Kernel-Mode Drivers
Privileged components that coordinate hardware and shared resources within a kernel context.
Execution context
Kernel-mode drivers run in a privileged execution context and can participate in memory, interrupts, power, and device management. The privilege is a role in the host model, not a claim about a particular product.
Stack responsibilities
A kernel-mode component can be a bus, class, function, or filter driver. Its exact authority and interfaces depend on the device model and the resources assigned to its stack.
Trust and ownership
Because kernel code can affect shared system resources, package provenance, signing policy, input validation, and ownership rules are important parts of its description.
Scope of the label
Kernel-mode identifies where code executes. It does not say which hardware family it represents, whether it is a function or filter, or what capabilities the package exposes.
Reference facts
- Context
- Privileged kernel execution.
- Possible roles
- Bus, class, function, filter, storage, network, display, audio, and other stacks.
Questions and answers
Are all kernel-mode drivers hardware-specific?
No. Some provide shared bus or class behavior, and some represent virtual or system functions.
Why is signing emphasized for kernel code?
The component operates with broad authority, so platform policy needs evidence about package identity and integrity.