{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4408838677","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fi17040142","title":"A Survey of 5G Core Network User Identity Protections, Concerns, and Proposed Enhancements for Future 6G Technologies","display_name":"A Survey of 5G Core Network User Identity Protections, Concerns, and Proposed Enhancements for Future 6G Technologies","publication_year":2025,"publication_date":"2025-03-25","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W4408838677","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fi17040142"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.3390/fi17040142","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fi17040142","pdf_url":"https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/17/4/142/pdf?version=1742892099","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S34838331","display_name":"Future Internet","issn_l":"1999-5903","issn":["1999-5903"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310310987","host_organization_name":"Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310310987"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Future Internet","raw_type":"journal-article"},"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref","doaj"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"gold","oa_url":"https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/17/4/142/pdf?version=1742892099","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5093674541","display_name":"Paul Scalise","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4145-7318"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I114395901","display_name":"University of Nebraska\u2013Lincoln","ror":"https://ror.org/043mer456","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I114395901"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Paul Scalise","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4145-7318","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I114395901"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5041294451","display_name":"Michael Hempel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7091-8349"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I114395901","display_name":"University of Nebraska\u2013Lincoln","ror":"https://ror.org/043mer456","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I114395901"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"Michael Hempel","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7091-8349","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I114395901"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5032208035","display_name":"Hamid Sharif","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6229-2043"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I114395901","display_name":"University of Nebraska\u2013Lincoln","ror":"https://ror.org/043mer456","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I114395901"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Hamid Sharif","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6229-2043","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I114395901"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":1,"institutions_distinct_count":3,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5041294451"],"corresponding_institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I114395901"],"apc_list":{"value":1400,"currency":"CHF","value_usd":1515},"apc_paid":{"value":1400,"currency":"CHF","value_usd":1515},"fwci":1.8757,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":3,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.85042004,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":false},"cited_by_percentile_year":{"min":95,"max":98},"biblio":{"volume":"17","issue":"4","first_page":"142","last_page":"142"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11458","display_name":"Advanced Wireless Communication Technologies","score":0.9932000041007996,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2208","display_name":"Electrical and Electronic Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11458","display_name":"Advanced Wireless Communication Technologies","score":0.9932000041007996,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2208","display_name":"Electrical and Electronic Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10714","display_name":"Software-Defined Networks and 5G","score":0.9889000058174133,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1705","display_name":"Computer Networks and Communications"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10964","display_name":"Wireless Communication Security Techniques","score":0.9848999977111816,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2208","display_name":"Electrical and Electronic Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/computer-science","display_name":"Computer science","score":0.8822699785232544},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/core","display_name":"Core (optical fiber)","score":0.6684741377830505},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/identity","display_name":"Identity (music)","score":0.6262953877449036},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/core-network","display_name":"Core network","score":0.5257331132888794},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/telecommunications","display_name":"Telecommunications","score":0.5100978016853333},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/key","display_name":"Key (lock)","score":0.4801028072834015},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/computer-security","display_name":"Computer security","score":0.44650861620903015},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/computer-network","display_name":"Computer network","score":0.3245294690132141}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.8822699785232544},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2164484","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5170150","display_name":"Core (optical fiber)","level":2,"score":0.6684741377830505},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778355321","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17079427","display_name":"Identity (music)","level":2,"score":0.6262953877449036},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C5038329","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1142907","display_name":"Core network","level":2,"score":0.5257331132888794},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C76155785","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q418","display_name":"Telecommunications","level":1,"score":0.5100978016853333},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C26517878","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q228039","display_name":"Key (lock)","level":2,"score":0.4801028072834015},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C38652104","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3510521","display_name":"Computer security","level":1,"score":0.44650861620903015},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C31258907","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1301371","display_name":"Computer network","level":1,"score":0.3245294690132141},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C121332964","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q413","display_name":"Physics","level":0,"score":0.0},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C24890656","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q82811","display_name":"Acoustics","level":1,"score":0.0}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":3,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.3390/fi17040142","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fi17040142","pdf_url":"https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/17/4/142/pdf?version=1742892099","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S34838331","display_name":"Future Internet","issn_l":"1999-5903","issn":["1999-5903"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310310987","host_organization_name":"Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310310987"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Future Internet","raw_type":"journal-article"},{"id":"pmh:oai:RePEc:gam:jftint:v:17:y:2025:i:4:p:142-:d:1619738","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/17/4/142/","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306401271","display_name":"RePEc: Research Papers in Economics","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I77793887","host_organization_name":"Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I77793887"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"article"},{"id":"pmh:oai:doaj.org/article:a9e76cfe3b8b43fc895aa4f78981f341","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doaj.org/article/a9e76cfe3b8b43fc895aa4f78981f341","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306401280","display_name":"DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":[],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by-sa","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by-sa","version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"Future Internet, Vol 17, Iss 4, p 142 (2025)","raw_type":"article"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.3390/fi17040142","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fi17040142","pdf_url":"https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/17/4/142/pdf?version=1742892099","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S34838331","display_name":"Future Internet","issn_l":"1999-5903","issn":["1999-5903"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310310987","host_organization_name":"Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310310987"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Future Internet","raw_type":"journal-article"},"sustainable_development_goals":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":false,"pdf":true},"content_urls":{"pdf":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W4408838677.pdf"},"referenced_works_count":52,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W1600234042","https://openalex.org/W2042280942","https://openalex.org/W2086477792","https://openalex.org/W2326204440","https://openalex.org/W2332129570","https://openalex.org/W2576765166","https://openalex.org/W2770434416","https://openalex.org/W2783156170","https://openalex.org/W2899063420","https://openalex.org/W2932578537","https://openalex.org/W2966581125","https://openalex.org/W2975683902","https://openalex.org/W2985336933","https://openalex.org/W3033113800","https://openalex.org/W3042888165","https://openalex.org/W3044837284","https://openalex.org/W3124207277","https://openalex.org/W3126686235","https://openalex.org/W3127447975","https://openalex.org/W3138013764","https