Security flaw lets attackers downgrade 5G networks to 2G speeds
Source: The Register: Biting the hand that feeds
Researchers discovered that legitimate SIM card functionality built into telecommunications standards can be weaponized to hijack modems, execute arbitrary code, and force devices back to obsolete 2G protocols. The vulnerability exists across billions of deployed devices and can't be patched without industry-wide coordination. Backwards-compatibility features that keep legacy networks running also create attack surfaces, and telecom standards bodies move too slowly to close gaps that determined adversaries can exploit at the hardware level.