The National Security Agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence published “Potential Threats to 5G Network Slicing,” a paper that introduces 5G stakeholders to the benefits of network slicing and perceived risks. It also provides mitigation strategies to address those risks.
Among all of the possible threats to network slicing, the most serious include denial of service, Man-in-the-Middle attacks, and configuration attacks. Another aspect of network slicing, network function virtualization, also presents potential risks because it makes integration and testing activities more difficult.
In addition to proper network slice management, continual monitoring is crucial in detecting malicious activity, according to the paper. Monitoring should be performed relative to Network Slice Subnet Management, Network Slice Management, Communication Service Management, and the Capability Exposure Platform.
“Due to the nature of the threats to network slicing, proper management and continuous monitoring are crucial to the security of a network slice,” the paper reads.
5G providers, integrators, and network operators can review this guidance and implement the recommended mitigations here. For additional 5G guidance, visit CISA.gov/5G-library.
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
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