2018Proceedings of the Institute for System Programming of RASOpen access

Combining dynamic symbolic execution, code static analysis and fuzzing

A. Yu. Gerasimov, Sevak Sargsyan, S.Sh. Kurmangaleev, Jivan Hakobyan, Sergey Asryan, M.K. Ermakov

Open full text 7 citations

Abstract

This paper describes a new approach for dynamic code analysis. It combines dynamic symbolic execution and static code analysis with fuzzing to increase efficiency of each component. During fuzzing we recover indirect function calls and pass that information to the static analysis engine. This improves static path detection in the control flow graph of a program. Detected paths are used in dynamic symbolic execution to construct inputs which will cover new paths during execution. These inputs are used by the fuzzing tool to improve test-case generation and increase code coverage. The proposed approach can be used for classic fuzzing when the main goal is achieving high code coverage. As well it can be used for targeted analysis of paths and code fragments in the program. In this case the fuzzing tool accepts a set of programs addresses with potential defects and passes them to the static analysis engine. The engine constructs all paths connecting program entry point to the given addresses. Finally, dynamic symbolic execution is used to construct the set of inputs, which will cover these paths. Experimental results have shown that the proposed method can effectively detect different program defects.

Open-access reader

About this research paper

What this paper is about

This paper describes a new approach for dynamic code analysis. It combines dynamic symbolic execution and static code analysis with fuzzing to increase efficiency of each component. During fuzzing we recover indirect function calls and pass that information to the static analysis engine. This improves static path detection in the control flow graph of a program. Detected paths are used in dynamic symbolic execution to construct inputs which will cover new paths during execution. These inputs are used by the fuzzing tool to improve test-case generation and increase code coverage. The proposed approach can be used for classic fuzzing when the main goal is achieving high code coverage. As well it can be used for targeted analysis of paths and code fragments in the program. In this case the fuzzing tool accepts a set of programs addresses with potential defects and passes them to the static analysis engine. The engine constructs all paths connecting program entry point to the given addresses. Finally, dynamic symbolic execution is used to construct the set of inputs, which will cover these paths. Experimental results have shown that the proposed method can effectively detect different program defects.

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 7 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

This paper describes a new approach for dynamic code analysis. It combines dynamic symbolic execution and static code analysis with fuzzing to increase efficiency of each component. During fuzzing we recover indirect function calls and pass that information to the static analysis engine. This improves static path detection in the control flow graph of a program. Detected paths are used in dynamic symbolic execution to construct inputs which will cover new paths during execution. These inputs are used by the fuzzing tool to improve test-case generation and increase code coverage. The proposed approach can be used for classic fuzzing when the main goal is achieving high code coverage. As well it can be used for targeted analysis of paths and code fragments in the program. In this case the fuzzing tool accepts a set of programs addresses with potential defects and passes them to the static analysis engine. The engine constructs all paths connecting program entry point to the given addresses. Finally, dynamic symbolic execution is used to construct the set of inputs, which will cover these paths. Experimental results have shown that the proposed method can effectively detect different program defects.

Key concepts: Fuzz testing, Symbolic execution, Computer science, Static analysis, Code coverage, Program analysis, Control flow graph, Construct (python library)

Related papers

Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
Combining dynamic symbolic execution, code static analysis and fuzzing — Research Paper | ScholarLens