Final answer:
To assess the security of an application binary, employing a fuzzing utility or using a static code analyzer would be the most effective methods. Running the binary in a sandbox or manually reviewing the binary are less effective alternatives.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question you've asked pertains to assessing the security of an application binary, a task commonly performed by penetration testers. There are various methods to achieve this objective, each with its own strengths:
- A. Employ a fuzzing utility: Fuzzing is a technique where the software is bombarded with random data to trigger unexpected behaviour or crashes, identifying potential vulnerabilities.
- B. Use a static code analyzer: Static code analysis involves reviewing the code without actually executing the program. It can help find vulnerabilities such as buffer overflows, race conditions, and other security flaws.
- C. Run the binary in an application sandbox: By running the binary in a controlled environment (sandbox), any malicious activity can be contained within that environment, preventing harm to the actual system.
- D. Manually review the binary in a text editor: This is a less practical option as binaries are compiled code and not human-readable, making it extremely difficult to find security issues this way.
In conclusion, while each method could be useful in certain contexts, the most effective way to assess the security of an application binary would likely be to use a fuzzing utility or a static code analyzer. These tools are specially designed to analyze and detect potential security issues in software applications.