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4TU.
Cyber Security
TU DelftTU EindhovenUniversity of TwenteWageningen University
4TU.
Cyber Security
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LBS

4TU.CybSec Syllabus Language-Based Software Security

Credits: 5EC

Delivery: This course is not tele-lectured.

Motivation: Security vulnerabilities often arise due to programming errors in the source code of an application. Recent programming errors with severe security implications include Heartbleed (buffer over-read), Shellshock (code injection), and goto-fail (ill-formated code). Programming languages can help developers to prevent programming errors like these by defining coding principles and detecting violations of those principles through dynamic and static code analysis. Such language-based countermeasures relieve software developers of part of the burden of ensuring software security. But how to select and apply language-based countermeasures?

Synopsis:

This course studies dynamic and static code analysis techniques as language-based countermeasures to security vulnerabilities. In particular, we will investigate and compare the trade-offs of the following countermeasures:

To facilitate a precise study and comparison, we will define the above techniques formally in class. To facilitate student experimentation and exploration of trade-offs, students will implement the above techniques in homework assignments.

Learning outcomes: The student will be able to:

Lecturers: Prof Dr Eelco Visser

Examination: Oral or written exam and homework assignments.

Contents:Language semantics: tracing semantics, interpretation, compilation; Dynamic-analysis countermeasures: monitoring, runtime instrumentation; Static-analysis countermeasures: type systems, data-flow analysis, abstract interpretation.