NNrepair: Constraint-based Repair of Neural Network Classifiers
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Abstract (arXiv)
We present NNrepair, a constraint-based technique for repairing neural network classifiers. The technique aims to fix the logic of the network at an intermediate layer or at the last layer. NNrepair first uses fault localization to find potentially faulty network parameters (such as the weights) and then performs repair using constraint solving to apply small modifications to the parameters to remedy the defects. We present novel strategies to enable precise yet efficient repair such as inferring correctness specifications to act as oracles for intermediate layer repair, and generation of experts for each class. We demonstrate the technique in the context of three different scenarios: (1) Improving the overall accuracy of a model, (2) Fixing security vulnerabilities caused by poisoning of training data and (3) Improving the robustness of the network against adversarial attacks. Our evaluation on MNIST and CIFAR-10 models shows that NNrepair can improve the accuracy by 45.56 percentage points on poisoned data and 10.40 percentage points on adversarial data. NNrepair also provides small improvement in the overall accuracy of models, without requiring new data or re-training.
Key facts. Cited by 24 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Builds on 7 of its 25 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 23 Mar 2021.
Builds on
7 of 25 references.
References · 7
- 2013Intriguing properties of neural networkscited by 5,114
- 2015The Limitations of Deep Learning in Adversarial Settingscited by 784
- 2017Provable defenses against adversarial examples via the convex outer adversarial polytopecited by 564
- 2020Repairing Deep Neural Networks: Fix Patterns and Challengescited by 33
- 2019DeepFault: Fault Localization for Deep Neural Networkscited by 29
- 2018Automatic Software Repair: a Bibliographycited by 24
- 2021NEUROSPF: A tool for the Symbolic Analysis of Neural Networkscited by 4
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Citing papers per year: 2021: 2; 2022: 4; 2023: 9; 2024: 4; 2025: 2; 2026: 3.
24 papers.
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- 2022Causality-based Neural Network Repaircited by 44
- 2022An Abstraction-Refinement Approach to Verifying Convolutional Neural Networkscited by 24
- 2022Verification-Aided Deep Ensemble Selectioncited by 18
- 2021Minimal Multi-Layer Modifications of Deep Neural Networkscited by 14
- 2023Verifying Generalization in Deep Learningcited by 11
- 2023Architecture-Preserving Provable Repair of Deep Neural Networkscited by 9
- 2021SpecRepair: Counter-Example Guided Safety Repair of Deep Neural Networkscited by 6
- 2023Repairing Deep Neural Networks Based on Behavior Imitationcited by 4
- 2024Safe and Reliable Training of Learning-Based Aerospace Controllerscited by 4
- 2023DelBugV: Delta-Debugging Neural Network Verifierscited by 3
- 2023Semantic-Based Neural Network Repaircited by 3
- 2022VPN: Verification of Poisoning in Neural Networkscited by 2
12 more
- 2023Incremental Satisfiability Modulo Theory for Verification of Deep Neural Networkscited by 2
- 2025Prophecy: Inferring Formal Properties from Neuron Activationscited by 2
- 2025A Comprehensive Study of Deep Learning Model Fixing Approachescited by 2
- 2023TraceFL: Interpretability-Driven Debugging in Federated Learning via Neuron Provenancecited by 1
- 2024Inferring Data Preconditions from Deep Learning Models for Trustworthy Prediction in Deploymentcited by 1
- 2024CrossCert: A Cross-Checking Detection Approach to Patch Robustness Certification for Deep Learning Modelscited by 1
- 2023QNNRepair: Quantized Neural Network Repaircited by 0
- 2023Path Analysis for Effective Fault Localization in Deep Neural Networkscited by 0
- 2024Inferring Properties of Graph Neural Networkscited by 0
- 2026Kill it with FIRE: On Leveraging Latent Space Directions for Runtime Backdoor Mitigation in Deep Neural Networkscited by 0
- 2026Shapley-Guided Neural Repair Approach via Derivative-Free Optimizationcited by 0
- 2026WARP: Guaranteed Inner-Layer Repair of NLP Transformerscited by 0
- 2026WARP: Guaranteed Inner-Layer Repair of NLP Transformers1 Apr 2026
