From Debugging-Information Based Binary-Level Type Inference to CFG Generation

Abstract

Binary-level Control-Flow Graph (CFG) construction is essential for applications such as control-flow integrity. There are two main approaches: the binary-analysis approach and the compiler-modification approach. The binary-analysis approach does not require source code, but it constructs low-precision CFGs. The compiler-modification approach requires source code and modifies compilers for CFG generation. We describe the design and implementation of an alternative system for high-precision CFG construction, which still assumes source code but does not modify compilers. Our approach makes use of standard compiler-generated meta-information, including symbol tables, relocation information, and debugging information. A key component in the system is a type-inference engine that infers types of low-level storage locations such as registers from types in debugging information. Inferred types enable a type-signature matching method for high-precision CFG construction.