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New Version, New Answer: Investigating Cybersecurity Static-Analysis Tool Findings

  • Ann Marie Reinhold
  • , Travis Weber
  • , Colleen Lemak
  • , Derek Reimanis
  • , Clemente Izurieta

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Automated detection of vulnerabilities and weaknesses in binary code is a critical need at the frontier of cybersecurity research. Cybersecurity static-analysis tools aim to detect and enumerate vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Two popular tools are CVE Binary Tool (cve-bin-tool) and cwe-checker. Cve-bin-tool reports vulnerabilities using Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) whereas cwe-checker reports weaknesses using Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE). Despite widespread use, the consistency with which these tools report vulnerabilities and weaknesses (herein, 'findings') was unaddressed. We conducted a systematic investigation of 660 unique binaries taken from a Kali Linux distribution, evaluated each binary with multiple versions of the static-analysis tools, and investigated how the findings changed according to the version of the static-analysis tool used. We expected some variation in findings commensurate with the software-development life cycle. However, the number and magnitude of the changes in findings reported across versions were substantial. New versions gave new answers.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2023 IEEE International Conference on Cyber Security and Resilience, CSR 2023
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages28-35
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9798350311709
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 28 2023
Event3rd IEEE International Conference on Cyber Security and Resilience, CSR 2023 - Hybrid, Venice, Italy
Duration: Jul 31 2023Aug 2 2023

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 2023 IEEE International Conference on Cyber Security and Resilience, CSR 2023

Conference

Conference3rd IEEE International Conference on Cyber Security and Resilience, CSR 2023
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityHybrid, Venice
Period07/31/2308/2/23

INL Publication Number

  • NA

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