Distributed Vulnerability Scanning for External Network Exposure

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Solution Overview

Problem

As 5G and future mobile networks evolve, they present larger attack surfaces that cybercriminals can exploit, necessitating proactive cybersecurity measures for mobile and broadband network operators to identify and address security gaps and vulnerabilities.

Innovation Solution

Deploy network vulnerability scanners at various locations within mobile and broadband networks to perform tests, identify vulnerabilities, and optionally remediate them, using machine learning and artificial intelligence for advanced analytics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If network vulnerability scanners are deployed to perform comprehensive security testing, then network security detection capability is improved, but device complexity and operational overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevulnerability detection capabilityVSAvoidscanner system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vulnerability scanning system is divided into multiple independent scanner components distributed across different network locations (MSOs, edge sites, data centers). Each scanner independently performs specific vulnerability tests on targeted infrastructure, allowing the complex scanning function to be segmented into manageable units that reduce overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A centralized platform acts as an intermediary that coordinates between distributed scanners and network infrastructure. This intermediary manages scanner deployment, configures vulnerability tests, collects results, and presents unified vulnerability reports, thereby simplifying the operational complexity of managing distributed scanning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple scanners are deployed across various network locations to cover larger attack surfaces, then vulnerability coverage is improved, but device complexity and deployment difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork coverage capabilityVSAvoiddeployment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vulnerability scanner is designed as a universal multi-functional platform that can be deployed in multiple network locations (MSOs, edge computing sites, data centers) and scan various types of network infrastructure (5G/6G/7G networks, broadband networks, fiber networks, wireless networks). This universal design allows a single scanner type to serve multiple purposes and locations, reducing deployment complexity while expanding coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system expands vulnerability coverage by adding spatial dimensionality through multi-location deployment rather than increasing complexity at a single location. Scanners are distributed across hierarchical network levels (core MSO locations, edge sites, data centers), creating a multi-dimensional scanning architecture that covers larger attack surfaces through geographic and functional distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If proactive vulnerability identification is implemented before cybercriminal exploitation, then network security is improved, but operational overhead and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork security reliabilityVSAvoidscanning resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The vulnerability scanning system performs preliminary security assessments proactively before cybercriminals can exploit vulnerabilities. Scanners continuously or periodically test network infrastructure for known vulnerability patterns, identifying and reporting security gaps ahead of time, allowing operators to remediate issues before they are exploited in actual attacks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The scanning operation employs periodic testing cycles rather than continuous scanning, where scanners are activated at scheduled intervals to perform vulnerability assessments. This periodic approach maintains security monitoring while reducing overall resource consumption compared to constant scanning, balancing security reliability with operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS20250386193A1Offense type network vulnerability scanner

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 T MOBILE US INC

AI summary

Techniques for deploying and using offense-type network vulnerability scanners are disclosed herein. Network vulnerability scanners can be deployed at multiple locations in a network. The network vulnerability scanners can cause equipment with external connections to the network, such as user equipment which is configured for testing purposes, or other device(s) with or without external network connections to perform network vulnerability test operations. The network vulnerability test operations can expose network vulnerability information associated with external connections of the user equipment to the network.