Detecting O-RAN Synchronization Attacks via 5G NR Positioning

Marco Mezzavilla, Tommy Azzino, Sundeep Rangan, Prashanth Krishnamurthy, Ramesh Karri, Farshad Khorrami

Abstract: Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) architecture has ushered in a new era of flexibility and innovation in telecommunications. A challenge in such open architectures is the expanded attack surface via the interfaces and transport network between elements. This paper explores the significance of a particularly critical vulnerability, namely O- RAN synchronization plane responsible for maintaining precise timing and coordination among network elements. Ensuring the integrity and reliability of synchronization is paramount to guaranteeing the seamless operation of 5G and future networks. This paper introduces a framework to detect synchronization attacks by leveraging 5G NR positioning reference signals. The detection accuracy of the algorithm has been validated by testing a classifier that was trained on a realistic raytracing dataset.