Security Analysis of 5G NR Device-to-Device Sidelink Communications

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Bitsikas, Evangelos, Ranganathan, Aanjhan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Bitsikas, Evangelos
Ranganathan, Aanjhan
author_facet Bitsikas, Evangelos
Ranganathan, Aanjhan
contents 5G NR sidelink communication enables new possibilities for direct device-to-device interactions, supporting applications from vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems to public safety, industrial automation, and drone networks. However, these advancements come with significant security challenges due to the decentralized trust model and increased reliance on User Equipment (UE) for critical functions like synchronization, resource allocation, and authorization. This paper presents the first comprehensive security analysis of NR V2X sidelink. We identify vulnerabilities across critical procedures and demonstrate plausible attack, including attacks that manipulate data integrity feedback and block resources, ultimately undermining the reliability and privacy of sidelink communications. Our analysis reveals that NR operational modes are vulnerable, with the ones relying on autonomous resource management (without network supervision) particularly exposed. To address these issues, we propose mitigation strategies to enhance the security of 5G sidelink communications. This work establishes a foundation for future efforts to strengthen 5G device-to-device sidelink communications, ensuring its safe deployment in critical applications.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_16650
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Security Analysis of 5G NR Device-to-Device Sidelink Communications
Bitsikas, Evangelos
Ranganathan, Aanjhan
Cryptography and Security
5G NR sidelink communication enables new possibilities for direct device-to-device interactions, supporting applications from vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems to public safety, industrial automation, and drone networks. However, these advancements come with significant security challenges due to the decentralized trust model and increased reliance on User Equipment (UE) for critical functions like synchronization, resource allocation, and authorization. This paper presents the first comprehensive security analysis of NR V2X sidelink. We identify vulnerabilities across critical procedures and demonstrate plausible attack, including attacks that manipulate data integrity feedback and block resources, ultimately undermining the reliability and privacy of sidelink communications. Our analysis reveals that NR operational modes are vulnerable, with the ones relying on autonomous resource management (without network supervision) particularly exposed. To address these issues, we propose mitigation strategies to enhance the security of 5G sidelink communications. This work establishes a foundation for future efforts to strengthen 5G device-to-device sidelink communications, ensuring its safe deployment in critical applications.
title Security Analysis of 5G NR Device-to-Device Sidelink Communications
topic Cryptography and Security
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.16650