Research Report: Formally-Verified ASN.1 Protocol C-language Stack

Abstract

We describe our approach and progress in verification of a mature open-source ASN.1 compiler, ASN1C, using the Coq proof assistant. Once completed, our project will provide state-of-the-art high assurance suitable for mission-critical systems. Furthermore, since formal verification will be layered atop a well-tested ASN.1 stack, it will combine the benefits of high-performance portable stack implementation with formal correctness guarantees. As an essential step in our approach, the project will also provide a formalization of a key part of the ASN.1 standard. Such formal specification could subsequently be used by others to analyze ASN.1 properties and validate other implementations.