Constraint Solving
Constraint solving is the computational process of finding values for variables that satisfy a set of mathematical equations or inequalities. In smart contract auditing, this is used to solve the path conditions generated during symbolic execution.
By utilizing specialized solvers, researchers can determine if a specific branch of code is reachable under any possible input. This is vital for identifying conditions that could lead to integer overflows, logic errors, or unauthorized access.
The solver essentially tries to find a counter-example that violates the contract's safety properties. When such a solution is found, it provides the exact transaction sequence needed to exploit the vulnerability.
It is a powerful tool for automated security verification.