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Static analysis of regular expressions

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2017

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Main Author: Weideman, Nicolaas Hendrik
Other Authors: Van der Merwe, Andries Brink
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2017
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access_status_str Open Access
author Weideman, Nicolaas Hendrik
author2 Van der Merwe, Andries Brink
author_browse Van der Merwe, Andries Brink
Weideman, Nicolaas Hendrik
author_facet Van der Merwe, Andries Brink
Weideman, Nicolaas Hendrik
author_sort Weideman, Nicolaas Hendrik
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2017
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/102879
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:44:33.029Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2017
publishDateRange 2017
publishDateSort 2017
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/102879 Static analysis of regular expressions Weideman, Nicolaas Hendrik Van der Merwe, Andries Brink Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Mathematical Sciences. Division Computer Science. Computer programming language -- Regular expressions UCTD Automata theory Computer programming language -- Denial-of-service attack (DoS attack) Computer programming language -- Backtracking matchers Computer software -- Static analysis techniques Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2017 ENGLISH ABSTRACT : Regular expressions are widely used throughout the programming community. In most cases, regular expressions allow for pattern matching tasks to be performed efficiently, but in some instances regular expression matching can be extremely slow. The exploit of the potential slowness of regular expression matching, is known as a regular expression denial of service attack. We investigate regular expression denial of service attacks, by approaching it from a computational complexity and automata theoretic point of view. A method for accurately modeling the matching time behaviour of a backtracking regular expression matcher, by using automata theoretic methods, is presented. We analyze our models by using the concept of ambiguity in nondeterministic finite-state automata. Our approach is evaluated on repositories of regular expressions often used in practice. Techniques for mitigating the vulnerability of backtracking regular expression matchers are investigated as a means to thwart regular expression denial of service attacks. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Reguliere uitdrukkings word gereeld gebruik in die skryf van sagteware. In die meeste gevalle stel sulke uitdrukkings mens in staat om patroonherkenningsprobleme op ’n doeltreffende manier op te los. Daar is egter sommige situasies waar hierdie proses uiters tydrowend kan wees. Die uitbuiting van sulke kwesbaarhede staan as ’n diensontseggingaanval bekend. Ons ondersoek hierdie aanvalle vanuit die oogpunt van berekeningskompleksiteit en outomateteorie. ’n Metode word gegee om die herkenningstyd van ’n terugspoor herkenner van reguliere uitdrukkings akkuraat te modelleer. Ons analiseer die modelle deur gebruik te maak van die konsep van dubbelsinnigheid in nie-deterministiese eindigetoestand-outomate. Die metodes word getoets deur dit toe te pas op magasyne van reguliere uitdrukkings wat in die praktyk gebruik word. Tegnieke om die kwesbaarheid van terugspoor herkenners van reguliere uitdrukkings te verbeter word ondersoek, met die doelwit om diensontseggingaanvalle te voorkom. 2017-11-19T13:28:16Z 2017-12-11T11:07:11Z 2017-11-19T13:28:16Z 2017-12-11T11:07:11Z 2017-11-19 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/102879 en_ZA Stellenbosch University xiii, 100 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Computer programming language -- Regular expressions
UCTD
Automata theory
Computer programming language -- Denial-of-service attack (DoS attack)
Computer programming language -- Backtracking matchers
Computer software -- Static analysis techniques
Weideman, Nicolaas Hendrik
Static analysis of regular expressions
title Static analysis of regular expressions
title_full Static analysis of regular expressions
title_fullStr Static analysis of regular expressions
title_full_unstemmed Static analysis of regular expressions
title_short Static analysis of regular expressions
title_sort static analysis of regular expressions
topic Computer programming language -- Regular expressions
UCTD
Automata theory
Computer programming language -- Denial-of-service attack (DoS attack)
Computer programming language -- Backtracking matchers
Computer software -- Static analysis techniques
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/102879
work_keys_str_mv AT weidemannicolaashendrik staticanalysisofregularexpressions