Radio Transmission Security
Radio frequency (RF) transmission security vulnerabilities in cellular networks, including signal interception, jamming, and manipulation of radio communications across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks.
Radio transmission forms the foundation of cellular communications, using electromagnetic waves to transmit voice, data, and signaling information. Security vulnerabilities arise from the open-air nature of RF transmission, weak encryption in legacy systems, lack of mutual authentication, and protocol weaknesses. Attackers can intercept, jam, manipulate, or inject signals using Software Defined Radio (SDR) equipment and specialized tools.
- Open-air transmission allows signal interception
- Weak encryption algorithms (A5/1, A5/2) in legacy systems
- Lack of mutual authentication in 2G networks
- IMSI transmitted in plaintext during initial connection
- Vulnerable to jamming and denial of service
- Protocol downgrade attacks forcing weaker security
- Rogue base station (IMSI catcher) attacks
- Signal manipulation and replay attacks
- Signal interception using SDR equipment
- IMSI catching with rogue base stations
- Radio frequency jamming
- Protocol downgrade attacks
- Signal replay and manipulation
- Encryption breaking (A5/1, A5/2)
- Cell tower impersonation
- Man-in-the-middle attacks via fake base stations
- 1
Deploy Software Defined Radio (SDR) equipment
- 2
Configure device to monitor target frequency bands
- 3
Capture and analyze radio signals
- 4
Identify target network and protocols
- 5
Deploy rogue base station or IMSI catcher
- 6
Force target devices to connect to fake tower
- 7
Intercept and decrypt communications
- 8
Perform man-in-the-middle attacks
- Use strong encryption (A5/3, A5/4, 5G encryption)
- Implement mutual authentication (3G/4G/5G)
- Enable LTE-only mode to prevent 2G downgrade
- Deploy IMSI catcher detection systems
- Use encrypted communication apps (Signal, WhatsApp)
- Implement network-level security monitoring
- Deploy SUPI/SUCI protection in 5G
- Regular security audits and penetration testing
- •Stingray IMSI catchers used by law enforcement
- •A5/1 encryption broken in real-time using rainbow tables
- •2G downgrade attacks forcing devices to vulnerable networks
- •Rogue base stations at political events and protests
- •Commercial IMSI catchers sold to governments worldwide