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Detection of Remote Code Execution vulnerability in website source codes using

LSTM machine learning model

Article · September 2024

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Armin Zakarian Muhammad Rahmani

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Detection of Remote Code Execution vulnerability in website source
codes using LSTM machine learning model
1. Ali Taghavirashidizadeh- Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Central
Tehran Branch (IAUCTB)- [email protected] 1*

2. Armin Zakarian- Doctorate in Information Technology Engineering, University of Tehran -

[email protected] 2

3. Muhammad Rahmani- Doctorate in Information Technology Engineering, University of Tehran-

[email protected] 3

Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach to the detection of Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities in website
source codes using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) machine learning model. RCE vulnerabilities are a
significant security concern for web applications, as they can be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code on
the server. Traditional static code analysis and rule-based methods have limitations in effectively identifying such
vulnerabilities, as they often struggle to capture the complex patterns and behaviors of RCE exploits. In this
research, we propose an LSTM-based model trained on a dataset of source code snippets to automatically learn and
detect patterns indicative of RCE vulnerabilities. Experimental results demonstrate that the LSTM model shows
promising performance in accurately identifying RCE vulnerabilities in web application source codes, thus
providing a valuable tool for enhancing the security of web applications. This approach contributes to the
advancement of automated and efficient RCE vulnerability detection, thereby assisting in proactive mitigation of
security risks in web development.

Keywords: RCE, Vulnerabilities, LSTM, Machine learning

1.Introduction

The increasing reliance on web applications has made the security of website source codes a paramount concern. Of
particular significance is the detection and prevention of Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities, which pose
a severe threat to the integrity of web applications.

RCE vulnerabilities allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on the server, potentially leading to unauthorized
access, data breaches, and system compromise. methods for identifying RCE vulnerabilities in website source codes,
such as static code analysis and rule-based approaches, often face challenges in effectively capturing the complex
and evolving nature of RCE exploits. These methods can struggle to keep pace with the dynamic tactics employed
by attackers and the intricate patterns inherent in RCE vulnerabilities. response to these challenges, the utilization of
machine learning models presents a promising avenue for enhancing RCE vulnerability detection. Long Short-Term
Memory (LSTM) networks, a type of recurrent neural network well-suited for sequence modeling, offer the potential
to automatically capture the contextual information and intricate dependencies within source code snippets, thereby
enabling the holistic detection of RCE vulnerabilities. this paper aims to explore the application of LSTM-based
machine learning models for the detection of RCE vulnerabilities in website source codes. by leveraging the
capabilities of LSTM networks to learn from sequential data, the proposed approach seeks to overcome the
limitations of traditional methods and contribute to the proactive identification and mitigation of RCE vulnerabilities
in web development.
Through empirical evaluation, the effectiveness of the LSTM model in capturing RCE patterns and enhancing the
security of web applications is investigated. This research endeavors to advance the state-of-the-art in automated

RCE vulnerability detection, thereby bolstering the resilience of web applications against malicious exploits. the
rising complexity of web applications and the evolving nature of cyber threats underscore the need for advanced and
adaptive approaches to bolster web security. by harnessing the power of LSTM-based machine learning, this
research seeks to address the inherent limitations of manual code inspection and conventional static analysis
techniques, offering a more robust and scalable solution for RCE vulnerability detection. primary objective of this
study is to demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of employing LSTM models for the automated identification of
RCE vulnerabilities in website source codes. Through the development of a robust training dataset comprising
diverse code snippets exhibiting RCE characteristics, the LSTM model can learn and discern intricate patterns
indicative of potential vulnerabilities. By training the model on a wide spectrum of RCE instances, it is anticipated
that the LSTM network will excel in capturing the nuanced contextual cues and structural irregularities that typify
RCE exploits, thereby facilitating the accurate identification of vulnerable code segments. significance of this
research lies in its potential to empower web developers and security practitioners with an advanced tool for
preemptive identification of RCE vulnerabilities. By proactively detecting and addressing vulnerabilities at the
source code level, this approach aims to fortify web applications against exploitation, reducing the likelihood of
successful RCE attacks and fortifying the overall security posture of web development practices. Furthermore, the
insights gleaned from this study can inform the refinement and augmentation of existing security protocols, guiding
the development of more resilient coding practices and proactive vulnerability mitigation strategies. the remainder of
the paper will be organized as follows. First, a comprehensive review of the current state-of-the-art methods for
RCE vulnerability detection in web applications will be presented, highlighting the limitations and challenges
associated with existing approaches.

