VoLTE Security Attacks & IMS Vulnerabilities
Comprehensive guide to Voice over LTE (VoLTE) security vulnerabilities, IMS core attacks, and 4G/5G voice exploitation techniques. Learn about SIP registration hijacking, RTP stream manipulation, Diameter interface exploitation, and emergency call manipulation.
Critical Infrastructure Warning
VoLTE is the voice infrastructure for 4G/5G networks. These attacks can impact emergency services and critical communications. All techniques described are for authorized security testing only.
Total Attacks
6
Critical Severity
2
High Severity
3
Categories
6
Attack Categories
Authentication
1 attackMedia Plane
1 attackSignaling
1 attackIdentity
1 attackEmergency Services
1 attackQoS
1 attackVoLTE Attack Vectors
SIP Registration Hijacking
AuthenticationHigh
Attackers intercept and manipulate SIP REGISTER messages to hijack user registrations in the IMS core.
Impact:
Service disruption, call interception, identity theft
Prerequisites:
Network accessSIP protocol knowledgeIMS architecture understanding
Mitigation:
- •Implement SIP authentication mechanisms
- •Use TLS for SIP signaling
- •Deploy network segmentation
- •Monitor for anomalous registration patterns
Tools:
SIPViciousSIPpWiresharkCustom SIP tools
RTP Stream Manipulation
Media PlaneHigh
Manipulation of Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) streams to inject malicious audio or cause service disruption.
Impact:
Call quality degradation, audio injection, eavesdropping
Prerequisites:
Network accessRTP protocol knowledgeMedia gateway access
Mitigation:
- •Implement SRTP encryption
- •Use authenticated RTP
- •Deploy media plane security
- •Monitor RTP stream integrity
Tools:
RTPBreakRTPInjectScapyCustom RTP tools
Diameter Interface Exploitation
SignalingCritical
Exploitation of Diameter protocol vulnerabilities in IMS interfaces (Cx, Dx, Sh) to access subscriber data.
Impact:
Subscriber data theft, service manipulation, network compromise
Prerequisites:
Diameter protocol accessIMS interface knowledgeHSS connectivity
Mitigation:
- •Implement Diameter security extensions
- •Use IPSec for Diameter transport
- •Deploy access control mechanisms
- •Monitor Diameter traffic anomalies
Tools:
Diameter test toolsCustom Diameter clientsProtocol analyzers
IMS Core Spoofing
IdentityHigh
Spoofing IMS core network elements to intercept and manipulate VoLTE communications.
Impact:
Call interception, identity theft, service disruption
Prerequisites:
Network positioningIMS architecture knowledgeCertificate manipulation
Mitigation:
- •Implement mutual authentication
- •Use certificate pinning
- •Deploy network monitoring
- •Validate IMS element identities
Tools:
SIP proxiesCertificate toolsNetwork positioning tools
Emergency Call Manipulation
Emergency ServicesCritical
Manipulation of emergency call routing and handling in VoLTE networks.
Impact:
Emergency service disruption, false emergency calls, location spoofing
Prerequisites:
IMS accessEmergency call routing knowledgeLocation service access
Mitigation:
- •Implement emergency call protection
- •Use secure location services
- •Deploy emergency call monitoring
- •Validate emergency routing
Tools:
SIP manipulation toolsLocation spoofing toolsEmergency call simulators
Quality of Service Manipulation
QoSMedium
Manipulation of QoS parameters to degrade call quality or gain unauthorized priority.
Impact:
Call quality degradation, service prioritization abuse, network congestion
Prerequisites:
Network accessQoS mechanism knowledgePolicy control access
Mitigation:
- •Implement QoS validation
- •Use policy enforcement
- •Deploy QoS monitoring
- •Validate service priorities
Tools:
QoS manipulation toolsPolicy control toolsNetwork analyzers