SCP Abuse

In telecommunications, SCP Abuse refers to attacks targeting or leveraging the 5G Service Communication Proxy, which mediates traffic between Network Functions. A compromised or misconfigured SCP can observe SBA service calls, alter routing, strip OAuth2 tokens, or pivot between slices, making strict TLS, token validation, and SCP hardening critical.

Categories: Core NetworkSecurity ControlsThreats and Attacks

SCP Abuse in context

The mobile core is where subscriber sessions, mobility and policy live. In 4G it is the EPC (MME, HSS, S/PGW); in 5G it is the Service-Based Architecture with AMF, SMF, UPF, AUSF, UDM and the NRF. Core exposure is the difference between a single-subscriber leak and a fleet-wide breach.

Security controls in telecom span signaling firewalls (SS7/Diameter/GTP screening at the network edge), transport encryption (IPsec, TLS, PRINS), identity and access on OSS/BSS, and monitoring at both the packet and log level. Controls are audited against GSMA FS.11/FS.19/FS.20/FS.36 and, in Europe, NIS2 sectoral rules.

To place SCP Abuse in the wider telecom-security picture, review N6, SBA Token Forgery, SCP, HTTP, OAuth2 in 5G Core and Slice Security.

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