Exfiltration

Exfiltration is the unauthorised removal of data from a system or network by an attacker, often the final stage of a targeted intrusion. In telecom, exfiltration may target subscriber databases, call detail records, or lawful-interception material; defences include strict egress filtering, DLP tooling, monitoring of unusual outbound flows, and segmentation of high-value data stores.

Categories: Identity and SubscriberThreats and Attacks

Exfiltration in context

Subscriber identifiers (IMSI, SUPI, MSISDN, IMEI) are the anchor for authentication, charging, lawful interception and fraud analytics. Any protocol or interface that leaks a permanent identifier is treated as a serious privacy defect, which is why 5G introduced SUCI concealment on the air interface.

Telecom threats range from opportunistic SMS phishing and SIM swap to nation-state grade location tracking and lawful-interception abuse. The common thread is that most attacks exploit the inherited trust model of legacy signaling. SS7 and Diameter were designed for a closed operator community that no longer exists.

To place Exfiltration in the wider telecom-security picture, review Malware, UDR, Egress, Event Logging, Insider Threat and Robocalling.

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Browse the full TelcoSec Glossary, the Ultimate Guide to Mobile Network Security, or the P1 Arsenal of telecom-security tools.