Publicação
Security chanllenges in 5G network slicing : a theoretical analysis and framework proposal
| Resumo: | This dissertation analyses the security challenges associated with network slicing in 5th Generation (5G) architectures, with a particular focus on how vulnerabilities across the or- chestration, virtualisation, and communication layers can undermine isolation guarantees. Although network slicing enables flexible multi-tenant services, the sharing of resources and the presence of complex interdependencies broaden the attack surface. Exploratory tests conducted using open-source platforms such as Free5GC, Open Source MANO (OSM), and User Equipment Radio Access Network Simulator (UERANSIM) revealed significant lim- itations in terms of maturity and compatibility, highlighting the gap between theoretical models and practical implementations. To address this issue, a structured taxonomy of vulnerabilities was developed to clas- sify security weaknesses across the different layers of the network slicing system and to analyse them through representative attack scenarios. Building on this analysis, a concep- tual security framework is proposed, integrating preventive, monitoring, and automated response mechanisms to strengthen slice isolation and resilience. The framework empha- sises adaptive security through continuous monitoring and dynamic policy enforcement, thereby contributing to the secure design of future 5G and beyond-5G networks. |
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| Autores principais: | Dias, José Carlos Gomes Lopes |
| Assunto: | 5G networks Network slicing Vulnerabilities Security Risk mitigation Vulnerabilidades de segurança Riscos de mitigação |
| Ano: | 2026 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório Científico IPVC |
| Resumo: | This dissertation analyses the security challenges associated with network slicing in 5th Generation (5G) architectures, with a particular focus on how vulnerabilities across the or- chestration, virtualisation, and communication layers can undermine isolation guarantees. Although network slicing enables flexible multi-tenant services, the sharing of resources and the presence of complex interdependencies broaden the attack surface. Exploratory tests conducted using open-source platforms such as Free5GC, Open Source MANO (OSM), and User Equipment Radio Access Network Simulator (UERANSIM) revealed significant lim- itations in terms of maturity and compatibility, highlighting the gap between theoretical models and practical implementations. To address this issue, a structured taxonomy of vulnerabilities was developed to clas- sify security weaknesses across the different layers of the network slicing system and to analyse them through representative attack scenarios. Building on this analysis, a concep- tual security framework is proposed, integrating preventive, monitoring, and automated response mechanisms to strengthen slice isolation and resilience. The framework empha- sises adaptive security through continuous monitoring and dynamic policy enforcement, thereby contributing to the secure design of future 5G and beyond-5G networks. |
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