://openalex.org/W3180931827","https://openalex.org/W3185634836","https://openalex.org/W3185940775","https://openalex.org/W3189666457","https://openalex.org/W3190990132","https://openalex.org/W3195333310","https://openalex.org/W3198654303","https://openalex.org/W3203778842","https://openalex.org/W3207195602","https://openalex.org/W4211123510","https://openalex.org/W4214809372","https://openalex.org/W4214923837","https://openalex.org/W4248377795","https://openalex.org/W4289526160","https://openalex.org/W4321020937","https://openalex.org/W4386531882","https://openalex.org/W4391341737","https://openalex.org/W4391956152","https://openalex.org/W4392309159","https://openalex.org/W4394862853","https://openalex.org/W4396560637","https://openalex.org/W4400005713","https://openalex.org/W4401171692","https://openalex.org/W4401382735","https://openalex.org/W4401878796","https://openalex.org/W4402210775","https://openalex.org/W4403796106","https://openalex.org/W4403915845","https://openalex.org/W4405304659","https://openalex.org/W4406892643","https://openalex.org/W6746346284","https://openalex.org/W6802045208"],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W2140798747","https://openalex.org/W3158538495","https://openalex.org/W2948169060","https://openalex.org/W2730112582","https://openalex.org/W2110696645","https://openalex.org/W2358580169","https://openalex.org/W2111347279","https://openalex.org/W2393335510","https://openalex.org/W3100679886","https://openalex.org/W2394027267"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Fifth-Generation":[0],"(5G)":[1],"cellular":[2,89,175],"networks":[3,203],"extensively":[4],"utilize":[5],"subscriber":[6,191],"identifiers":[7,27,65,107,289],"throughout":[8],"the":[9,19,22,29,76,97,102,121,128,142,146,188,223,266,283,292,311,315,332],"protocol":[10],"stack,":[11],"thereby":[12],"linking":[13],"subscribers":[14],"to":[15,32,70,74,81,100,136,158,173,207,264,281,301,330],"their":[16,109,155,162],"activities":[17],"on":[18,62,240,287],"network.":[20],"With":[21],"inherent":[23],"use":[24,110,313],"of":[25,78,106,118,183,190,253,269,314],"linked":[26],"comes":[28],"potential":[30],"capability":[31],"track":[33],"subscribers\u2019":[34],"location":[35],"and":[36,46,72,87,108,116,134,154,160,216,234,245,262,285],"behavior,":[37],"which":[38],"poses":[39],"critical":[40],"challenges":[41],"for":[42,85,148,212,228,328],"user":[43,169,214,232,305],"identity":[44,132,170,215,233],"protections":[45,133,171],"privacy":[47,71,138,217,235],"in":[48,141,187,201],"sensitive":[49],"applications":[50],"like":[51],"military":[52],"or":[53,255],"healthcare":[54],"operating":[55],"over":[56],"public":[57],"5G":[58,98,165,202,298,329],"infrastructure.":[59],"The":[60,250],"reliance":[61,286],"such":[63,290],"personal":[64,288],"threatens":[66],"a":[67,149,209,238],"user\u2019s":[68],"right":[69],"brings":[73],"light":[75],"importance":[77],"proper":[79],"mechanisms":[80],"mitigate":[82,137],"these":[83],"risks":[84],"current":[86],"future":[88,229],"network":[90,156],"technologies.":[91],"In":[92],"this":[93,270],"paper,":[94],"we":[95],"explore":[96],"specifications":[99],"understand":[101,265],"most":[103],"important":[104,278],"list":[105],"across":[111],"Virtual":[112],"Network":[113,123],"Functions":[114],"(VNF),":[115],"points":[117],"exposure":[119],"within":[120,297],"Core":[122,299],"(CN).":[124],"We":[125,307],"also":[126,195,221,259,308],"examine":[127],"existing":[129],"literature":[130],"regarding":[131],"efforts":[135,324],"concerns":[139],"targeted":[140],"CN.":[143],"Findings":[144],"include":[145],"need":[147],"trust":[150],"relationship":[151],"between":[152,317],"users":[153],"providers":[157],"protect":[159,304,331],"safeguard":[161],"identity.":[163,306],"While":[164],"technology":[166],"has":[167],"greater":[168],"compared":[172],"previous":[174],"generations,":[176],"our":[177],"analysis":[178],"shows":[179],"that":[180,197],"several":[181],"areas":[182],"concern":[184],"remain,":[185],"particularly":[186],"exchange":[189],"metadata.":[192],"This":[193,219],"work":[194,273],"finds":[196],"new":[198],"technologies":[199],"adopted":[200],"add":[204],"further":[205,279],"complexity":[206],"maintaining":[208],"strict":[210],"posture":[211],"safeguarding":[213],"protections.":[218],"paper":[220],"reviews":[222],"scientific":[224],"community\u2019s":[225],"proposed":[226],"enhancements":[227],"6G":[230],"networks\u2019":[231],"protections,":[236],"with":[237,319],"focus":[239],"emerging":[241],"Artificial":[242],"Intelligence":[243],"(AI)":[244],"Machine":[246],"Learning":[247],"(ML)":[248],"applications.":[249],"ethical":[251],"implications":[252],"private":[254],"anonymous":[256],"communications":[257],"are":[258],"carefully":[260],"weighed":[261],"examined":[263],"multifaceted":[267],"nature":[268],"topic.":[271],"Our":[272],"is":[274],"concluded":[275],"by":[276,325],"proposing":[277],"research":[280],"reduce":[282],"prevalence":[284],"as":[291],"SUPI":[293,316,333],"(Subscription":[294],"Permanent":[295],"Identifier)":[296],"operations":[300],"help":[302],"better":[303],"propose":[309],"replacing":[310],"widespread":[312],"VNFs":[318],"ephemeral":[320],"identifiers,":[321],"building":[322],"upon":[323],"3GPP":[326],"aiming":[327],"from":[334],"eavesdroppers.":[335]},"counts_by_year":[{"year":2026,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2025,"cited_by_count":2}],"updated_date":"2026-05-06T08:25:59.206177","created_date":"2025-10-10T00:00:00"}
