VisAA: Visual analyzer for assembler

Abstract

Reading and understanding the structure of assembly code is often a tedious and difficult task. It becomes much more difficult when exact timing analysis on control flow paths is required to detect timing attacks. We describe our semi-automated tool VisAA used for visualization of control flow information and timing analysis of execution paths to detect portions of code vulnerable to timing attacks on 8-bit AVR microchip assembly code. Our system provides a great aid by saving much human effort in unravelling and analyzing assembly code.