An Intra-Slice Security Approach with Chaos-Based Stream Ciphers for 5G Networks

The rise of 5G technology has transformed wireless communication networks, offering faster speeds, enhanced capacity, and seamless connectivity for numerous devices. An integral feature, network slicing, segments the infrastructure into distinct virtual networks (’slices’) tailored to diverse applications. Intra-slice and inter-slice domains play crucial roles in shaping 5G’s flexibility and adaptability. While intra-slice management controls data flow within specific network segments, the inter-slice domain orchestrates interactions among varied applications. Security within 5G’s intra-slice domain is paramount due to the sensitivity of transmitted user data. Traditional security measures for earlier networks are inadequate for today’s compact, resource-constrained environments. To bridge this gap, this paper proposes a Chaos-based encryption scheme grounded in chaos theory. It leverages chaotic maps, specifically the two-dimensional Logistic Sine Coupling Map, for key stream generation, combined with the lightweight ChaCha20 stream cipher for encryption. This fusion ensures data confidentiality and security during transmission, even in resource-limited settings. The paper focuses on a rigorous security analysis of this proposed scheme and compares its performance with alternative encryption schemes using Baker’s map and Arnold’s cat map for key stream generation.