Advanced 5G Security Testing Methodology
A comprehensive, step-by-step approach to testing 5G network security with interactive tools, code examples, and practical implementations for security professionals.
Methodology Overview
Our 5-phase methodology covers everything from initial planning to comprehensive reporting, designed for both beginners and expert security professionals.
Define scope, objectives, and test environment setup
Information gathering and network discovery
Identify security weaknesses and misconfigurations
Exploit vulnerabilities and assess impact
Document findings and provide recommendations
Testing the security of 5G networks requires a structured and comprehensive approach that addresses the unique architecture and technologies of 5G. This methodology provides a framework for security professionals to systematically evaluate 5G network security across all layers and components.
Key 5G Security Challenges
Isolation between network slices and potential cross-slice attacks require specialized testing approaches to ensure proper segmentation and security boundaries.
RESTful APIs and microservices introduce new attack surfaces that need comprehensive assessment, including API security, authentication, and authorization testing.
Distributed edge nodes expand the attack surface and require specialized security testing across multiple geographic locations and deployment scenarios.
Virtual network functions (VNFs) and containers introduce new security considerations including hypervisor security, container escape, and orchestration vulnerabilities.
Scope Definition
Clearly define what components and systems will be included in the security assessment. A well-defined scope ensures comprehensive coverage while maintaining focus.
- Radio Access Network (RAN) components
gNodeB, CU/DU split architecture, fronthaul/backhaul interfaces
- Core Network functions
AMF, SMF, UPF, AUSF, UDM, PCF, NRF, and other network functions
- Network slicing implementation
Slice isolation, resource allocation, and inter-slice communication
- Service-Based Architecture (SBA) components
HTTP/2 interfaces, RESTful APIs, service discovery mechanisms
- Edge computing infrastructure
MEC platforms, edge applications, and local breakout configurations
Test Environment Setup
Establish a controlled testing environment that mirrors production configurations while ensuring safety and isolation from live networks.
# 5G Test Environment Setup Script #!/bin/bash # Create isolated network namespace sudo ip netns add 5g-test # Setup virtual interfaces sudo ip link add veth-ran type veth peer name veth-core sudo ip link set veth-ran netns 5g-test # Configure test network sudo ip netns exec 5g-test ip addr add 192.168.5g.1/24 dev veth-ran sudo ip netns exec 5g-test ip link set veth-ran up # Install required tools apt-get update apt-get install -y wireshark tshark nmap scapy echo "5G test environment ready"
Required Tools and Software
- • Network analysis tools (Wireshark, tshark)
- • Protocol testing frameworks (Scapy, Boofuzz)
- • API testing tools (Postman, Burp Suite)
- • Container security scanners
- • Custom 5G testing scripts
Legal Considerations and Authorization
Always ensure proper authorization and legal agreements are in place before testing production 5G networks. Unauthorized testing can violate laws and regulations.
- • Obtain written authorization from network operators
- • Review and comply with telecommunications regulations
- • Use isolated test environments whenever possible
- • Establish clear rules of engagement and testing boundaries
- • Maintain detailed logs of all testing activities
Passive Reconnaissance
Passive reconnaissance involves gathering information without directly interacting with the target network. This approach minimizes detection risk and provides valuable context for later testing phases.
- Public network documentation
Technical specifications, architecture diagrams, and deployment guides
- 3GPP specifications and standards
Official protocol specifications and security requirements
- Vendor security advisories
Known vulnerabilities and patches for network equipment
- Network operator websites
Coverage maps, technology deployments, and service offerings
- Social media and job postings
Technology stack details and infrastructure information
# Shodan search for 5G infrastructure shodan search "5G" country:US # Google dorking for 5G configs site:operator.com filetype:pdf "5G" # Certificate transparency logs crt.sh | grep "5g.operator.com" # DNS enumeration dnsrecon -d operator.com -t std # WHOIS information gathering whois operator.com
These tools help identify publicly exposed infrastructure, certificate information, and network topology without active scanning.
Active Reconnaissance
Active reconnaissance involves direct interaction with the target network to discover services, identify network functions, and map the infrastructure. This phase requires proper authorization.
Identify active network functions, open ports, and running services across the 5G infrastructure.
