A Contemporary Survey of Large Language Model Assisted Program Analysis
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Abstract
The increasing complexity of software systems has driven significant advancements in program analysis, as traditional methods are unable to meet the demands of modern software development. To address these limitations, deep learning techniques, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), have gained attention due to their context-aware capabilities in code comprehension. Recognizing the potential of LLMs, researchers have extensively explored their application in program analysis since their introduction. Despite existing surveys on LLM applications in cybersecurity, comprehensive reviews specifically addressing their role in program analysis remain scarce. This survey reviews the application of LLMs in program analysis, categorizing existing work into static, dynamic, and hybrid approaches. We also identify current research hotspots, such as LLM integration in automated vulnerability detection and code analysis, common challenges like model interpretability and training data limitations, and future directions, including using LLMs to convert dynamic analysis tasks into static ones. This survey aims to demonstrate the potential of LLMs in advancing program analysis practices and offer actionable insights for security researchers seeking to enhance detection frameworks or develop domain-specific models.
References
Wögerer, W. A Survey of Static Program Analysis Techniques; Technische Universit¨ at Wien: Vienna, Austria, 2005.

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