5G Security Threat Assessment in Real Networks

Area of Science:

• Telecommunications Engineering
• Network Security
• Cybersecurity

Background:

• Mobile communication networks have evolved significantly from 2G to 5G, driving substantial traffic growth.
• 5G networks enable diverse industrial applications through innovative technologies, low latency, and massive device connectivity.
• New services like enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine-type communication (mMTC), and ultra-reliable low-latency communication (uRLLC) expand the attack surface for sensitive data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate existing vulnerabilities within 5G mobile communication networks.
• To assess the current landscape of 5G security threats in operational mobile networks.
• To highlight the necessity of security assessments for mitigating diverse cyber threats in 5G environments.

Main Methods:

• Review of 5G mobile communication network backgrounds and identified problems.
• Evaluation of security threats in real-world, in-service 5G mobile networks.
• Analysis of vulnerabilities associated with 5G service types (eMBB, mMTC, uRLLC).

Main Results:

• Identification of specific vulnerabilities inherent in 5G network architectures.
• Empirical assessment revealing prevalent security threats in live 5G networks.
• Confirmation of increased risks to personal, confidential, and privacy information due to 5G expansion.

Conclusions:

• Security assessments are critical for verifying and addressing the multifaceted threats in 5G networks.
• Understanding 5G vulnerabilities and real-world threats is essential for robust security strategies.
• Proactive security measures are required to protect data and privacy in the evolving 5G ecosystem.