# 5G Network Function Discovery nmap -sS -p 80,443,8080,8443 \ --script http-title,ssl-cert \ 192.168.5g.0/24 # SBA Service Discovery via NRF curl -X GET \ "http://nrf.5gc.mnc001.mcc001.3gppnetwork.org/nnrf-nfm/v1/nf-instances" \ -H "Accept: application/json" # Discover network slices curl -X GET \ "http://nssf.5gc/nnssf-nsselection/v1/network-slice-information" \ -H "Accept: application/json"
Capture and analyze 5G signaling protocols to understand communication patterns and identify potential vulnerabilities.
# Capture 5G signaling traffic tshark -i eth0 -f "port 38412 or port 2152" \ -w 5g-capture.pcap # Analyze NGAP messages tshark -r 5g-capture.pcap \ -Y "ngap" -T fields -e ngap.procedureCode # Analyze HTTP/2 SBA traffic tshark -r 5g-capture.pcap \ -Y "http2" -T fields -e http2.header.name
Reconnaissance Best Practices
- • Start with passive techniques before moving to active scanning
- • Document all discovered assets and services systematically
- • Use rate limiting to avoid overwhelming network resources
- • Coordinate with network operations teams during active scanning
- • Maintain detailed logs of all reconnaissance activities
The vulnerability assessment phase systematically evaluates 5G network components for security weaknesses, misconfigurations, and potential attack vectors. This comprehensive analysis covers configuration, protocols, and cryptographic implementations.
Review network function configurations for security weaknesses and compliance with best practices.
Test for unchanged default passwords on network functions
Verify proper authentication and authorization mechanisms
Assess isolation between different network slices
# Check for default credentials
hydra -L users.txt -P pass.txt
  http-get://5g-nf.local/
# Configuration audit
python3 5g-config-audit.py
  --target amf.5gc.localAnalyze protocol implementations for vulnerabilities and compliance with security standards.
Test SBA interfaces for HTTP/2 vulnerabilities
Evaluate Packet Forwarding Control Protocol security
Fuzz test NG Application Protocol implementations
# Protocol fuzzing
boofuzz-target --host 5g-amf
  --port 38412 --protocol ngap
# HTTP/2 security scan
h2spec -h nrf.5gc.local
  -p 443 -t -kEvaluate cryptographic implementations, key management, and encryption strength.
Review key generation, storage, and rotation practices
Verify use of approved cryptographic algorithms
Assess message integrity and authentication mechanisms
# SSL/TLS assessment
testssl.sh --full
  https://5g-nf.local:443
# Cipher suite analysis
nmap --script ssl-enum-ciphers
  -p 443 5g-nf.localCommon 5G Vulnerabilities
Network Function Vulnerabilities
- Weak authentication in SBA interfaces allowing unauthorized access
- Insufficient input validation in APIs leading to injection attacks
- Missing rate limiting on critical endpoints enabling DoS attacks
- Insecure service discovery mechanisms exposing network topology
Network Slicing Issues
- Cross-slice information leakage through shared resources
- Inadequate resource isolation between network slices
- Privilege escalation between slices with different security levels
- Slice orchestration vulnerabilities affecting multiple tenants
The exploitation phase validates identified vulnerabilities by attempting controlled exploits to demonstrate real-world impact. This phase requires careful coordination and proper safety measures to avoid disrupting network operations.
Authentication Attacks
Test for vulnerabilities in the 5G Authentication and Key Agreement protocol, including replay attacks, man-in-the-middle scenarios, and authentication bypass attempts.
# 5G-AKA vulnerability test python3 5g-aka-test.py \ --target-amf 192.168.5g.10 \ --imsi 001010123456789 \ --test-replay-attack # Test authentication bypass python3 5g-auth-bypass.py \ --target amf.5gc.local \ --method sequence-number-manipulation
Common Attack Vectors:
- • Sequence number desynchronization
- • Authentication vector replay
- • SUCI decryption attempts
- • Key derivation weaknesses
Attempt to extract Subscription Permanent Identifiers (SUPI) from encrypted SUCI values or through side-channel attacks on the authentication process.
