What is it about?

The Internet of Things (IoT) connects billions of devices, from smart home sensors to industrial systems, but many suffer from serious software security flaws. Our study systematically reviews how static code analysis helps detect these vulnerabilities early by examining device code without execution. We analyzed nearly 100 studies to understand prevalent IoT security problems, the techniques used to identify them, and how the field is advancing. This comprehensive overview aims to equip researchers and developers with optimal tools and strategies for building safer IoT devices.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

The escalating prevalence of smart devices makes IoT security a critical global concern, with cyberattacks on the rise. Traditional security analysis methods often fall short due to the unique complexities and resource constraints of IoT systems. Our review critically assesses where static code analysis excels, its current limitations, and how its integration with emerging technologies like machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) can bridge existing gaps. By synthesizing this complex landscape, our work offers crucial guidance for both researchers and practitioners, accelerating the development of robust IoT security solutions in an era of increasing regulations and evolving threats

Perspectives

This systematic review was born out of my commitment to improving security in embedded and connected systems. The writing process allowed me to synthesize knowledge from software analytics, cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things (IoT), and highlight their critical interdependencies. I intend for this work to guide researchers in the field and reinforce the need for ‘security by design’ practices in the technologies we use every day.

Diego Gomes
Universidade de Coimbra

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Static Code Analysis for IoT Security: A Systematic Literature Review, ACM Computing Surveys, June 2025, ACM (Association for Computing Machinery),
DOI: 10.1145/3745019.
You can read the full text:

Read

Contributors

The following have contributed to this page