Mutation-Based Fuzzing

Mutation-Based Fuzzing is a technique where valid inputs are slightly modified or mutated to create new, potentially malicious test cases. The goal is to explore how the protocol handles malformed or unexpected data.

It is a simple yet powerful way to find vulnerabilities, as it builds upon known valid inputs. In DeFi, this could involve mutating transaction parameters to see if they cause overflows or unexpected state changes.

It is highly effective for testing protocol robustness and input validation. Because it is easy to implement, it is widely used in many security testing frameworks.

It provides a quick way to generate a large volume of test cases. It is a staple of modern fuzzing pipelines.

It relies on the premise that small changes can reveal significant flaws.