Building more secure embedded software with code coverage analysis

David and Mike Kleidermacher, Green Hills Software
embedded.com (September 18, 2013)

A comprehensive test regimen, including functional, regression, performance, and coverage testing, is one of the best mechanisms to assure that software is reliable and secure. Indeed, testing is an important component of many high-assurance development standards and guidance documents, such as that promulgated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In addition, two approaches to testing are almost always required to ensure security. First, all software within security-critical components must be covered by some form of functional test: white-box, black box, fault-based, error-based and stress.. Then coverage is verified using code coverage tools. Further, all security-critical software must be traceable to the software’s component requirements. Software that fails to trace back to a test and to a requirement is more likely to introduce latent security vulnerabilities.

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