Control Flow Analysis
Control flow analysis is the process of determining the order in which statements, instructions, or function calls are executed in a program. By constructing a control flow graph, security tools can visualize the possible paths that the code can take.
This is essential for identifying dangerous patterns, such as reentrancy or unauthorized access to sensitive functions. Understanding the control flow is a prerequisite for many other types of static and dynamic analysis.
It helps auditors trace how data and execution rights move through the protocol. In financial derivatives, this is crucial for ensuring that liquidation flows or interest accrual mechanisms cannot be bypassed or manipulated.
It is a fundamental technique for understanding the architecture of a smart contract.