A method for detecting an invalid pointer including a source component and a target component, involving selecting a virtual source memory address for the source component wherein the virtual source memory address is within a first valid virtual address range, selecting a virtual target memory address for the target component wherein the virtual target memory address is within a second valid virtual address range, numerically combining the virtual source memory address and the virtual target memory address to obtain a new virtual source memory address, and writing the virtual target memory address into a memory location referenced by the new virtual source memory address, wherein writing the virtual target memory address triggers an action by a memory management unit (MMU) if the new virtual source memory address is an invalid memory location.