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On LTE Security: Closing the Gap Between Standards and Implementation

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Modern cellular networks including LTE (Long Term Evolution) and the evolving LTE- Advanced provide high-speed and high-capacity data services for mobile users. As we become more reliant on wireless connectivity, the security of voice and data transmissions on the network becomes increasingly important. While the LTE network standards provide strict security guidelines, these requirements may not be completely followed when LTE networks are deployed in practice. This project provides a method for improving the security of LTE networks by 1) characterizing a gap between security requirements defined in the standards and practical implementations, 2) designing a language to express the encoding formats of one of LTE’s network-layer protocols, 3) developing a compiler to translate a protocol description in our language into an implementation, and 4) providing recommendations on lessons learned during development of the language and compiler to support development of future protocols that employ formal representations. In this way, our work demonstrates how a formal language can be utilized to represent a cellular network protocol and serves as an example for further research on how adding formalism to network standards can help ensure that the security goals defined in the standards can be upheld in an implementation.

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Language
  • English
Identifier
  • etd-050815-095939
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Year
  • 2015
Date created
  • 2015-05-08
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Last modified
  • 2021-02-03

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Permanent link to this page: https://digital.wpi.edu/show/r494vk32m