A groundbreaking study has exposed over 100 critical security flaws in LTE and 5G technology, leaving cellular networks vulnerable to potential city-wide disruptions and even cyberattacks targeting individual users. Researchers from the University of Florida and North Carolina State University uncovered these flaws, highlighting significant risks to modern communication systems.
What’s the Risk?
The vulnerabilities, affecting key network components like Mobility Management Entities (MMEs) and Access and Mobility Management Functions (AMFs), can allow attackers to crash entire networks by sending small, unauthenticated data packets. This means phone calls, text messages, and internet access could be disabled across a city without needing a SIM card.
Even more alarming, some flaws allow attackers to gain deeper access to the cellular core network, enabling them to track user locations, target individuals, and execute further malicious activities.
How Was This Discovered?
Using a technique called “fuzzing,” researchers tested interfaces in Radio Access Network (RAN) systems to identify weak spots. These systems manage communication between mobile devices and base stations, which are now more vulnerable due to easily accessible 5G hardware.
The study, titled RANsacked: A Domain-Informed Approach for Fuzzing LTE and 5G RAN-Core Interfaces, revealed that out of 119 vulnerabilities:
- 79 were in LTE MMEs,
- 36 were in 5G AMFs, and
- 4 impacted SGWs (Serving Gateways).
These flaws fall into two categories: those exploited by any mobile device and those requiring a compromised base station or femtocell.
What Does This Mean for You?
The findings highlight the need for stronger safeguards in cellular networks. Developers and providers must prioritize patching these vulnerabilities to protect critical infrastructure. For users, staying updated on network security improvements is crucial.
The question remains: Can cellular networks keep pace with the rising sophistication of cyber threats? For now, researchers have issued a clear warning—the time to act is now.