## 4 Security Threat Landscape in 5G Networks
### Analysis of Inherent Vulnerabilities in Network Slicing  
Network slicing is a critical feature of 5G networks, enabling operators to create multiple virtual networks on a single physical infrastructure. While this feature brings numerous benefits, such as customizability, scalability, and efficient resource utilization, it also in troduces new vulnerabilities and amplifies the potential impact of security breaches [56]. One significant vulnerability lies in the inherent complexity of managing multiple virtual networks concurrently. Each slice may serve different applications and services, having its own unique security requirements and configuration. Managing these complex configurations and maintaining isolation between slices is challenging, and any misconfiguration or overlap could lead to breaches and leakage of sensitive information across slices [57; 58]. The orchestration process is another vulnerability in network slicing. Orchestrators are responsible for the allocation and management of resources across slices. An attacker compromising the orchestrator could control resource allocation, potentially leading to the unauthorized access of network slices or DoS attacks on specific slices. Inter-slice communication is yet another vulnerability. Although slices are designed to be isolated, communication between slices can occur. If the security protocols governing these interactions are not robust, an attacker could exploit this communication to launch attacks on different slices. The dependence on SDN and NFV for implementing network slicing also introduces vulnerabilities. SDN and NFV architectures could potentially be exploited if they contain software vulnerabilities or are misconfigured [89; 90]. The technical aspects of network slicing, while enabling greater flexibility and optimization, also introduce potential weaknesses. Network slicing necessitates a more dynamic, programmable, and software-based environment, primarily facilitated by SDN and NFV. While these technologies provide flexibility and optimization capabilities, they also introduce software vulnerabilities that may be exploited by attackers [57; 59]. The isolation between network slices is another crucial technical aspect. Each network slice is envisioned to operate independently of the others, providing services tailored to its specific use case. However, maintaining robust isolation and preventing interference between network slices is technically challenging. Misconfigurations or software vulnerabilities could compromise the isolation, potentially enabling an attacker to gain access to multiple slices or causing interference between slices [55; 58; 84]. The inherent vulnerabilities in network slicing in 5G networks and their associated mitigation strategies are outlined in Table 6. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Vulnerability** & **Potential Impact** & **Exploitation Techniques** & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Mitigation Strategies**} \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Complex slice configurations} & \multirow{4}{*}{Breaches, data leakage, security risks} & - & Configuration errors & - & Develop robust security protocols \\  & & - & Weak access controls & - & for inter-slice communication. \\  & & - & Inadequate security protocols & - & Implement stringent configuration \\  & & & - & Inadequate security protocols & - & \\  & & & & & \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Orchestration vulnerabilities} & \multirow{4}{*}{Unauthorized resource access, DoS attacks, security breaches} & - & Weak authentication & - & Harden orchestrator security with strong authentication and access controls. \\  & & - & Unauthorized access to & & access controls. \\ \cline{1-1}  & & access, DoS attacks, orchestrator interfaces & - & Implement anomaly detection \\ \cline{1-1}  & & - & Exploiting vulnerabilities in & mechanisms to identify suspicious \\ \cline{1-1}  & & & orchestrator software & - & Repularly update and patch \\ \cline{1-1}  & & & & & orchestrator software. \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}