Implementation of Efficient 5G AKA Protocol for Light-Weight Environment
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
sustainability Article Implementation of Efficient 5G AKA Protocol for Light-Weight Environment Seonghwan Cho 1, Cheolmin Yeom 2 and Yoojae Won 1,* 1 Cyber Security Laboratory, Department of Computer Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea; [email protected] 2 National Forestry Cooperative Federation, 166, Seokchonhosu-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05601, Korea; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +82-042-821-6294 Abstract: There is a critical vulnerability in the 5G AKA protocol of the 3GPP. We propose a pro- tocol that compensates for these vulnerabilities and speed up the existing protocol; and the study implements this protocol to experiment with the vulnerabilities. The protocol uses the Light-weight n Encryption Algorithm and is expected to be 3 times faster in than with the application of Ad- vanced Encryption Standard algorithms. By using this algorithm, we improve the protocol efficiently, reduced the power consumed. Keywords: 5G; 5G privacy; security; authentication protocol; 5G AKA protocol; authentication and key agreement; AKA vulnerability; LEA; 3GPP Citation: Cho, S.; Yeom, C.; Won, Y. Implementation of Efficient 5G AKA 1. Introduction Protocol for Light-Weight According to the investigation report published by the Global System for Mobile Environment. Sustainability 2021, 13, Communication Association (GSMA) [1], over 5.2 billion people subscribed to mobile 8982. https://doi.org/10.3390/ services by the end of 2019, accounting for 67% of the global population. su13168982 As shown in Figure1, GSMA also predicted that by 2025, approximately 20% of all mobile service subscribers would use 5G. 5G mobile communication is a next-generation Academic Editors: wireless technology that represents a complete transition of communication through inno- Manuel Fernandez-Veiga and vative changes in data transmission speed, delay rate and number of device connections Jaime Lloret compared to conventional mobile communication. 5G users are estimated to increase because of the use case scenarios that 5G can provide. Received: 31 May 2021 According to a report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the use case Accepted: 5 August 2021 requirement comprises three things: enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine-type Published: 11 August 2021 communications and ultra-reliable and low latency [2]. If these use case requirements are satisfied, 5G can implement a number of use cases, including voice calls and simple Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral data communication, as well as self-driving vehicles, augmented reality and smart cities with regard to jurisdictional claims in connected with the Internet of Things (IoT). If they are implemented, it is expected that published maps and institutional affil- iations. more IoT devices will be connected and a large amount of data will be delivered. The provision of various services can increase user convenience, but it can also si- multaneously put them at risk because of increased attack surfaces [3]. IoT devices are often unable to provide the computing power to ensure sufficient security protocols. Since attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to carry out Denial-of-Service attacks, network Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. operators and standards organizations must operate the network considering low-level Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. IoT devices. This article is an open access article The 3rd Generation Partnership Project(3GPP), which is a standardization body, em- distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons phasizes that sensitive information such as subscribers’ identifiers, locations and data is Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// stored and transferred over network, and that presenting standards that protect users’ creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ privacy in various ways is important for the operation of secure 5G networks [4]. Currently, 4.0/). studies on the 6G standard are underway. The 6G white paper emphasizes the importance Sustainability 2021, 13, 8982. