System and method for monitoring execution of privileged instructions

A system monitors the execution of privileged instructions by a processor of a computer system. The processor includes a current privilege level. The processor automatically generates a fault when attempting execution of an instruction requiring a higher privilege level than the current privilege level of the processor. The current privilege level of the processor is raised in response to a fault generated by a first faulting instruction. The first faulting instruction is executed. A trap is generated by executing the first faulting instruction. The current privilege level of the processor is lowered in response to the trap.