An IP based security threat in mobile networks

Mobile networks based on GSM/GPRS/UMTS and lately LTE standards are slowly becoming a regular part of our lives. We use our brand new smartphones daily, don´t even bothering, whether these devices and applications are properly secured. In this paper we briefly explain a security issue that was found in one commercial mobile network. This security issue is most visible on Android OS platform. However, many other mobile networks and mobile platforms may be impacted in certain circumstances. IP addresses of connected end user devices can be determined by an attacker and subsequent application attack could lead to device failure. We examine this problem and propose simple solution on mobile network side and smartphone side.