{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4414404868","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2025.3611956","title":"Finding Correctness Issues on Ethereum Verkle Tries via Preimage-Aware Differential Testing","display_name":"Finding Correctness Issues on Ethereum Verkle Tries via Preimage-Aware Differential Testing","publication_year":2025,"publication_date":"2025-09-22","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W4414404868","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2025.3611956"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.1109/tse.2025.3611956","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2025.3611956","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S8351582","display_name":"IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering","issn_l":"0098-5589","issn":["0098-5589","1939-3520","2326-3881"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320439","host_organization_name":"IEEE Computer Society","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320439","https://openalex.org/P4310319808"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["IEEE Computer Society","Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering","raw_type":"journal-article"},"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":false,"oa_status":"closed","oa_url":null,"any_repository_has_fulltext":false},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5100342798","display_name":"Zihao Li","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4382-577X"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I14243506","display_name":"Hong Kong Polytechnic University","ror":"https://ror.org/0030zas98","country_code":"HK","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I14243506"]}],"countries":["HK"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Zihao Li","raw_affiliation_strings":["The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4382-577X","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I14243506"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5019899373","display_name":"Zheyuan He","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2131-1046"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I150229711","display_name":"University of Electronic Science and Technology of China","ror":"https://ror.org/04qr3zq92","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Zheyuan He","raw_affiliation_strings":["University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2131-1046","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5100400376","display_name":"Xiapu Luo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9082-3208"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I14243506","display_name":"Hong Kong Polytechnic University","ror":"https://ror.org/0030zas98","country_code":"HK","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I14243506"]}],"countries":["HK"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Xiapu Luo","raw_affiliation_strings":["The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9082-3208","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I14243506"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5100443178","display_name":"Ting Chen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9165-8331"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I150229711","display_name":"University of Electronic Science and Technology of China","ror":"https://ror.org/04qr3zq92","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Ting Chen","raw_affiliation_strings":["University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9165-8331","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":null,"display_name":"Xiaosong Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9886-1412"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I150229711","display_name":"University of Electronic Science and Technology of China","ror":"https://ror.org/04qr3zq92","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Xiaosong Zhang","raw_affiliation_strings":["University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9886-1412","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":2,"institutions_distinct_count":2,"corresponding_author_ids":[],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":1.2169,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":1,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.81731099,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":false},"cited_by_percentile_year":{"min":91,"max":95},"biblio":{"volume":"51","issue":"12","first_page":"3310","last_page":"3330"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10630","display_name":"Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation","score":0.9348000288009644,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2746","display_name":"Surgery"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/27","display_name":"Medicine"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/4","display_name":"Health Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10630","display_name":"Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation","score":0.9348000288009644,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2746","display_name":"Surgery"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/27","display_name":"Medicine"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/4","display_name":"Health Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T14510","display_name":"Medical Imaging and Analysis","score":0.9315000176429749,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2204","display_name":"Biomedical Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/correctness","display_name":"Correctness","score":0.9552000164985657},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/stateless-protocol","display_name":"Stateless protocol","score":0.7598999738693237},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/construct","display_name":"Construct (python library)","score":0.5343999862670898},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/block","display_name":"Block (permutation group