What is the outcome of a fuzzer when it encounters an exception?

When a fuzzer encounters an exception, the expected outcome is that it may crash the program. Fuzzers are tools designed to test software for security vulnerabilities by inputting a wide range of unexpected or random data. When the software being tested fails to handle one of these inputs properly, it often results in an exception, which can lead to a crash. This behavior is crucial for identifying flaws in the program's error handling and stability under unusual conditions.

Crashing the program can reveal serious vulnerabilities that could be exploited by an attacker, such as buffer overflows or other types of memory corruption. Identifying these weaknesses is essential for developers to patch and improve the robustness of their applications, ultimately enhancing their security posture. Therefore, the successful identification of a crash as a result of an exception indicates that the fuzzer is doing its job effectively by exposing potential security risks.