Security News > 2021 > May > U.S. Intelligence Agencies Warn About 5G Network Weaknesses
Inadequate implementation of telecom standards, supply chain threats, and weaknesses in systems architecture could pose major cybersecurity risks to 5G networks, potentially making them a lucrative target for cybercriminals and nation-state adversaries to exploit for valuable intelligence.
The analysis, which aims to identify and assess risks and vulnerabilities introduced by 5G adoption, was published on Monday by the U.S. National Security Agency, in partnership with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Per the report, are the optional security controls baked into telecommunication protocols, which, if not implemented by network operators, could leave the door open to malicious attacks.
A study published by AdaptiveMobile in March 2021 found that security flaws in the slicing model could be repurposed to allow data access and carry out denial of service attacks between different network slices on a mobile operator's 5G network.
In identifying policy and standards, supply chain, and 5G systems architecture as the three main potential threat vectors, the idea is to evaluate risks posed by transitioning to the new wireless technology as well as ensure the deployment of secure and reliable 5G infrastructure.
"Without continuous focus on 5G threat vectors and early identification of weaknesses in the system architecture, new vulnerabilities will increase the impact of cyber incidents."