Compilation Metadata in Binaries Makes Disassembly Decidable for Security Analysis
arXiv·medium signal
Engel and Verbeek propose augmenting the binary executable format with metadata that makes disassembly (a currently undecidable problem) fully decidable. This enables reliable security analysis of compiled binaries — critical for supply chain security, vulnerability scanning, and reverse engineering. The metadata overhead is minimal and the approach works with existing compiler toolchains, making it practically deployable for security teams analyzing third-party binaries.