The Signal System 7 (SS7) protocol is at the heart of the SS7 attack, a major security risk in the telecommunications industry. In order to route calls and texts between mobile networks, SS7 is essential.
Surprisingly, SS7 is still quite important in the age of 4G. But what is the SS7 protocol and how does it work, and what is an SS7 attack? This article delves into the intricacies of SS7, its role in 4G, and real-world examples of its vulnerabilities.
Table of Content
SS7 Explained: The Risks and Realities of SS7 Attacks in Modern Telecommunications
Unveiling the SS7 Attack: Unmasking a Telecom Vulnerability
The Backbone of Modern Telecommunication: What is SS7 and how does it work
How SS7 Works
Signalling and Data Separation
Signalling Messages
Point Codes
Link Types
Protocol Stack
Services
Does 4G Use SS7? Unveiling the Technology Behind Modern Connectivity
SS7 in Action: An Illustrative Example
Securing Telecommunications in an Era of SS7 Vulnerabilities with SecurityGen
Unveiling the SS7 Attack: Unmasking a Telecom Vulnerability
The SS7 attack is a stealthy yet potent cyber threat that targets the complex infrastructure that supports our global communications system. Understanding the inner workings and consequences of an SS7 assault is crucial in today’s age of ubiquitous digital connectivity.
SS7 is essentially a collection of signalling protocols that allow for communication between various kinds of networks in the telecommunications industry.
It is the foundation that allows for interoperability between various networks and service providers, allowing for things like phone conversations, text messages, and more to function normally. However, SS7 attackers have found a vulnerability in this very infrastructure.
Intercepting calls, reading text messages, and pinpointing a user’s position are all possible with the use of an SS7 assault. The potential for this technology to jeopardise personal data and, in some situations, be utilised for criminal purposes has raised serious privacy and security concerns.
The SS7 attack is effective because it takes advantage of the reliability of the underlying communications infrastructure. SS7’s key characteristic is that it establishes mutual confidence between networks, making it possible for them to share data and routing information.
Attackers take advantage of this reliance by altering the signalling infrastructure in order to reroute or sabotage communications.
The fallout from such an assault may be felt far and wide. Some of the things that hackers can do include listening in on private conversations, stealing one-time verification codes, and committing financial fraud. These attacks are certainly cause for alarm, but they have also prompted the telecom sector to adopt preventative measures to increase security.
The Backbone of Modern Telecommunication: What is SS7 and how does it work
SS7 (Signaling System No. 7) is a set of telephony signaling protocols that are used to set up and tear down most of the world’s public switched telephone network (PSTN) telephone calls. It also supports other features like SMS, billing, and other value-added services.
How SS7 Works:
Signalling and Data Separation: The separation of signalling information from voice or data transmission is one of SS7’s most ground-breaking features.
The gap between network nodes improves their ability to communicate with one another. In order to make the most optimal use of available network resources, signalling is processed independently of the actual speech or data channels.
Signalling Messages: SS7 operates by exchanging short, structured packets of data known as signaling messages. These messages are used for call management-related activities such setting up calls, ending calls, routing calls, and exchanging relevant data.
When you make a call or send a text message, SS7 messages are passed back and forth between different parts of the network to make the connection possible.
Point Codes: Each component of an SS7 network has a specific numeric address, or “Point Code,” which is used to communicate with other components.
These Point Codes direct signalling communications to their final destinations. Messages are guaranteed to reach their intended network nodes thanks to this addressing scheme.
Link Types: Different types of links, such as A-links (Access Links), B-links (Bridge Links), C-links (Cross Links), D-links (Diagonal Links), and E-links (Extended Links), are used in SS7 networks. These connections serve multiple functions, all of which contribute to the network’s overall stability, such as load balancing and redundancy.
Protocol Stack: SS7 is organised as a stack of protocols, with each tier performing a different task. Some examples of these layers include the Message Transfer Part (MTP), the Signalling Connection Control Part (SCCP), and the ISDN User Part (ISUP). The transmission and processing of SS7 messages depend on the cooperation of all of these layers.
Services: In addition to handling call creation and teardown, SS7 is also compatible with a wide range of other telephony services. Call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting, and the SMS short message service are all examples of such features. SS7 is crucial to providing these features to customers.
Does 4G Use SS7? Unveiling the Technology Behind Modern Connectivity
Yes, 4G networks do use elements of SS7, or Signalling System 7, within their infrastructure.
Despite the widespread use of newer, more powerful mobile networks, SS7 continues to play a crucial role in the field of telecommunications. 4G networks still rely heavily on SS7, albeit in a different way than in the past.
The main function of SS7 in 4G networks is to facilitate connections between nodes. It guarantees that calls, texts, and data can be sent and received between networks and service providers without any disruption. The worldwide reach and interoperability of modern communications depend on this feature’s availability.
Specifically, SS7 is used for making and receiving phone calls, relaying text messages, and updating a user’s position. It’s crucial since it allows subscribers to talk to each other regardless of their network provider and makes it easier to use roaming services when away from home.
While there have been improvements in security with the advent of 4G networks, the continued use of SS7 is cause for concern. In order to combat these problems, the telecom sector is gradually adopting more secure signalling protocols and introducing new security measures.
SS7 in Action: An Illustrative Example
An exemplary instance of SS7 in action lies within the realm of mobile number portability (MNP). Through a process known as “mobile number portability,” customers of one mobile service provider can migrate to another while keeping the same phone number.
Without SS7, porting your number to a new carrier would be a time-consuming and likely error-prone operation.
To ensure a seamless transition of services when a user requests to port their number, the receiving carrier must collaborate with the donor carrier. This includes tasks like user authentication, database maintenance, and call/text routing. The SS7 signalling network acts as the conductor for all of these operations.
For instance, SS7 directs calls to your new carrier so that they may set up service to your phone after you’ve ported your number. To ensure that text messages intended for your number really reach the intended network, SS7 also acts as a gatekeeper.
SS7’s importance in facilitating effective communication between various telecommunications providers is demonstrated by its essential role in the MNP process. This real-world scenario demonstrates why SS7 is crucial to the continued success of our global system of mobile communication infrastructure.
Securing Telecommunications in an Era of SS7 Vulnerabilities with SecurityGen
The SS7 attack reveals significant vulnerabilities in the backbone of our global communication systems. It is essential in this environment to use solutions like SecurityGen. SecurityGen is an innovative method of protecting our private conversations, sensitive information, and personal data from being compromised by SS7 attacks. Protecting our communications with solutions like SecurityGen is becoming not only suggested in this increasingly digital age, but required.
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