Fuzzing, also known as fuzz testing or fuzzing, is a software testing technique used to discover vulnerabilities or weaknesses in a computer program or system. It involves feeding invalid, random, or unexpected input data into the target program and observing its behavior. The primary objective of fuzzing is to identify potential bugs, crashes, or in some cases, security vulnerabilities that may be present in the software.
Fuzzing is typically automated using specialized tools designed for this purpose. These tools generate a large number of inputs with various lengths, formats, or patterns, and feed them into the program under test. By monitoring how the program handles these inputs, the tester can detect unexpected behaviors, crashes, or other signs of weaknesses.
The inputs provided during fuzzing can be intentionally malformed, such as invalid file formats, random data, or unexpected data structures. The idea behind this technique is to find flaws that are triggered by unusual or unexpected inputs that were not accounted for during the software development process.
Fuzzing can be highly effective in finding both known and unknown vulnerabilities in software, as it does not rely on specific knowledge or assumptions about the underlying code. It has been widely adopted as a standard practice for improving software security, particularly in complex systems such as operating systems, network protocols, or web applications.
Overall, fuzzing serves as a valuable tool for uncovering hidden weaknesses and improving the reliability and security of software applications.
