Deobfuscation of Semi-Linear Mixed Boolean-Arithmetic Expressions

Fuente: arXiv
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Skees, Colton
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866917700084695040
author Skees, Colton
author_facet Skees, Colton
contents Mixed Boolean-Arithmetic (MBA) obfuscation is a common technique used to transform simple expressions into semantically equivalent but more complex combinations of boolean and arithmetic operators. Its widespread usage in DRM systems, malware, and software protectors is well documented. In 2021, Liu et al. proposed a groundbreaking method of simplifying linear MBAs, utilizing a hidden two-way transformation between 1-bit and n-bit variables. In 2022, Reichenwallner et al. proposed a similar but more effective method of simplifying linear MBAs, SiMBA, relying on a similar but more involved theorem. However, because current linear MBA simplifiers operate in 1-bit space, they cannot handle expressions which utilize constants inside of their bitwise operands, e.g. (x&1), (x&1111) + (y&1111). We propose an extension to SiMBA that enables simplification of this broader class of expressions. It surpasses peer tools, achieving efficient simplification of a class of MBAs that current simplifiers struggle with.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2406_10016
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Deobfuscation of Semi-Linear Mixed Boolean-Arithmetic Expressions
Skees, Colton
Cryptography and Security
Mixed Boolean-Arithmetic (MBA) obfuscation is a common technique used to transform simple expressions into semantically equivalent but more complex combinations of boolean and arithmetic operators. Its widespread usage in DRM systems, malware, and software protectors is well documented. In 2021, Liu et al. proposed a groundbreaking method of simplifying linear MBAs, utilizing a hidden two-way transformation between 1-bit and n-bit variables. In 2022, Reichenwallner et al. proposed a similar but more effective method of simplifying linear MBAs, SiMBA, relying on a similar but more involved theorem. However, because current linear MBA simplifiers operate in 1-bit space, they cannot handle expressions which utilize constants inside of their bitwise operands, e.g. (x&1), (x&1111) + (y&1111). We propose an extension to SiMBA that enables simplification of this broader class of expressions. It surpasses peer tools, achieving efficient simplification of a class of MBAs that current simplifiers struggle with.
title Deobfuscation of Semi-Linear Mixed Boolean-Arithmetic Expressions
topic Cryptography and Security
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.10016