SymSyz: Improving Hybrid Kernel Fuzzing With Environment Synchronization and Optimized Symbolic Execution

SymSyz is a hybrid kernel fuzzing framework that combines kernel fuzzing (automated testing that sends random inputs to find bugs) with symbolic execution (a technique that analyzes code paths mathematically to reach difficult-to-access code). The framework addresses three main problems: inconsistent states between the fuzzer and symbolic engine, overhead from tracking too much symbolic information, and slow constraint solving. SymSyz improves testing speed and bug detection by using snapshot-based environment synchronization, limiting symbolic tracking to specific code origins, and prioritizing constraint solving.