- 2026Shapley-Guided Neural Repair Approach via Derivative-Free Optimization1 Apr 2026
- 2026Kill it with FIRE: On Leveraging Latent Space Directions for Runtime Backdoor Mitigation in Deep Neural Networks11 Feb 2026
- 2025A Comprehensive Study of Deep Learning Model Fixing Approaches26 Dec 2025
- 2025Prophecy: Inferring Formal Properties from Neuron Activations25 Sep 2025
- 2024Safe and Reliable Training of Learning-Based Aerospace Controllers9 Jul 2024
- 2024CrossCert: A Cross-Checking Detection Approach to Patch Robustness Certification for Deep Learning Models13 May 2024
- 2024Inferring Data Preconditions from Deep Learning Models for Trustworthy Prediction in Deployment26 Jan 2024
- 2024Inferring Properties of Graph Neural Networks8 Jan 2024
- 2023TraceFL: Interpretability-Driven Debugging in Federated Learning via Neuron Provenance21 Dec 2023
- 2023Path Analysis for Effective Fault Localization in Deep Neural Networks29 Oct 2023
- 2023QNNRepair: Quantized Neural Network Repair23 Jun 2023
12 more
- 2023Semantic-Based Neural Network Repair12 Jun 2023
- 2023DelBugV: Delta-Debugging Neural Network Verifiers29 May 2023
- 2023Repairing Deep Neural Networks Based on Behavior Imitation5 May 2023
- 2023Architecture-Preserving Provable Repair of Deep Neural Networks7 Apr 2023
- 2023Verifying Generalization in Deep Learning11 Feb 2023
- 2023Incremental Satisfiability Modulo Theory for Verification of Deep Neural Networks10 Feb 2023
- 2022VPN: Verification of Poisoning in Neural Networks8 May 2022
- 2022Causality-based Neural Network Repair20 Apr 2022
- 2022Verification-Aided Deep Ensemble Selection8 Feb 2022
- 2022An Abstraction-Refinement Approach to Verifying Convolutional Neural Networks6 Jan 2022
- 2021Minimal Multi-Layer Modifications of Deep Neural Networks18 Oct 2021
- 2021SpecRepair: Counter-Example Guided Safety Repair of Deep Neural Networks3 Jun 2021
- 2022Causality-based Neural Network Repaircited by 44
- 2022VPN: Verification of Poisoning in Neural Networkscited by 2
- 2026Shapley-Guided Neural Repair Approach via Derivative-Free Optimizationcited by 0
- 2026Shapley-Guided Neural Repair Approach via Derivative-Free Optimization1 Apr 2026
- 2022VPN: Verification of Poisoning in Neural Networks8 May 2022
- 2022Causality-based Neural Network Repair20 Apr 2022
- 2022An Abstraction-Refinement Approach to Verifying Convolutional Neural Networkscited by 24
- 2022Verification-Aided Deep Ensemble Selectioncited by 18
- 2021Minimal Multi-Layer Modifications of Deep Neural Networkscited by 14
- 2023Verifying Generalization in Deep Learningcited by 11
- 2023Architecture-Preserving Provable Repair of Deep Neural Networkscited by 9
- 2021SpecRepair: Counter-Example Guided Safety Repair of Deep Neural Networkscited by 6
- 2023Repairing Deep Neural Networks Based on Behavior Imitationcited by 4
- 2024Safe and Reliable Training of Learning-Based Aerospace Controllerscited by 4
- 2023DelBugV: Delta-Debugging Neural Network Verifierscited by 3
- 2023Semantic-Based Neural Network Repaircited by 3
- 2023Incremental Satisfiability Modulo Theory for Verification of Deep Neural Networkscited by 2
- 2025Prophecy: Inferring Formal Properties from Neuron Activationscited by 2
12 most cited of 21 All 21 (JSON)
- 2026WARP: Guaranteed Inner-Layer Repair of NLP Transformers1 Apr 2026
- 2026Kill it with FIRE: On Leveraging Latent Space Directions for Runtime Backdoor Mitigation in Deep Neural Networks11 Feb 2026
- 2025A Comprehensive Study of Deep Learning Model Fixing Approaches26 Dec 2025
- 2025Prophecy: Inferring Formal Properties from Neuron Activations25 Sep 2025
- 2024Safe and Reliable Training of Learning-Based Aerospace Controllers9 Jul 2024
- 2024CrossCert: A Cross-Checking Detection Approach to Patch Robustness Certification for Deep Learning Models13 May 2024
- 2024Inferring Data Preconditions from Deep Learning Models for Trustworthy Prediction in Deployment26 Jan 2024
- 2024Inferring Properties of Graph Neural Networks8 Jan 2024
- 2023TraceFL: Interpretability-Driven Debugging in Federated Learning via Neuron Provenance21 Dec 2023
- 2023Path Analysis for Effective Fault Localization in Deep Neural Networks29 Oct 2023
- 2023QNNRepair: Quantized Neural Network Repair23 Jun 2023
- 2023Semantic-Based Neural Network Repair12 Jun 2023
12 newest of 21 All 21 (JSON)