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  • PhD Dissertation Defense - Alan Romano

    Tue, Apr 30, 2024 @ 09:30 AM - 11:30 AM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

    University Calendar


    Title: Static Program Analyses for WebAssembly
     
    Committee Members: Weihang Wang (Chair), Chao Wang, and Pierluigi Nuzzo
     
    Date/Time: Tuesday, April 30th, 9:30am - 11:30am
     
    Abstract: WebAssembly is a recent standard for the web that aims to enable high-performance web applications that can run at near-native speeds. The standard has gained attention in both academia and industry for its ability to speed up existing user-facing web applications. Due to its well-defined and sound design, many static program analysis techniques have been developed to accomplish various purposes of WebAssembly analysis. However, we identify gaps in the static program analysis tools of the current WebAssembly ecosystem. We find that current program optimizations applied on WebAssembly modules may lead to diminished performance. We also identify a lack of tools that help developers understand WebAssembly modules through robust binary decompilation. Finally, we find a gap in the ability to analyze cross-language WebAssembly applications across the two languages they are typically implemented in, i.e., WebAssembly and JavaScript.
     
    In this thesis, we present a novel WebAssembly Analysis Framework, or WAF . WAF is a static program analysis framework for WebAssembly modules that consists of multiple intermediate representations. Inspired by frameworks made for Java, the core of our framework lies in our three intermediate representations that each model the WebAssembly module at a different semantic level. This structure enables WAF to serve in multiple use cases, including program optimizations, binary decompilation, cross-language program analysis, and malware detection. We aim to show that our framework can improve static program analysis in the areas that the WebAssembly ecosystem is lacking.

    Location: Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center (SAL) - 322

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Alan Romano

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