VulKiller: Java Web Vulnerability Detection with Code Property Graph and Large Language Models

In recent years, web application development has become more efficient, yet vulnerabilities still pose significant risks. Traditional static and dynamic detection techniques are prone to false positives and negatives, making it challenging for small and medium-sized developers with limited security knowledge to accurately assess the results. To address these challenges, we introduced VulKiller, an automated vulnerability detection tool powered by large language models (LLM). VulKiller leverages static analysis to convert application code into Code Property Graphs (CPG) and utilizes Neo4j to identify high-risk method call chains. By designing structured interactions with ChatGPT, these call chains and corresponding code are transformed into Proofs of Concept (PoCs), which are then parsed into attack payloads and evaluated by a vulnerability monitor for effectiveness. In comparison with traditional tools, VulKiller excels in reducing false positives and negatives. Additionally, in zero-day vulnerability detection experiments, VulKiller identified 12 zero-day vulnerabilities. Our results offer significant encouragement for using LLM to enhance vulnerability detection.

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Publication Details

Published
2025-03-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1109/icassp49660.2025.10890652
Primary Topic
Web Application Security Vulnerabilities
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

VulKiller: Java Web Vulnerability Detection with Code Property Graph and Large Language Models

Qixu Liu, Yaqin Cao, M. Zhang, Xingchen Chen et al.
Web Application Security Vulnerabilities
article

VulKiller: Java Web Vulnerability Detection with Code Property Graph and Large Language Models

Qixu Liu, Yaqin Cao, M. Zhang, Xingchen Chen, Baizhu Wang
article en

Abstract

In recent years, web application development has become more efficient, yet vulnerabilities still pose significant risks. Traditional static and dynamic detection techniques are prone to false positives and negatives, making it challenging for small and medium-sized developers with limited security knowledge to accurately assess the results. To address these challenges, we introduced VulKiller, an automated vulnerability detection tool powered by large language models (LLM). VulKiller leverages static analysis to convert application code into Code Property Graphs (CPG) and utilizes Neo4j to identify high-risk method call chains. By designing structured interactions with ChatGPT, these call chains and corresponding code are transformed into Proofs of Concept (PoCs), which are then parsed into attack payloads and evaluated by a vulnerability monitor for effectiveness. In comparison with traditional tools, VulKiller excels in reducing false positives and negatives. Additionally, in zero-day vulnerability detection experiments, VulKiller identified 12 zero-day vulnerabilities. Our results offer significant encouragement for using LLM to enhance vulnerability detection.

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Institute of Information Engineering (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Youth Innovation Promotion Association
Peace, Justice and strong institutions
Openalex Percentile: Top 95%
Web Application Security Vulnerabilities
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VulKiller: Java Web Vulnerability Detection with Code Property Graph and Large Language Models — Qixu Liu, Yaqin Cao, et al. · (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS