## 4 Security Threat Landscape in 5G Networks
### Anticipated Threat Vectors  
As 5G networks continue to evolve, they introduce new and increasingly sophisticated threat vectors. These encompass not just the malicious actors and their methods but also the system vulnerabilities they may exploit [51; 78; 79]. A comprehensive understanding of these anticipated threat vectors in the 5G landscape is crucial for developing effective security measures. One of the most significant anticipated threat vectors in 5G networks is the proliferation of IoT devices. These devices often have limited computational resources and weak security features, making them attractive targets for cyber attackers. Once compromised, these devices can be used as stepping stones to launch larger-scale attacks on the network or to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data [68; 71; 72; 73; 74]. Another anticipated threat vector in 5G networks is the expanded use of cloud services and edge computing [94; 95]. While these technologies increase network flexibility and performance, they also expand the attack surface by distributing data processing and storage across numerous devices and locations. This can create new vulnerabilities and increase the complexity of securing the network [68; 70]. SDN and NFV, key elements of 5G architecture, are also potential threat vectors. These technologies decentralize network control and  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt}} \hline \hline
**Security Threat** & **Description** & **Potential Impact** & **Attack Methods and Techniques** \\ \hline Cloud services and edge computing [68; 69; 70] and storage. & Enhancing performance but expanding the attack surface by distributing data processing and storage. & Data breaches, service disruption, unauthorized access. & Targeting cloud vulnerabilities. Unauthorized access via edge computing devices. Attacks against distributed cloud services. \\ \hline SDN and NFV [89; 90; 91] & Decentralization and virtualization create new attack points. & Network compromise, data breaches, system instability. & Targeting cloud vulnerabilities. Unauthorized access via edge computing devices. Attacks against distributed cloud services. \\ \hline Network slicing [56; 57; 58; 59] & Enhances security through compartmentalization. However, poor slice isolation or misconfigurations can lead to risks. & Unauthorized access, lateral movement, data breaches. & Exploiting SDN vulnerabilities. Targeting NFV infrastructure. Unauthorized access through virtualization. \\ \hline Potential attackers [87; 92] & Threats from cybercriminals, state-sponsored attackers, or insiders (like employees). & Varied, based on attacker objectives. & Exploiting misconfigured network slices. Unauthorized access through vulnerable slices. Lateral movement between slices. \\ \hline Attack methods [57; 58; 71; 72; 73; 83; 89; 93] & Methods like DDoS due to higher bandwidth, man-in-the-middle attacks via IoT and edge computing, APTs, and software vulnerabilities from SDN and NFV. & Vaper, based on attacker objectives. & Cybercriminal tactics like malware, ransomware, DDoS. APT techniques like zero-days, rootkits. Insider threats exploiting or misusing access. \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 5: _Cont._introduce virtualization layers, potentially creating new points of attack for cybercriminals. Finally, network slicing, another central feature of 5G, can be a potential threat vector. While network slicing can enhance security through compartmentalization, poor slice isolation or misconfigurations can result in security risks, allowing malicious actors to exploit one slice to gain access to others [89; 90; 91]. Understanding these anticipated threat vectors in the 5G environment is the first step towards developing proactive and comprehensive security measures that can address these challenges.