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Product update: Arm Development Studio 2023.1 now available

Ronan Synnott
2 minute read time.

Arm has released the latest update to Arm Development Studio, version 2023.1.

Key technology features newly supported in this release are:

as well as general stability and usability improvements.

Individual components of Development Studio have been updated as follows:

  • Arm Compiler for Embedded updated to version 6.21
  • Arm Streamline has been updated to version 8.8
  • Fixed Virtual Platforms (FVPs) are now based on Arm Fast Models 11.23
  • Arm Graphics Analyzer has been updated to version 5.12.1.

See the Release notes for full details.

Are you an existing Development Studio user?

Arm Development Studio is used by many developers throughout the development cycle. We are very interested to learn how you use Development Studio, and of your experience with it.

We would appreciate a few moments of your time to reply to this anonymous survey.

Cortex-A520, Cortex-A720, and Cortex-X4

Arm Development Studio 2023.1 is the first public release to support these Armv9.2-A processors. Support is provided throughout the package via:

  • Arm Compiler for Embedded
  • Arm DS Debugger
  • Streamline Performance Analyzer
  • Fixed Virtual Platforms

Example projects are also provided for each processor to help you get started.

Cortex-A720 Fireworks example

Guarded Control Stack

Guarded Control Stack (GCS) is an Arm v9-A Architecture extension (FEAT_GCS), where return addresses are written to this stack as well as to the LR, and addresses compared when returning. The GCS can be used to mitigate against ROP attacks to your code base. The functionality is described in the Arm A-Profile Architecture Developments 2022 announcement.

Guarded Control Stack

Arm Development Studio 2023.1 adds support for GCS in Arm Compiler for Embedded and the Arm DS Debugger. An example project illustrating its use is also provided.

This screenshot illustrates the scenario before a ROP attack occurs. The LR matches the highlighted value in the GCS (0x800001D0). The new gcs print command lists the entries on the GCS.

Before ROP attack

A ROP attack is simulated by modifying the value on the GCS.

The RET instruction is executed and an exception is taken.

After ROP attack

Other improvements

Alongside general stability improvements, usability of the debugger has been improved.

To facilitate the readability of values in registers, they can be grouped into smaller fields of 2, 3, 4, or 8 characters.

Options have been added to the armdbg command line debugger to facilitate the usage of CMSIS packs. Also commands (--connect-hold-reset and --connect-pre-reset) to control reset pulses emitted from DSTREAM when connecting to target hardware. See the Arm Development Studio documentation for full details.

Additional examples have also been added to the repository to help you get started with your project.

MPS2 Train example

For information on updates made to Arm Streamline, see my colleague's What's new in Arm Mobile Studio 2023.4 blog.

Available now

Arm Development Studio installers are available from the Arm Developer website..

  • Existing users of Arm Development Studio with valid support and maintenance can upgrade to this version free of charge.
  • Arm Development Studio is also provided as a component of Arm Success Kits.
  • New to Development Studio? A fully featured 30-day evaluation license is available free of charge.

Download Arm Development Studio

Anonymous

  • Some users have reported that they are unable to use certain features of Arm Development Studio 2023.1.

    The solution is to replace the contents of the sw/mappings folder of your installation with the attached.

    Do not use these files with other versions of Arm Development Studio.



    mappings.zip

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