User Plane Security

User plane security covers the controls that protect subscriber data traffic as it traverses the mobile network: ciphering and integrity protection on the radio interface (NEA/NIA in 5G), GTP firewalling on inter-PLMN links, IPsec on backhaul and N3, and access controls at the UPF/PGW. 5G adds optional integrity protection of the user plane all the way to the gNB.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkCore NetworkSignaling

User Plane Security in context

The radio access network is where mobile devices attach to the operator's infrastructure. Attacks in this layer include IMSI catching, rogue base stations and downgrade attacks; defenses rest on mutual authentication, integrity-protected signaling and Open RAN supply-chain hygiene.

The mobile core carries subscriber sessions, mobility and policy. 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.

To place User Plane Security in the wider telecom-security picture, review 5G SA, AMF, Base Station (BS), Capacity Planning, CAPEX and CSCF — each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

More from the TelcoSec Glossary

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