Threat Analysis of Video on Demand Services in Next Generation Networks

Abstract: IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is the next generation of telecommunication systems. The system is based on an IP network and uses technologies from the Internet. The IMS system is designed to evolve from a telephone system into a general information and communication system. It is meant to include television, Video on Demand (VoD), interactive services etc, etc. It is designed to simplify the implementation of newservices in telecom networks. This report investigates security aspects of VoD services when merging an IP Television (IPTV) system with IMS. The investigation covers security functions in IMS, transitionsolutions for authentication of the Set-Top-Box (STB) in IMS, and identifies problems inthe integration of IPTV and IMS. The report concludes that IMS has good solid Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) functions that will provide security and billing functionality. One problemis found in the media control between the STB and the streaming server. This interface lacked specification at the time of investigation, and some problems have been identified. These problems have to be solved before a system can be brought into service and beregarded as secure.