 builds. The main commit (11d3d2f77d8293fe14638e74cbf52d1241b60e78) adds PAC instructions with a path for future compiler integration. Review context and references were captured in the commit metadata to support follow-up changes. Impact: improved security posture, better reliability against return-oriented attacks, and alignment with external ARMv8.3+ PAC guidance; sets foundations for broader hardening across the Go toolchain.

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