V&V report #1: Security Requirements definition, Target Selection, Methodology Definition, First Security Testing and First For

Interpretation is a static analysis technique that provide results by executing an abstract version of the analysed program. The operations made in the abstract program reflect those made in the actual program. The abstract program operates on abstract values, which are coarser than the actual values, but on which the computations are simpler. These executions in the abstract world can therefore express results for entire classes of input values at once. One factor in making these abstract executions fast is the approximation that takes place in loops, which allow the analysis in finite time of programs whose execution does not terminate. However, in practice, the abstract executions can still be very costly in time and in space, especially if the chosen abstractions do not fit the analysed program well. This cost can become the limiting factor in the use of abstract interpretation techniques. Several verification tools for C programs based on the techniques of abstract interpretation are available.