# Hardened malloc

> GrapheneOS hardened memory allocator inspired by OpenBSD malloc

**Wikidata**: [Q131692673](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131692673)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardened_malloc)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hardened-malloc

## Summary
Hardened malloc is a memory allocator developed by GrapheneOS, inspired by OpenBSD's malloc implementation. It is designed to enhance security by mitigating memory corruption vulnerabilities and is integrated into the GrapheneOS operating system.

## Key Facts
- Hardened malloc is developed by GrapheneOS, a security-focused Android-based mobile operating system
- It is inspired by OpenBSD's malloc implementation and focuses on security and exploit mitigation
- The software is licensed under the MIT License and is free software
- It is compatible with musl, GNU C Library, and Bionic (Android's C library)
- Hardened malloc runs on Android and Linux operating systems
- It is part of the GrapheneOS operating system and contributes to its security features
- The project has released 10 stable versions between July 2019 and January 2022
- Daniel Micay, a Canadian developer and security researcher, is associated with GrapheneOS development

## FAQs
### Q: What is Hardened malloc and what does it do?
A: Hardened malloc is a memory allocator developed by GrapheneOS that enhances security by mitigating memory corruption vulnerabilities. It is inspired by OpenBSD's malloc implementation and is integrated into the GrapheneOS operating system.

### Q: Who created Hardened malloc?
A: Hardened malloc was created by GrapheneOS, a security and privacy-focused Android-based mobile operating system developed by Canadian developer Daniel Micay and his team.

### Q: What operating systems support Hardened malloc?
A: Hardened malloc is compatible with Android and Linux operating systems, and it is specifically designed to work with musl, GNU C Library, and Bionic (Android's C library).

## Why It Matters
Hardened malloc represents a significant advancement in memory security for mobile and embedded systems. By implementing exploit mitigations inspired by OpenBSD's proven memory allocator, it addresses critical vulnerabilities that attackers commonly exploit through memory corruption. The allocator's integration into GrapheneOS demonstrates how fundamental system components can be hardened to create a more secure computing environment. This approach is particularly important for mobile devices, which often contain sensitive personal data and are frequent targets for sophisticated attacks. Hardened malloc's development reflects the growing recognition that security must be built into core system components rather than added as an afterthought, setting a standard for how memory management can be made more resilient against exploitation.

## Notable For
- Being specifically designed for security and exploit mitigation in memory management
- Integration into GrapheneOS, a privacy-focused Android-based operating system
- Compatibility with multiple C library implementations (musl, GNU C Library, Bionic)
- Regular release cycle with 10 stable versions published between 2019-2022
- Open-source development under the permissive MIT License

## Body
### Development and Background
Hardened malloc was developed by GrapheneOS as part of their comprehensive security approach to mobile operating systems. The project draws inspiration from OpenBSD's malloc implementation, which is known for its security-focused design and exploit mitigations.

### Technical Implementation
The allocator is implemented in C and designed to work with multiple C library implementations, including musl, GNU C Library, and Android's Bionic library. This cross-compatibility allows it to be used in various environments while maintaining its security properties.

### Security Features
Hardened malloc incorporates exploit mitigations that protect against common memory corruption vulnerabilities such as buffer overflows, use-after-free errors, and other memory-related attacks. These security features are integrated at the memory allocation level, providing foundational protection for applications and the operating system.

### Integration with GrapheneOS
As part of GrapheneOS, hardened malloc contributes to the operating system's overall security posture. GrapheneOS is a privacy and security-focused Android-based mobile operating system developed in Canada, with a focus on providing users with enhanced protection against surveillance and exploitation.

### Release History
The project has maintained an active development cycle with 10 stable releases between July 2019 and January 2022, demonstrating ongoing improvements and refinements to the allocator's security features and performance characteristics.

## Schema Markup
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  "license": "MIT License",
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## References

1. [Release 1. 2019](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc/releases/tag/1)
2. [Release 2. 2019](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc/releases/tag/2)
3. [Release 3. 2020](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc/releases/tag/3)
4. [Release 4. 2020](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc/releases/tag/4)
5. [Release 5. 2021](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc/releases/tag/5)
6. [Release 6. 2021](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc/releases/tag/6)
7. [Release 7. 2021](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc/releases/tag/7)
8. [Release 8. 2021](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc/releases/tag/8)
9. [Release 9. 2022](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc/releases/tag/9)
10. [Release 10. 2022](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc/releases/tag/10)
11. [Release 11. 2022](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc/releases/tag/11)
12. [Release 12. 2024](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc/releases/tag/12)
13. [Release 13. 2024](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc/releases/tag/13)
14. [Release 14. 2026](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc/releases/tag/14)
15. [Source](https://grapheneos.org/features#exploit-mitigations)