SIM Card Security Testing

Impact Assessment

Remote surveillance, location tracking, SMS interception, and device manipulation without user awareness

Detection Indicators

• Unexpected SMS activity from the device
• Unusual network data usage patterns
• Battery drain from background activities
• Unexplained location requests or browser launches

Impact Assessment

Complete compromise of SIM authentication, enabling SIM cloning and unauthorized network access

Detection Indicators

• Multiple simultaneous network registrations with the same IMSI
• Calls or SMS received without the device ringing
• Unexpected location updates in network logs
• Unusual authentication patterns in network monitoring

Impact Assessment

Remote modification of SIM data, installation of malicious applications, and unauthorized access to subscriber information

Detection Indicators

• Unexpected SIM Toolkit application appearances
• Changes in network registration behavior
• Unusual binary SMS traffic to the device
• Unauthorized modifications to SIM configuration

Impact Assessment

Remote execution of commands, browser manipulation, and unauthorized access to device functions

Detection Indicators

• Unexpected browser launches
• Unusual SMS activity
• Battery drain from background activities
• Suspicious network connections initiated by SIM

Impact Assessment

This exploit allows an attacker with physical access to a SIM card to extract the secret Ki key, which can then be used to clone the SIM card, intercept calls and SMS, or perform other identity theft.

Detection Indicators

• Physical access to SIM card required
• Multiple authentication attempts in short succession
• Same IMSI active in multiple locations simultaneously after exploitation

Impact Assessment

This exploit allows attackers to perform various unauthorized operations on vulnerable SIM cards, including location tracking, sending SMS messages without user knowledge, and executing USSD codes.

Detection Indicators

• Unusual binary SMS messages containing S@T Browser commands
• Unexpected device behavior after receiving SMS
• Suspicious SMS activities in network logs

Impact Assessment

This sophisticated attack can extract cryptographic keys from SIM cards without leaving evidence of tampering, enabling SIM cloning and complete compromise of mobile communications.

Detection Indicators

• Physical access to the SIM card required
• Specialized hardware equipment needed (power analysis setup)
• No direct network-observable indicators as the attack is purely physical

Impact Assessment

SIM swapping allows attackers to take over a victim's phone number, intercept SMS-based two-factor authentication, and gain unauthorized access to email, financial, cryptocurrency, and social media accounts.

Detection Indicators

• Sudden loss of cellular service on the victim's device
• Unexpected 'SIM card changed' or 'phone number transferred' notifications
• Unauthorized account access alerts
• Password reset emails not initiated by the victim

Impact Assessment

Fault injection can bypass PIN verification, access protected files, extract sensitive data, and manipulate SIM card security controls, potentially leading to complete compromise of the SIM card.

Detection Indicators

• Physical access to the SIM card required
• Specialized fault injection equipment needed
• Potential SIM card malfunction after repeated glitching attempts
• No direct network-observable indicators as the attack is purely physical

Impact Assessment

eSIM profile hijacking allows attackers to clone a victim's mobile identity without physical access to their device, enabling call/SMS interception, account takeovers, and bypassing SMS-based authentication.

Detection Indicators

• Unexpected profile download or deletion notifications
• Loss of mobile service on the victim's device
• Multiple devices using the same mobile identity simultaneously
• Unusual activity in eSIM management portals