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diff --git a/docs/known_limitations.md b/docs/known_limitations.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..deb539e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/known_limitations.md @@ -0,0 +1,36 @@ +# Known limitations & areas for improvement + +Here are some of the most important caveats for AFL: + + - AFL++ detects faults by checking for the first spawned process dying due to + a signal (SIGSEGV, SIGABRT, etc). Programs that install custom handlers for + these signals may need to have the relevant code commented out. In the same + vein, faults in child processes spawned by the fuzzed target may evade + detection unless you manually add some code to catch that. + + - As with any other brute-force tool, the fuzzer offers limited coverage if + encryption, checksums, cryptographic signatures, or compression are used to + wholly wrap the actual data format to be tested. + + To work around this, you can comment out the relevant checks (see + utils/libpng_no_checksum/ for inspiration); if this is not possible, + you can also write a postprocessor, one of the hooks of custom mutators. + See [docs/custom_mutators.md](docs/custom_mutators.md) on how to use + `AFL_CUSTOM_MUTATOR_LIBRARY` + + - There are some unfortunate trade-offs with ASAN and 64-bit binaries. This + isn't due to any specific fault of afl-fuzz. + + - There is no direct support for fuzzing network services, background + daemons, or interactive apps that require UI interaction to work. You may + need to make simple code changes to make them behave in a more traditional + way. Preeny may offer a relatively simple option, too - see: + [https://github.com/zardus/preeny](https://github.com/zardus/preeny) + + Some useful tips for modifying network-based services can be also found at: + [https://www.fastly.com/blog/how-to-fuzz-server-american-fuzzy-lop](https://www.fastly.com/blog/how-to-fuzz-server-american-fuzzy-lop) + + - Occasionally, sentient machines rise against their creators. If this + happens to you, please consult [http://lcamtuf.coredump.cx/prep/](http://lcamtuf.coredump.cx/prep/). + +Beyond this, see [INSTALL.md](INSTALL.md) for platform-specific tips. \ No newline at end of file |