5G Mobile Network Attacks
Emerging threats targeting next-generation 5G networks, network slicing, and service-based architecture
5G networks introduce new security features like SUPI/SUCI protection, but also bring novel attack surfaces through network slicing, service-based architecture, edge computing, and IoT integration. While more secure by design, early 5G implementations show vulnerabilities in new protocols and architectures that attackers are actively exploring.
Key Vulnerabilities
- • Network slicing security gaps
- • Service-based architecture flaws
- • Edge computing attack vectors
- • IoT device vulnerabilities
Common Attack Types
- • SUCI/SUPI exploitation
- • gNodeB spoofing
- • API vulnerabilities
- • Network slice isolation bypass
All 5G Attacks
Subscription Concealed Identifier (SUCI) attacks attempt to compromise the 5G privacy mechanism designed to protect subscriber identities through cryptographic concealment.
gNodeB spoofing involves deploying fake 5G base stations that impersonate legitimate network infrastructure to intercept communications and perform man-in-the-middle attacks.
Network slicing exploits target the 5G feature that creates multiple virtual networks on shared infrastructure, attempting to breach slice isolation or perform cross-slice attacks.
5G networks expose numerous APIs for network functions, edge computing, and third-party services. Vulnerabilities in these APIs can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and service disruption.
5G edge computing brings computation closer to users for low latency. Attacks target edge nodes, multi-tenancy isolation, or exploit the distributed nature of edge infrastructure.
5G enables massive IoT deployments. Attacks target the large number of connected IoT devices, exploiting weak security, default credentials, or protocol vulnerabilities.