# Adversarial Machine Learning for 5G Communications Security

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.02656 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2101.02656/

## Key facts

- Cited by 12 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 47 of its 75 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 7 Jan 2021.

## Builds on (most cited first, 30 of 47)

- [Adversarial examples in the physical world](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1607.02533/) (2016)
- [Certified Adversarial Robustness via Randomized Smoothing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1902.02918/) (2019)
- [DeepFool: a simple and accurate method to fool deep neural networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1511.04599/) (2015)
- [Adversarial Machine Learning at Scale](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1611.01236/) (2016)
- [Practical Black-Box Attacks against Machine Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1602.02697/) (2016)
- [The Limitations of Deep Learning in Adversarial Settings](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1511.07528/) (2015)
- [Stealing Machine Learning Models via Prediction APIs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1609.02943/) (2016)
- [MemGuard: Defending against Black-Box Membership Inference Attacks via Adversarial Examples](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1909.10594/) (2019)
- [Machine Learning with Membership Privacy using Adversarial Regularization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1807.05852/) (2018)
- [Stolen Memories: Leveraging Model Memorization for Calibrated White-Box Membership Inference](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1906.11798/) (2019)
- [Privacy Risks of Securing Machine Learning Models against Adversarial Examples](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1905.10291/) (2019)
- [DolphinAtack: Inaudible Voice Commands](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1708.09537/) (2017)
- [Adversarial Attacks on Deep-Learning Based Radio Signal Classification](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1808.07713/) (2018)
- [Deep Learning for Wireless Communications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.06068/) (2020)
- [Deep Learning for Launching and Mitigating Wireless Jamming Attacks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1807.02567/) (2018)
- [Evaluating Adversarial Evasion Attacks in the Context of Wireless Communications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1903.01563/) (2019)
- [Deep Learning for RF Signal Classification in Unknown and Dynamic Spectrum Environments](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1909.11800/) (2019)
- [Channel-Aware Adversarial Attacks Against Deep Learning-Based Wireless Signal Classifiers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.05321/) (2020)
- [Adversarial Machine Learning in Wireless Communications using RF Data: A Review](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2012.14392/) (2020)
- [Generative Adversarial Network for Wireless Signal Spoofing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1905.01008/) (2019)
- [IoT Network Security from the Perspective of Adversarial Deep Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1906.00076/) (2019)
- [Adversarial Deep Learning for Over-the-Air Spectrum Poisoning Attacks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1911.00500/) (2019)
- [Physical Adversarial Attacks Against End-to-End Autoencoder Communication Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1902.08391/) (2019)
- [Deep Reinforcement Learning for 5G Networks: Joint Beamforming, Power Control, and Interference Coordination](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1907.00123/) (2019)
- [The Best Defense Is a Good Offense: Adversarial Attacks to Avoid Modulation Detection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1902.10674/) (2019)
- [Over-the-Air Adversarial Attacks on Deep Learning Based Modulation Classifier over Wireless Channels](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2002.02400/) (2020)
- [Trojan Attacks on Wireless Signal Classification with Adversarial Machine Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1910.10766/) (2019)
- [Spectrum Data Poisoning with Adversarial Deep Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1901.09247/) (2019)
- [Generative Adversarial Network in the Air: Deep Adversarial Learning for Wireless Signal Spoofing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.08363/) (2020)
- [Over-the-Air Membership Inference Attacks as Privacy Threats for Deep Learning-based Wireless Signal Classifiers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.14576/) (2020)

## Built on by (most cited first, 12 of 12)

- [Vulnerabilities of Deep Learning-Driven Semantic Communications to Backdoor (Trojan) Attacks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.11205/) (2022)
- [Adversarial Machine Learning for Flooding Attacks on 5G Radio Access Network Slicing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2101.08724/) (2021)
- [Adversarial Attacks on Deep Learning Based mmWave Beam Prediction in 5G and Beyond](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2103.13989/) (2021)
- [Jamming Attacks on Federated Learning in Wireless Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.05172/) (2022)
- [Adversarial Machine Learning Security Problems for 6G: mmWave Beam Prediction Use-Case](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2103.07268/) (2021)
- [Membership Inference Attack and Defense for Wireless Signal Classifiers with Deep Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2107.12173/) (2021)
- [Adversarial Attacks against Deep Learning Based Power Control in Wireless Communications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.08139/) (2021)
- [Adversarial Machine Learning Threat Analysis and Remediation in Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN)](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.06093/) (2022)
- [Securing NextG Systems against Poisoning Attacks on Federated Learning: A Game-Theoretic Solution](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.17164/) (2023)
- [Adversarial Machine Learning and Defense Game for NextG Signal Classification with Deep Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.11778/) (2022)
- [Sensing-Throughput Tradeoffs with Generative Adversarial Networks for NextG Spectrum Sharing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.13598/) (2022)
- [Adversarial Machine Learning-Based Anticipation of Threats Against Vehicle-to-Microgrid Services](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2208.05073/) (2022)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Machine learning provides automated means to capture complex dynamics of wireless spectrum and support better understanding of spectrum resources and their efficient utilization. As communication systems become smarter with cognitive radio capabilities empowered by machine learning to perform critical tasks such as spectrum awareness and spectrum sharing, they also become susceptible to new vulnerabilities due to the attacks that target the machine learning applications. This paper identifies the emerging attack surface of adversarial machine learning and corresponding attacks launched against wireless communications in the context of 5G systems. The focus is on attacks against (i) spectrum sharing of 5G communications with incumbent users such as in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band and (ii) physical layer authentication of 5G User Equipment (UE) to support network slicing. For the first attack, the adversary transmits during data transmission or spectrum sensing periods to manipulate the signal-level inputs to the deep learning classifier that is deployed at the Environmental Sensing Capability (ESC) to support the 5G system. For the second attack, the adversary spoofs wireless signals with the generative adversarial network (GAN) to infiltrate the physical layer authentication mechanism based on a deep learning classifier that is deployed at the 5G base station. Results indicate major vulnerabilities of 5G systems to adversarial machine learning. To sustain the 5G system operations in the presence of adversaries, a defense mechanism is presented to increase the uncertainty of the adversary in training the surrogate model used for launching its subsequent attacks.