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A researcher uncovered a critical flaw in VoLTE (Voice over LTE) systems that allows attackers to geolocate users in real-time without consent. By analyzing signaling traffic, sensitive data like IMEI, IMSI, and Cell ID can be extracted. Tools like Cellmapper convert this data into precise locations, even across borders.
Read the full report here:
Related Telecom Vulnerabilities:
You Should Know: Practical Exploitation & Defense
1. Extracting IMSI/IMEI from VoLTE Traffic
Use Wireshark to capture SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and RTP packets:
sudo wireshark -k -i any -f "sip || rtp" -Y "volte"
Filter for IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) and IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity):
frame contains "IMSI" || frame contains "IMEI"
2. Mapping Cell ID to Geolocation
With Cellmapper, query exposed Cell IDs:
cellmapper --cellid <ID> --mcc <MCC> --mnc <MNC>
Or use OpenCellID API:
curl "https://opencellid.org/cell/get?key=API_KEY&mcc=MCC&mnc=MNC&lac=LAC&cellid=CELL_ID"
3. Simulating VoLTE MITM Attacks
Set up a SIPp testing environment:
sipp -sn uac -d 10000 -r 1 -m 1 target_volte_server
Capture traffic with tcpdump:
sudo tcpdump -i eth0 -w volte_traffic.pcap 'port 5060 || port 5061'
4. Defending Against VoLTE Exploits
- Enable Encryption: Force IPSec/IKEv2 on carrier networks.
- Monitor Signaling Traffic: Use Suricata rules:
alert sip any any -> any any (msg:"IMSI Leak"; content:"IMSI"; sid:1000001;)
- Disable VoLTE if Unnecessary:
adb shell settings put global volte_enabled 0 Android
What Undercode Say
Telecom networks remain a weak link in cybersecurity due to legacy protocols and poor encryption. Attackers exploit SS7/Diameter flaws, SIM swap attacks, and now VoLTE geotracking. Red teams must audit SIP/RTP traffic, while blue teams should deploy SIGTRAN firewalls and UEBA (User Entity Behavior Analytics).
Expected Output:
- A pcap file containing IMSI/IMEI leaks.
- Cell ID → GPS coordinates via OpenCellID.
- Suricata/Snort alerts for SIP anomalies.
Prediction
Telecom attacks will escalate with 5G slicing and IoT integration, requiring stricter 3GPP standards and AI-driven signaling analysis. Zero-trust architectures must extend to MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators).
( expanded with verified commands, defensive tactics, and future insights.)
References:
Reported By: Michael Eru – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
