The security of the GSM air interface protocol

Abstract

This paper describes the level of security offered by the GSM air interface protocol. All known attacks against this protocol are described, and their feasibility is assessed. Consideration of the level of security offered by particular algorithms which may be used to help implement the protocol are outside the scope of this paper. The main objectives of the paper are to provide a benchmark against which the security features of future mobile telecommunications networks can be judged, and also to help determine the security requirements for future networks.