The rise of 5G networks promises a wide range of cutting-edge services with the aim of achieving high performance and reliability. Cutting-edge applications facilitated by 5G architecture make use of various enabling technologies, which introduce various new and emerging security threats and attacks. Threat modeling is a proactive approach to identify security requirements, as well as potential threats and vulnerabilities, and prioritize remediation methods. In addition, 5G networks are complex and are usually divided into separate layers to foster the understanding and management of different functionalities. The open nature of 5G envisages that multiple vendors and service providers might be working on network deployment and service provisioning; it is therefore necessary to address and categorize the threats at each layer distinctly. This paper presents a threat model for 5G-based systems. It leverages the layered 5G architecture, identifying threat categories and mapping these to corresponding layers. It also analyzes enabling technologies affected by identified threats along with threat actors, entry points, and the impact of threat categories. Through the development of this threat model, we envisage facilitating further research into specific threats and mechanisms to protect against them.

Alongside the remarkable evolution of cellular communication to 5G networks, significant security and privacy challenges have risen which can affect the widespread adoption of advanced communication technologies. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to examine research within security and privacy for 5G-based systems highlighting contributions made by the research community and identify research trends within different subdomains of 5G security where open issues still exist. This paper uses a bibliographic approach to review the state-of-the-art in the field of 5G security and is the pioneering effort to investigate 5G security research using this methodology. Specifically, the paper presents a quantitative description of the existing contributions in terms of authors, organizations, and countries. It then presents detailed keyword and co-citation analysis that shows the quantity and pattern of research work in different subfields. Finally, 5G security areas are identified having open challenges for future research work. The study shows that China leads the world in terms of published research in the field of 5G security with USA and India ranked second and third respectively. Xidian University, China is ranked highest for number of publications and h-index followed by University Oulu and AALTO University Finland. IEEE Access, Sensors and IEEE Internet of Things Journal are the top publication venues in the field of 5G security. Using VOSViewer aided analysis with respect to productivity, research areas and keywords, the authors have identified research trends in 5G security among scientific community whilst highlighting specific challenges which require further efforts. Existing studies have focused on surveys covering state-of-the art research in secure 5G network (Zhang et al. 2019), physical layer security (Wu et al., 2018), security and privacy of 5G technologies (Khan et al., 2020) and security and privacy challenges when 5G is used in IoT (Sicari et al. 2020). However, our research has revealed no existing bibliometric studies in this area and therefore, to our best knowledge, this paper represents pioneering such effort for security within 5G.

In the contemporary digital landscape, Software-Defined Networking (SDN) has emerged as a transformative approach that decouples network control from hardware, enabling greater flexibility and centralized management. However, this innovation has also introduced new vulnerabilities, making SDN networks susceptible to cyber-attacks. To reduce the risk of cyber-attack blockchain can play vital role. In paper we propose a novel framework that leverages blockchain technology to enhance the security and resilience of SDN environments against potential threats. By integrating blockchain’s decentralized and immutable characteristics, our approach facilitates secure data transactions, enhances network visibility, and fosters trust among network participants. We present a comprehensive analysis of the vulnerabilities inherent in traditional SDN architectures and outline method, how blockchain can mitigate these risks through secure authentication, data integrity, and enhanced access controls.Furthermore, we conduct a series of experiments to evaluate the performance impact and security benefits of our proposed solution. The results demonstrate a significant reduction in the likelihood of cyber-attacks, showcasing the viability of blockchain as a potent tool for safeguarding SDN networks. Our findings underscore the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing the evolving challenges of network security, paving the way for more resilient and secure SDN infrastructures in the future.