This will provide the necessary context for understanding the rationale behind the exploration of LSTM-based
machine learning as an alternative and potentially superior method for RCE vulnerability detection. the methodology
section will outline the key steps involved in training and evaluating the LSTM model for RCE vulnerability
detection. This will encompass the construction of the training dataset, the architectural configuration of the LSTM
network, the feature extraction process, and the performance evaluation metrics used to assess the efficacy of the
model. the results and findings obtained from the empirical evaluation of the LSTM model will be presented and
analyzed. This section will provide empirical evidence regarding the model’s ability to accurately identify RCE
vulnerabilities in website source codes, thereby elucidating the potential practical implications and benefits of
integrating LSTM-based machine learning in web application security practices.

2.RCE

Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities represent a critical class of security threats that can have devastating
consequences for web applications and the organizations that rely on them. An RCE vulnerability occurs when an
attacker is able to execute arbitrary code on a remote server, often leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration,
system compromise, and potentially catastrophic breaches. Understanding the nature of RCE vulnerabilities is
paramount for web developers, security professionals, and organizations seeking to fortify their digital assets against
exploitation. RCE vulnerabilities typically arise due to improper input validation, inadequate access controls, and
insecure coding practices within web applications. Attackers leverage RCE vulnerabilities to inject and execute
malicious code on the server, thereby gaining unauthorized control over the application’s functionality and
potentially the underlying operating system. This ability grants attackers’ immense power to subvert the intended
behavior of the application, exfiltrate sensitive data, propagate malware, and conduct further attacks from within the
compromised system. the ramifications of RCE vulnerabilities extend far beyond mere data breaches; they can
facilitate the execution of secondary attacks, compromise the integrity of the entire application, and undermine the
trust of users and stakeholders. Moreover, RCE vulnerabilities can be challenging to detect and mitigate effectively,
as they often manifest in complex and multifaceted ways within the source code of web applications. Given the
severe consequences of RCE exploits, it is crucial for organizations to prioritize the identification and mitigation of

these vulnerabilities through robust security measures and proactive defenses. the prevalence of RCE vulnerabilities
underscores the need for comprehensive security protocols, rigorous code reviews, and the adoption of advanced
technologies to preemptively identify and neutralize potential threats. Additionally, fostering a culture of security
awareness and instilling secure coding practices within development teams can significantly reduce the risk of RCE
vulnerabilities proliferating within web applications.

Researchers and practitioners have sought innovative approaches to detect and preempt RCE vulnerabilities.
Traditional techniques such as static code analysis, manual inspection, and rule-based methods have limitations in
effectively capturing the intricate patterns and evolving tactics employed by attackers. As a result, the adoption of
machine learning models, particularly deep learning architectures such as recurrent neural networks (RNNs) and
Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, has emerged as a promising frontier for enhancing the detection of
RCE vulnerabilities. LSTM networks, in particular, offer the capability to learn from sequential data, making them
well-suited for analyzing the structural and contextual intricacies of source code snippets in web applications. By
training LSTM models on datasets comprising diverse manifestations of RCE vulnerabilities, researchers aim to
enable these models to automatically discern patterns indicative of potential exploits, thus empowering
organizations to proactively bolster the security of their web applications.

3.LSTM to detect vulnerabilities

Using LSTM to detect vulnerabilities involves training the model on a dataset of source code snippets that exhibit
both vulnerable and non-vulnerable patterns. The LSTM network learns to recognize complex patterns in the code
that are indicative of potential vulnerabilities, such as Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities, by processing
sequences of tokens or characters.