theory)","score":0.5004000067710876},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/trie","display_name":"Trie","score":0.4925999939441681},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/state","display_name":"State (computer science)","score":0.4916999936103821},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/differential","display_name":"Differential (mechanical device)","score":0.4320000112056732},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/set","display_name":"Set (abstract data type)","score":0.4271000027656555}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C55439883","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360812","display_name":"Correctness","level":2,"score":0.9552000164985657},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.871999979019165},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C103613024","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q230924","display_name":"Stateless protocol","level":3,"score":0.7598999738693237},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780801425","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5164392","display_name":"Construct (python library)","level":2,"score":0.5343999862670898},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2777210771","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4927124","display_name":"Block (permutation group theory)","level":2,"score":0.5004000067710876},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C190290938","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q387015","display_name":"Trie","level":3,"score":0.4925999939441681},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C48103436","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q599031","display_name":"State (computer science)","level":2,"score":0.4916999936103821},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C80444323","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2878974","display_name":"Theoretical computer science","level":1,"score":0.4449000060558319},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C93226319","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q193137","display_name":"Differential (mechanical device)","level":2,"score":0.4320000112056732},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C177264268","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1514741","display_name":"Set (abstract data type)","level":2,"score":0.4271000027656555},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C116834253","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2039217","display_name":"Identification (biology)","level":2,"score":0.4027000069618225},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C160145156","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q778586","display_name":"Executable","level":2,"score":0.400299996137619},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C199360897","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9143","display_name":"Programming language","level":1,"score":0.3447999954223633},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C113174947","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2859736","display_name":"Tree (set theory)","level":2,"score":0.3228999972343445},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C120314980","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q180634","display_name":"Distributed computing","level":1,"score":0.3156999945640564},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C124101348","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172491","display_name":"Data mining","level":1,"score":0.29679998755455017},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C38652104","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3510521","display_name":"Computer security","level":1,"score":0.29170000553131104},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C77618280","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1155772","display_name":"Scheme (mathematics)","level":2,"score":0.29030001163482666},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C527821871","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q228502","display_name":"Access control","level":2,"score":0.28540000319480896},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C98183937","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2112188","display_name":"Program analysis","level":2,"score":0.2800000011920929},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C174839445","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1134386","display_name":"Lock (firearm)","level":2,"score":0.2799000144004822},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C110251889","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1569697","display_name":"Model checking","level":2,"score":0.2791999876499176},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C97686452","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7604153","display_name":"Static analysis","level":2,"score":0.2624000012874603},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C111498074","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q173326","display_name":"Formal verification","level":2,"score":0.2572999894618988},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C178489894","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8789","display_name":"Cryptography","level":2,"score":0.25200000405311584}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.1109/tse.2025.3611956","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2025.3611956","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S8351582","display_name":"IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering","issn_l":"0098-5589","issn":["0098-5589","1939-3520","2326-3881"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320439","host_organization_name":"IEEE Computer Society","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320439","https://openalex.org/P4310319808"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["IEEE Computer