From 2G to 5G: Literature Review of Identification and Location Attacks in Cellular Networks

Cellular networks from 2G to 5G have evolved to improve performance, reliability, and security. However, the protection of user identity and location remains a persistent challenge across generations. Although newer architectures introduce stronger authentication, temporary identifiers, and privacy-preserving mechanisms, attacks such as IMSI catching, paging-based tracking, downgrade attacks, and identifier correlation continue to affect cellular systems. This study analyzes identification and location attacks in 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G Non-Standalone (5G NSA), and 5G Standalone (5G SA) networks. The analysis focuses on studies published between 2018 and 2026 and follows a structured methodology based on research questions, inclusion and exclusion criteria, quality assessment, and comparative synthesis of studies identified in scientific databases. Following the selection process, 86 studies were included in the final analysis. The review compares attack vectors, affected identifiers, exploited procedures, adversary capabilities, reported performance metrics, and proposed mitigations for each network generation. The results show that vulnerabilities inherited from previous generations, especially GSM/2G, remain relevant in modern architectures through downgrade attacks, fallback mechanisms, and LTE anchoring in 5G NSA deployments. The main contribution of this study is a cross-generational comparative synthesis of identity and location attacks in cellular networks. The findings highlight the need for rigorous standards implementation, effective detection mechanisms, reduced reliance on legacy technologies, and practical evaluation of mitigation solutions in real cellular environments.