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Random Testing of WebAssembly Implementations Using Semantically
Valid Programs

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Guy Watson

Masters Thesis, University of Utah. August 2023.

  Copyright 2023 by Guy Watson

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areas
Languages, Software Testing

abstract

WebAssembly is a relatively new language designed to be low-level and
portable. Designed primarily for web browsers, its compact
representation is meant to be directly executed by a browser,
enabling high-performance applications on the web. Since
implementations are both complex and browser-dependent, the language
is a good target for differential random testing. This thesis
introduces Wasmlike, a random generator of semantically valid
WebAssembly programs. By using semantically valid programs with
random differential testing, the goal is to penetrate past syntax and
semantic validation, and test WebAssembly implementations for defects
that cause programs to produce incorrect results. Wasmlike has found
five significant semantics defects in WebAssembly implementations.