Society","Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering","raw_type":"journal-article"}],"best_oa_location":null,"sustainable_development_goals":[],"awards":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/G2795951424","display_name":null,"funder_award_id":"62332004","funder_id":"https://openalex.org/F4320321001","funder_display_name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China"},{"id":"https://openalex.org/G5642009191","display_name":null,"funder_award_id":"62172301","funder_id":"https://openalex.org/F4320321001","funder_display_name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China"}],"funders":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/F4320321001","display_name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","ror":"https://ror.org/01h0zpd94"}],"has_content":{"pdf":false,"grobid_xml":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":42,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W7678451","https://openalex.org/W1885156594","https://openalex.org/W2061504941","https://openalex.org/W2155690458","https://openalex.org/W2604123379","https://openalex.org/W2846896781","https://openalex.org/W2923898603","https://openalex.org/W2967854622","https://openalex.org/W2967946631","https://openalex.org/W2990403016","https://openalex.org/W3007951509","https://openalex.org/W3011166791","https://openalex.org/W3025529919","https://openalex.org/W3034459010","https://openalex.org/W3043576244","https://openalex.org/W3138939503","https://openalex.org/W3159903312","https://openalex.org/W3194076087","https://openalex.org/W3207119887","https://openalex.org/W3213512407","https://openalex.org/W4210660460","https://openalex.org/W4231286867","https://openalex.org/W4234350265","https://openalex.org/W4288701128","https://openalex.org/W4312359519","https://openalex.org/W4324007167","https://openalex.org/W4384155618","https://openalex.org/W4385080280","https://openalex.org/W4386569390","https://openalex.org/W4388858518","https://openalex.org/W4388858825","https://openalex.org/W4389158703","https://openalex.org/W4391670907","https://openalex.org/W4395049240","https://openalex.org/W4399794443","https://openalex.org/W4401508083","https://openalex.org/W4402967064","https://openalex.org/W4403577695","https://openalex.org/W4405181212","https://openalex.org/W4405334000","https://openalex.org/W4411411730","https://openalex.org/W4415589310"],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Stateless":[0],"Ethereum":[1,17,29,69,120,143,238,267,273,320],"is":[2,102],"proposed":[3],"to":[4,16,31,60,65,167,229,244,290],"address":[5],"the":[6,41,44,51,67,73,94,111,116,134,152,162,181,212,297,302,313],"challenges":[7],"of":[8,75,96,127,154,226,316],"unbounded":[9],"state":[10,46,53,91,97],"growth,":[11],"which":[12],"poses":[13],"centralization":[14],"risks":[15,299],"by":[18,70,301],"imposing":[19],"considerable":[20],"operational":[21],"costs":[22],"on":[23,90,115,193,223,237],"network":[24],"participants.":[25],"This":[26],"approach":[27],"enables":[28],"clients":[30,274],"verify":[32],"and":[33,82,87,123,156,190,240,277,306],"maintain":[34],"blockchain":[35,80],"using":[36],"only":[37],"block":[38,76],"witnesses,":[39],"eliminating":[40],"need":[42],"for":[43,56,137,177,198],"underlying":[45],"data.":[47],"Verkle":[48,100,121,144,178,209,268,321],"Tries,":[49,122],"as":[50,174],"next-generation":[52],"trie":[54,171],"structure":[55],"Ethereum,":[57],"are":[58,187],"set":[59],"replace":[61],"Merkle":[62],"Patricia":[63],"Tries":[64,101,145,210,269],"facilitate":[66,151],"stateless":[68],"significantly":[71],"reducing":[72],"size":[74],"witnesses.":[77],"Besides,":[78,130],"since":[79],"maintenance":[81],"verification":[83],"entail":[84],"intensive":[85],"read":[86],"update":[88],"operations":[89],"data,":[92],"ensuring":[93],"correctness":[95,117,140,219,250,260,304],"access":[98,172],"in":[99,119,142,208,248,266,318],"crucial.":[103],"<p":[104],"xmlns:mml=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\"":[105],"xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\">In":[106],"this":[107],"study,":[108],"we":[109,131,159,216,294],"conduct":[110,241],"first":[112,135,163],"systematic":[113],"study":[114],"issues":[118,141,228],"define":[124,217],"two":[125,291],"kinds":[126],"such":[128],"issues.":[129,251],"design":[132],"VERDIFF,":[133],"tool":[136],"automatically":[138],"identifying":[139,249],"through":[146],"preimage-aware":[147,182],"differential":[148,183],"testing.":[149],"To":[150],"identification":[153],"interpretable":[155],"reproducible":[157],"issues,":[158,261,305],"propose":[160],"<i>PA</i>L,":[161],"domain-specific":[164],"language":[165],"designed":[166],"construct":[168],"semantically":[169],"valid":[170],"statements":[173,186],"test":[175],"inputs":[176],"Tries.":[179,322],"During":[180],"testing,":[184],"these":[185,227],"iteratively":[188],"generated":[189],"mutated":[191],"based":[192,222],"our":[194,224,253],"novel":[195],"feedback":[196],"mechanisms":[197],"inducing":[199],"diverse":[200],"behaviors":[201],"when":[202],"accessing":[203],"states":[204],"across":[205,270],"varied":[206],"regions":[207],"at":[211,282],"preimage":[213],"level.":[214],"Moreover,":[215],"new":[218],"issue":[220],"oracles":[221],"definitions":[225],"ensure":[230],"their":[231,308],"accurate":[232],"identification.":[233],"We":[234],"implement":[235],"VERDIFF":[236,255,317],"clients,":[239],"extensive":[242],"experiments":[243],"evaluate":[245],"its":[246],"effectiveness":[247],"Through":[252],"evaluation,":[254],"can":[256],"uncover":[257],"eight":[258],"critical":[259,314],"spanning":[262],"four":[263],"distinct":[264],"classes,":[265],"three":[271],"major":[272],"(Go-ethereum,":[275],"Nethermind,":[276],"EthereumJS).":[278],"Additionally,":[279],"it":[280],"achieves":[281],"least":[283],"23.3%":[284],"higher":[285],"code":[286],"path":[287],"coverage":[288],"compared":[289],"baselines.":[292],"Furthermore,":[293],"empirically":[295],"analyze":[296],"security":[298,310],"posed":[300],"identified":[303],"explore":[307],"potential":[309],"implications,":[311],"highlighting":[312],"role":[315],"securing":[319]},"counts_by_year":[{"year":2025,"cited_by_count":1}],"updated_date":"2026-03-27T05:58:40.876381","created_date":"2025-10-10T00:00:00"}