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168982 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Article Implementation of Efficient 5G AKA Protocol for Light‐Weight Environment Seonghwan Cho 1, Cheolmin Yeom 2 and Yoojae Won 1,* 1 Cyber Security Laboratory, Department of Computer Engineering, Chungnam National University, 34134 Daejeon, Korea; [email protected] 2 National Forestry Cooperative Federation, 166, Seokchonhosu‐ro, Songpa‐gu, 05601 Seoul, Korea; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected], Tel.: +82‐042‐821‐6294 Abstract: There is a critical vulnerability in the 5G AKA protocol of the 3GPP. We propose a protocol Sustainability 2021, 13, 8982 2 of 13 that compensates for these vulnerabilities and speed up the existing protocol; and the study imple‐ ments this protocol to experiment with the vulnerabilities. The protocol uses the Light‐weight En‐ cryption Algorithm and is expected to be times faster in than with the application of Advanced ଷ Encryptionof developing Standard technologies algorithms. that By not using only this meet algorithm, users’ requirements we improve the as protocol they shift efficiently, to the next re‐ ducedgeneration, the power but consumed. also provide protection. In 6G, the network is more expansive than the previous generation, and privacy protection technologies must be developed accordingly. Keywords:For the development 5G; 5G privacy; of standardssecurity; authentication for these privacy protocol; protection 5G AKA protocol; technologies authentication and regula- and keytions, agreement; it is critical AKA to vulnerability; consider how LEA; 5G 3GPP technologies can affect the next generation. If a technology with a vulnerability is inherited, it could lead to more serious consequences in the future [5]. Furthermore, technologies that consider IoT environments should be considered for network expansion. Mitigating IoT-related security threats in 5G is one of 1.the Introduction main goals in 6G standard studies, as recommended by the existing standards, because previous generations of vulnerability continue to threaten the network [6]. To avoid this According to the investigation report published by the Global System for Mobile risk, studies have been conducted to improve security in various ways, which include Citation: Cho, S.H.; Yeom, C.M.; Communication Association (GSMA) [1], over 5.2 billion people subscribed to mobile ser‐ creating secure, efficient connections and trust models from an IoT perspective, improved Won, Y.J. Implementation of Effi‐ vices by the end of 2019, accounting for 67% of the global population. related algorithms and secure architectures [7–9]. Improving standards in consideration of cient 5G AKA Protocol for Light‐ As shown in Figure 1, GSMA also predicted that by 2025, approximately 20% of all Weight Environment. Sustainability low-level devices helps develop sustainable technologies. Increasing the performance of themobile standard, service considering subscribers only would security, use 5G. may 5G prevent mobile devicescommunication from operating, is a next in‐generation the worst 2021, 13, x. wireless technology that represents a complete transition of communication through in‐ https://doi.org/10.3390/xxxxx case scenario. To prevent this, standards should be improved in an efficient way that is fastnovative and low changes consumable in data [transmission10]. These improvements speed, delay rate can beand driving number the of development device connec of‐ tions compared to conventional mobile communication. Academic Editor: Manuel sustainable technologies. Fernandez‐Veiga and Jaime Lloret Received: 31 May 2021 Accepted: 5 August 2021 Published: 11 August 2021 Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neu‐ tral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institu‐ tional affiliations. Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Submitted for possible open access publication under the terms and con‐ ditions of the Creative Commons At‐ tribution (CC BY) license (http://crea‐ Figure 1. GSMA prediction regarding 5G users (Adapted from [1]). tivecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Figure 1. GSMA prediction regarding 5G users (Adapted from [1]). Vulnerabilities had been identified in the 5G key agreement protocol, which is an important element of the 3GPP’s standards [11–13]. The protocol had several problems in the previous generation of 5G but was not properly modified, inheriting vulnerabilities and Sustainability 2021, 13, x. https://doi.org/10.3390/xxxxx www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability affecting the 5G. Borgaonkar et al. found structural weaknesses in 5G authentication and key agreement (AKA) protocol, one of the 5G key agreement protocols [14]. Vulnerability is the exposure of users’ information in plaintext when authentication fails under certain conditions; this study explores passive attacks that exploit this simply to eavesdrop and active attacks that exploit structural protocols with inexpensive equipment to manipulate data. This situation contradicts the protection of users’ information emphasized by 3GPP, and several studies have been conducted in an attempt to solve it. Jung et al. supplemented the effort by introducing hardware equipment, but that the requirement of additional equipment is a disadvantage [15]. Braeken et al. proposed the random replacement of random numbers and sequence numbers proposed to complement the protocol, but this burdens the user equipment (UE) and home network (HN), and it necessitates changes in the protocol structure [16]. Therefore,