Fuzz Testing Wireless Networks via Mutated Message Specifications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fuzz testing in wireless communication networks is limited by standardized protocols, which restricts the ability to handle unexpected input messages, leading to potential failures and reduced network robustness.

Innovation Solution

Mutating message specifications to relax requirements on field values, types, names, and lengths, allowing fuzz testing to exceed protocol boundaries and simulate additional failure scenarios, thereby enhancing system robustness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If fuzz testing is performed based on standardized message specifications, then testing conformity to protocols is improved, but ability to detect implementation bugs from unexpected inputs is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage specification conformanceVSAvoidsystem robustness against unexpected inputs

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by systematically modifying message specification parameters (relaxing field value constraints, changing data types, modifying field names, adjusting length requirements) to generate mutated specifications that enable fuzz testing beyond standard protocol boundaries, thereby detecting implementation bugs that strict conformance testing would miss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of testing only conformant messages as traditional fuzz testing does, the patent inverts the approach by deliberately creating non-conformant messages through specification mutation, allowing the system to test how it handles unexpected and malformed inputs that violate standard protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Manufacturing precision

If message specification requirements are strictly enforced, then protocol compliance is improved, but coverage of failure scenarios is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol complianceVSAvoidfailure scenario coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically changes specification parameters by relaxing field value constraints, modifying data types, altering field names, and adjusting length requirements to generate a diverse set of mutated specifications that expand failure scenario coverage beyond what strict protocol compliance testing can achieve

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20230362691A1Fuzz testing in a wireless communication network

Publication Date: 2023.11.09 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

Fuzz testing equipment fuzz tests a system under test, SUT, configured for use in a wireless communication network. The fuzz test equipment obtains a message specification that governs a certain type of message whose handling by the SUT is to be tested. The fuzz testing equipment mutates the message specification, and performs, or assists with, testing of the SUT using a message that is fuzzed based on the mutated message specification.