GSM Security

Encryption in the GSM network utilizes a Challenge/Response mechanism. The Mobile Station (MS) signs into the network. The Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC) requests 5 triples from the Home Location Register (HLR). The Home Location Register creates five triples utilizing the A8 algorithm. These five triples each contain: A 128-bit random challenge...

Ki is the 128-bit Individual Subscriber Authentication Key utilized as a secret key shared between the Mobile Station and the Home Location Register of the subscriber’s home network. RAND is 128-bit random challenge generated by the Home Location Register. SRES is the 32-bit Signed Response generated by the Mobile Station and the Mobile...

Subscriber Equipment Mobile Station (MS) – The mobile telephone. The Switching System (SS) Home Location Register (HLR) – A database which stores data about GSM subscribers, including the Individual Subscriber Authentication Key (Ki) for each Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC) – The network...

The key generation algorithm used in the GSM system is known as the A8 algorithm. Most GSM network operators utilize the a version of the COMP128 algorithm as the implementation of the A8 algorithm. A8’s task is to generate the 64-bit Session Key (Kc), from the 128-bit random challenge (RAND) received from the Mobile Services Switching Center...

The encryption algorithm used in the GSM system is a stream cipher known as the A5 algorithm. Multiple versions of the A5 algorithm exist which implement various levels of encryption. A5/0 utilizes no encryption. A5/1 is the original A5 algorithm used in Europe. A5/2 is a weaker encryption algorithm created for export and used in the United States. A5/3...

The authentication algorithm used in the GSM system is known as the A3 algorithm. Most GSM network operators utilize a version of the COMP128 algorithm as the implementation of the A3 algorithm. A3’s task is to generate the 32-bit Signed Response (SRES) utilizing the 128-bit random challenge (RAND) generated by the Home Location Register (HLR)...

GSM networks utilize encryption for three purposes: Authentication Encryption Key generation VN:F [1.9.22_1171]please wait...Rating: 3.3/10 (8 votes cast)