Detecting Vulnerabilities in Embedded Systems via Taint Analysis: A Survey

Abstract

Embedded systems are plagued by various security vulnerabilities that can lead to severe attacks. Therefore, it is crucial to detect and mitigate these vulnerabilities quickly and accurately. In this paper, we survey existing research on vulnerability detection in embedded systems, with taint analysis as the central perspective. Specifically, we describe and categorize embedded systems, highlight the challenges posed by embedded systems for taint analysis, examine state-of-the-art techniques, and categorize dozens of tools in this field. Our goal is to provide stakeholders with a better understanding of potential solutions to enhance the security and reliability of embedded systems. Finally, we predict and discuss some future directions for taint analysis in embedded systems.