## 4 Security Threat Landscape in 5G Networks
### Security Breaches in 5G Networks  
Investigating past breach events is crucial to understand the vulnerabilities in 5G networks and formulate robust security measures. This section delves into an analysis of notable breach events, focusing on the type of attack, tactics utilized by attackers, the network's vulnerabilities exploited, and the resulting implications. One of the significant breach events in recent history involved exploiting the vulnerabilities of the 5G AKA protocol [96]. There exists a notable instance where attackers exploited the 5G AKA protocol, which led to an MitM attack [71]. In this breach event, the attackers intercepted and altered the communication between two parties, resulting in unauthorized access to sensitive data and causing considerable disruption to the network's operations. Furthermore, DDoS attacks have also been responsible for significant security breaches in 5G networks. This breach event underscored the network's vulnerability to volumetric attacks and raised questions about the network's capacity to handle increased traffic [98]. With cutting-edge features like network slicing, eMBB, and the mMTC, the realm of potential cyber threats with 5G has expanded exponentially [30; 66]. Within this landscape, network anomalies, characterized by unusual patterns or behaviors in network traffic, serve as harbingers of potential security threats, be it breaches, system vulnerabilities, or hardware malfunctions. With 5G set to power billions of IoT devices, ranging from smart home appliances to sophisticated industrial sensors, the sheer volume of data being relayed is staggering [68; 70]. Detecting anomalous behavior within this data is critical, as it could indicate a device that has been compromised. A single compromised device, if overlooked, might serve as a backdoor to larger, more crucial systems, presenting significant security risks. Additionally, the introduction of network slicing in 5G, where various virtual networks operate on a shared physical infrastructure, further complicates the security \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt}} \hline \multicolumn{2}{p{113.8 pt}}{**Security Challenges in Edge Computing in 5G**} & \multicolumn{2}{p{113.8 pt}}{**Potential Risks and Vulnerabilities**} & \multicolumn{2}{p{113.8 pt}}{**Protective Measures**} \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Dependency on IoT devices} & - & Diverse security levels and standards among IoT devices. & - & Standardize security protocols across edge devices for a more uniform security landscape. \\  & - & Inconsistent security landscape that can be exploited. & - & Establish industry-wide security standards for edge computing. \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Data privacy concerns} & - & Data processed closer to user devices increases vulnerability to breaches. & - & Implement robust data encryption mechanisms to ensure integrity and confidentiality. \\  & - & More devices involved, each representing a potential entry point for attackers. & - & Secure communication between edge devices and central nodes with strong encryption. \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{Increased number of devices} & - & More devices involved, each representing a potential entry point for attackers. & - & Upgrade perimeter defense strategies. \\  & - & Data travel through various nodes, increasing the risk of corruption or manipulation. & - & Utilize machine learning for real-time threat detection and response. \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{Physical security vulnerabilities} & - & Data travel through various nodes, increasing the risk of corruption or manipulation. & - & Implement data encryption to prevent unauthorized access and manipulation. \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{
\begin{tabular}{p{113.8 pt}} Physical security vulnerabilities \\ \end{tabular} } & - & Lack of physical security measures in edge computing environments. & - & Implement strong access controls and monitoring systems to prevent physical tampering of edge devices. \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 8: _Cont._scenario.