Summary of Binary Code Similarity Detection Techniques

Code similarity detection is commonly used in code prediction, intellectual property protection and vulnerability scan, etc.It includes source code similarity detection and binary code similarity detection.Since the source code is usually difficult to access, binary code similarity detection is more widely applicable, and a variety of detection techniques have been proposed in academia.We review researches of this field in recent years.First, we summarize the basic process of code similarity detection and challenges it faces, which include the cross-compiler, cross-optimization and cross-architecture detecting.Then, in consideration of different code information concerned, we propose to classify current binary code similarity detection techniques into 4 categories, including text-based, attribute-based measurement, program logic-based and semantic-based detection technologies, and list some representative methods and tools, such as Karta, discovRE,Genius, Gemini, SAFE,etc.Finally, according to the development