External memory protection may be implemented for content addressable memory (CAM). Memory protection data, such as duplicate values for entries in a CAM or error detection codes generated from values of the entries in a CAM, may be stored in a random access memory that is separate from the CAM. When an entry in the CAM is accessed to perform a lookup or scrubbing operation, the memory protection data may be obtained from the RAM. A validation of the value of the entry may then be performed according to the memory protection data to determine whether the value is valid.