| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Macedo, Luiza Odete H. de Carvalho
;
Campista, Miguel Elias M.
Total Authors: 2
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS; v. 83, n. 3, p. 13-pg., 2023-05-16. |
| Abstract | |
The SS7 (Signaling System n degrees 7) protocol stack is still in use today to interconnect networks from different mobile telecommunication providers. These protocols were proposed in the 80 s, taking into account mutual trust relationships between participants. With the success of IP communications and the growth in the number of carriers, mobile networks have become exposed to many SS7 attacks. In this paper, we discuss important threats to SS7 networks as well as the main countermeasures. We also analyze a dataset obtained from a major telecommunication provider in Brazil. From this dataset, we observe that thousands of threats are triggered daily, that the main attacks are proportional along the time, that attacks are concentrated on a subset of attack sources as well as on a subset of victims, and that attack orchestration is possible but still not clear. These findings justify all the concerns regarding SS7 vulnerabilities and encourage new proposals towards attack mitigation. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 15/24494-8 - Communications and processing of big data in cloud and fog computing |
| Grantee: | Nelson Luis Saldanha da Fonseca |
| Support Opportunities: | Research Projects - Thematic Grants |