The following steps can be taken to detect vulnerabilities using LSTM:

Data Collection Gather a diverse dataset of source code snippets from web applications, including both vulnerable
and non-vulnerable examples. It’s crucial to ensure that the dataset covers a wide range of programming languages
and coding styles to capture the variability of RCE vulnerabilities. data Preprocessing Preprocess the source code
snippets to transform them into a format suitable for input into the LSTM model. This may involve tokenization,
normalization, and representation of the code as sequences of tokens or characters. LSTM Model Training Design
and train an LSTM-based machine learning model using the preprocessed source code dataset.

The model should be structured to learn from the sequential nature of the code and to recognize patterns associated
with RCE vulnerabilities. Proper training, validation, and testing procedures should be followed to ensure the
model’s effectiveness. evaluation and Validation Assess the trained LSTM model’s performance on a separate
validation dataset to measure its ability to accurately identify RCE vulnerabilities in unseen source code snippets.
Performance metrics such as precision, recall, and F1 score can be used to evaluate the model’s efficacy. deployment
and Integration Once validated, the LSTM model can be integrated into a tool or system for automated vulnerability
detection. This can be used to analyze new or existing source code and flag potential RCE vulnerabilities for further
review and mitigation.

4.Detection of Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities

Detection of Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities is a critical aspect of web application security, given the
severe consequences that can result from exploitation of such vulnerabilities. RCE vulnerabilities allow attackers to
execute arbitrary code on a remote server, granting them unauthorized access and the potential to compromise
system integrity. Understanding and effectively detecting RCE vulnerabilities are paramount for web developers,

security professionals, and organizations seeking to fortify their digital assets against exploitation. RCE
vulnerabilities often arise due to improper input validation, inadequate access controls, and insecure coding practices
within web applications. Attackers exploit RCE vulnerabilities to inject and execute malicious code, enabling them
to take control of the application’s functionality and, in some cases, the underlying operating system. The
ramifications of successful RCE exploits extend beyond data breaches, with the potential to facilitate secondary
attacks, compromise application integrity, and erode user trust. detecting RCE vulnerabilities can be challenging due
to their complex and multifaceted nature within source code.

Traditional techniques like static code analysis and manual inspection may struggle to keep pace with evolving
attacker tactics and intricate exploit patterns. As a result, there is a growing interest in leveraging advanced
technologies, such as machine learning models like Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, for more effective
and automated detection of RCE vulnerabilities. LSTM models on diverse datasets containing examples of RCE
vulnerabilities, researchers aim to enable these models to automatically discern patterns indicative of potential
exploits. LSTM networks, with their ability to learn from sequential data, are well-suited to analyze the structural
and contextual intricacies of source code snippets in web applications. This approach offers promise in bolstering
the proactive identification and mitigation of RCE vulnerabilities, enhancing the overall security posture of web
applications. incorporating LSTM-based detection of RCE vulnerabilities into security protocols alongside code
reviews, penetration testing, and secure coding practices can play a crucial role in reducing the risk of successful
attacks and fortifying web application defenses against malicious exploits. By prioritizing the detection and
mitigation of RCE vulnerabilities, organizations can significantly enhance the security posture of their web
applications and safeguard against the potentially devastating impacts of exploitation.

4.Conclusion

the utilization of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks for the detection of vulnerabilities, particularly
Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities in web application source code, represents a promising and
innovative approach to enhancing the security of web applications. By training LSTM models on diverse datasets of
code snippets, these models can learn to discern intricate patterns indicative of potential vulnerabilities. the
application of LSTM-based machine learning for vulnerability detection offers the potential to bolster the proactive
identification and mitigation of RCE vulnerabilities, contributing to the overall resilience and security posture of
web applications. However, it is essential to acknowledge that LSTM models should be integrated into a broader
security strategy that encompasses code reviews, penetration testing, secure coding practices, and ongoing
monitoring of emerging threat patterns.

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