# SUPI extraction attempt python3 supi-disclosure.py \ --capture 5g-traffic.pcap \ --method timing-analysis # Side-channel analysis python3 side-channel-attack.py \ --target-ausf ausf.5gc.local \ --samples 10000
Attack Techniques:
- • Timing analysis on SUCI processing
- • Traffic correlation attacks
- • Cryptographic oracle exploitation
- • Implementation-specific weaknesses
API Security Testing
Test Service-Based Architecture interfaces for common API vulnerabilities including injection attacks, broken authentication, and excessive data exposure.
# API injection testing
curl -X POST \
"http://nrf.5gc/nnrf-nfm/v1/nf-instances" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"nfInstanceId": "'; DROP TABLE nf_instances; --"}'
# Authorization bypass test
curl -X GET \
"http://udm.5gc/nudm-sdm/v1/imsi-001010123456789/nssai" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer invalid_token"Test for HTTP/2 specific attack vectors including stream multiplexing abuse, header compression attacks, and server push vulnerabilities.
# HTTP/2 rapid reset attack python3 http2-rapid-reset.py \ --target nrf.5gc.local \ --streams 1000 --duration 60 # HPACK bomb attack python3 hpack-bomb.py \ --target smf.5gc.local \ --compression-ratio 1000
Network Slicing Attacks
Slice Isolation Testing
Verify that network slices are properly isolated and that resources cannot be accessed across slice boundaries without proper authorization.
# Test slice isolation python3 slice-isolation-test.py \ --slice-id-1 "eMBB-slice-001" \ --slice-id-2 "URLLC-slice-002" \ --test-cross-slice-access # Verify resource boundaries python3 slice-boundary-test.py \ --source-slice "IoT-slice-003" \ --target-slice "eMBB-slice-001"
Resource Allocation Attacks
Test resource exhaustion scenarios where one slice attempts to consume resources allocated to other slices, potentially causing denial of service.
# Resource exhaustion test python3 resource-exhaustion.py \ --target-slice "IoT-slice-003" \ --attack-type "bandwidth-flood" \ --duration 300 # CPU starvation attack python3 cpu-starvation.py \ --slice "test-slice-001" \ --intensity high
Exploitation Safety Guidelines
Exploitation testing carries inherent risks to network stability and service availability. Follow these guidelines to minimize impact:
- Always test in isolated environments first before production testing
- Document all exploitation attempts and results in real-time
- Have rollback procedures ready for each test scenario
- Monitor network stability and service metrics during testing
- Coordinate with network operations teams and establish communication channels
- Define clear stop conditions and abort procedures
The reporting phase transforms technical findings into actionable intelligence for both technical and executive audiences. A well-structured report communicates risks clearly and provides a roadmap for remediation.
High-level overview for decision-makers focusing on business impact and strategic recommendations.
- High-level security posture assessment
- Critical vulnerabilities summary
- Business impact analysis
- Risk prioritization matrix
- Strategic recommendations
Detailed technical documentation for security teams and network engineers.
- Detailed vulnerability descriptions
- Proof of concept demonstrations
- CVSS scoring and impact assessment
- Attack vectors and exploitation paths
- Evidence and screenshots
Actionable steps for addressing identified vulnerabilities and improving security posture.
- Specific remediation steps
- Implementation timelines
- Resource requirements
- Validation procedures
- Long-term security roadmap
Sample Report Structure
Report Sections
- 1.Executive Summary
High-level overview for leadership
- 2.Methodology Overview
Testing approach and scope
- 3.Network Architecture Analysis
Infrastructure overview
- 4.Vulnerability Assessment Results
Detailed findings
- 5.Exploitation Findings
Validated vulnerabilities
- 6.Risk Assessment Matrix
Prioritized risk analysis
- 7.Remediation Recommendations
Actionable next steps
- 8.Appendices and Evidence
Supporting documentation
Deliverables
Full technical documentation with findings
High-level summary for stakeholders
Screenshots, logs, and proof of concepts
Prioritized action items with timelines
Follow-up assessment after remediation
Additional Resources
Download our collection of 5G security testing tools and automation scripts.
Step-by-step video guides for each phase of the methodology.
Pre-configured virtual lab for hands-on 5G security testing practice.
Validate your 5G security testing skills with our certification program.
Related 5G Security Topics
Explore related telecommunications security topics and attack methodologies.