Some embodiments provide a system that manages the execution of a virtual machine. During operation, the system takes a series of snapshots of the virtual machine during execution of the virtual machine. If an abnormal operation of the virtual machine is detected, the system spawns a set of snapshot instances from one of the series of snapshots, wherein each of the snapshot instances is executed with one of a set of limitations. Next, the system determines a source of the abnormal operation using a snapshot instance from the snapshot instances that does not exhibit the abnormal operation. Finally, the system updates a state of the virtual machine using the snapshot instance.