Directed Fuzzing AND Model-Based Testing FOR Enhanced Security AND Reliability IN Blockchain Smart Contracts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37547/Keywords:
Smart contracts, directed fuzzing, model-based testingAbstract
Blockchain technology, particularly smart contracts, has revolutionized decentralized applications by automating secure and trustless transactions. However, the inherent immutability of smart contracts amplifies the consequences of software vulnerabilities, making systematic testing and verification imperative. Directed fuzzing has emerged as a critical methodology for identifying exploitable vulnerabilities by combining automated input generation with targeted exploration of program paths. Concurrently, model-based testing approaches provide formalized frameworks to ensure coverage of contract logic, state transitions, and dependency interactions. This research presents a comprehensive investigation into the integration of directed fuzzing techniques, snapshot-based and stateful fuzzing, and model-based test generation for smart contracts. By synthesizing methodologies such as SELECTFUZZ (Luo et al., 2023), Vulseye (Liang et al., 2025), ItyFuzz (Shou et al., 2023), Nyx (Schumilo et al., 2021), and MuFuzz (Qian et al., 2024), this study identifies strengths, limitations, and potential synergies in vulnerability detection, including reentrancy, confused deputy, and cross-contract interactions. Furthermore, regression and contract-based testing strategies, as well as dynamic taint analysis, are analyzed to enhance test coverage and precision. The findings demonstrate that integrating sequence-aware fuzzing, selective path exploration, and model-based analysis significantly improves vulnerability discovery rates and reduces redundant testing efforts. Recommendations for future research emphasize the necessity of adaptive fuzzing strategies and hybrid testing frameworks to maintain the security and robustness of increasingly complex blockchain ecosystems.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Johnathan M. Reynolds
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