# Extracting Protocol Format as State Machine via Controlled Static Loop Analysis

> The paper extracts protocol message formats from parser code by analyzing parsing loops as state machines. It evaluates format inference and the use of the extracted machines in protocol fuzzers.

- Authors: Qingkai Shi; Xiangzhe Xu; Xiangyu Zhang
- Venue: arXiv
- Status: Preprint
- Publication / posting date: May 22, 2023
- Date source: First arXiv submission date.
- First arXiv submission: May 22, 2023
- arXiv: 2305.13483
- Reviewed arXiv version: v4
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-06
- Original paper: <https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.13483>
- PDF: <https://arxiv.org/pdf/2305.13483>
- BibTeX: <https://awesomerea.org/papers/citations/paper-protocol-format-state-machine.bib>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/papers/paper-protocol-format-state-machine/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/papers/paper-protocol-format-state-machine/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/papers/paper-protocol-format-state-machine/index.md)

## Scope and limitations

The analysis targets protocols with constraint-enhanced regular-expression formats parsed by finite-state machines. Reported results include over 90% precision and recall in five minutes, 20%–230% higher fuzzer coverage, and ten additional zero-days detected.

## Why it fits this collection

It reverse engineers protocol message formats from parser implementations and uses the recovered state machines to improve fuzzing.

## Publication and review notes

The date and venue come from the arXiv record.

## Primary sources

1. <https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.13483>

## About this entry

Reviewed against the paper and its primary sources. Cite the original authors using the linked paper or BibTeX.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.