Palo Alto Networks, Inc.
SECURING CONTROL AND USER PLANE SEPARATION IN MOBILE NETWORKS

Abstract:

Techniques for securing control and user plane separation in mobile networks (e.g., service provider networks for mobile subscribers, such as for 4G/5G networks) are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system/process/computer program product for securing control and user plane separation in mobile networks in accordance with some embodiments includes monitoring network traffic on a mobile network at a security platform to identify an Packet Forwarding Control Protocol (PFCP) message associated with a new session, in which the mobile network includes a 4G network or a 5G network; extracting a plurality of parameters from the PFCP message at the security platform; and enforcing a security policy at the security platform on the new session based on one or more of the plurality of parameters to secure control and user plane separation in the mobile network.