A coprocessor is a secondary processor that works alongside the main CPU and handles specialized tasks such as graphics, cryptography, signal processing, or input/output control. By offloading those jobs, it can improve speed, reduce latency, and keep the primary processor focused on general computation.
In cyber security, coprocessors matter because they often sit close to trusted hardware and may run their own firmware, permissions, and update logic. That makes them useful for defenses such as secure boot, encryption acceleration, and hardware isolation, but it also creates extra attack surface. If a coprocessor is misconfigured or has vulnerable firmware, attackers may abuse it for code execution, privilege escalation, data theft, or stealthy persistence. Security teams therefore examine how the main CPU communicates with these components, what commands they accept, and whether their firmware can be audited or updated safely.