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If your 5G phone is on this list of over 700 handsets, you need to install all updates ASAP! (UPDATE)

By Alan Friedman

Updated: Dec 09, 2023, 7:37 PM

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If your 5G phone is on this list of over 700 handsets, you need to install all updates ASAP! (UPDATE)

UPDATE:Some of the phones listed at the bottom of this article as being vulnerable to 5Ghoul were placed on the list by the researchers even though they do not support 5G because they are powered by the Snapdragon 855 SoC which does support 5G. It does not distract from the premise of the article. If your phone does support 5G connectivity (and even those without 5G capabilities that are equipped with the Snapdragon 855), you do have vulnerabilities that can be exploited unless it was previously patched.

The same applies to Huawei phones like the P50 series, the Mate 50 series, and the P60 line which are powered by Snapdragon chips that typically support 5G signals but were tweaked to prevent this from happening to follow U.S. export rules.

Make sure that you have installed all possible updates on your phone if it is on the list.

Discovered by university researchers in Singapore, vulnerabilities have been found in 5G modems produced by Qualcomm and MediaTek leaving 714 5G phones open to what is being called a "5Ghoul attack." There are 14 vulnerabilities in the affected systems and while 10 of them have been disclosed publicly, four remain undisclosed due to security reasons. The attacks can lead to mobile 5G service freezing or getting dropped on a smartphone temporarily. Phones under attack also could find a 5G signal getting downgraded to 4G.

The 5Ghoul attack requires a phone get connected to a rougue 5G base station

Per BleepingComputer, the researchers who discovered the modem flaws and the 5Ghoul attacks, Matheus E. Garbelini; Zewen Shang; Shijie Luo; Sudipta Chattopadhyay; Sumei Sun; and Ernest Kurniawan have put up a website in which they wrote that three out of the 10 vulnerabilities that are related to 5G modems from Qualcomm and MediaTek are confirmed to have "high severity."

The researchers also discovered 714 5G smartphones in the marketplace today that were/are affected by the vulnerabilities although the number could be higher because "firmware code is often shared across different modem versions." The report notes that the vulnerabilities are easy to exploit over-the-air by the attackers if they simply have a setup that pretends to be a legitimate 5G base station. The attacker does not need to know any information from the user's SIM card to exploit the flaws of the affected 5G modems.

To explain the attack in layman's terms, the targeted 5G handset needs to connect to a rogue 5G base station. At that point, the attacker launches the exploit code. To get the targeted phone to connect to the fake 5G base station, the attacker must be within radio range of that phone. Despite not having information from the target's SIM card, the attack can proceed. The attackers "can freely manipulate downlink messages to the target...opening a window of opportunities to launch attacks at any step of the 5G NR procedures."

Here is a list of smartphones that were/are open to getting attacked by 5Ghoul

Qualcomm and MediaTek revealed the vulnerabilities on their respective December security bulletins. The updates containing the appropriate patches were sent to device vendors two months ago although it should be noted that due to the fragmentation of Android, it still could take some time for all of the affected Android phones to be patched. And some older phones will never get patched since they will lose support before the update is released.

A large number of phone manufacturers have devices susceptible to a 5G attack

The list of affected smartphones is long. If your phone is on the list, make sure that you have installed all updates available to your phone. The list includes:

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 12
Apple iPhone 12 Pro
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 14 Plus
Apple iPhone 13
Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Apple iPhone 14
Apple iPhone 13 Mini
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple iPhone SE 2022
Asus ROG Phone 7
Asus Zenfone 10
Asus ROG Phone 7 Pro
Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
Asus ROG Phone 6
Asus ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition
Asus Zenfone 9
Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro
Asus ZenFone 6
Asus ZenFone 6z
Asus ROG Phone 2
Asus ZenFone 7
Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition
Asus ROG Phone 3
Asus ZenFone 7 Pro
Asus Zenfone 8 Flip
Asus Zenfone 8
Asus ROG Phone 5
Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
Asus 8z
Asus ROG Phone 5S
Asus ROG Phone 5S Pro
Black Shark 5 Pro
Black Shark 5
Black Shark 4
Black Shark 4S
Black Shark 4 Pro
Black Shark 5 RS
Black Shark 5 RS
Black Shark 4S Pro
BlackShark 3
BlackShark 3 Pro
BlackShark 3S
Cat S53
Coolpad Cool 20 Pro
Doogee V30
Fairphone 4
Fairphone 5
Gigaset GX6
Gigaset GX6 Pro
Google Pixel 5
Google Pixel 5a 5G
Google Pixel 4a 5G
Google Pixel 4 XL
Google Pixel 4
Honor Magic4 Pro
Honor Magic4
Honor Magic4 Pro Ultimate
Honor Magic V
Honor Magic5 Pro
Honor 100 Pro
Honor Magic5 Ultimate
Honor Magic5
Honor Magic V2
Honor 90 Pro
Honor 80 GT
Honor 80 Pro
Honor Magic Vs2
Honor Magic Vs
Honor 80 Pro Flat
Honor 70 Lite
Honor Play 6C
Honor Play 40 5G
Honor Magic Vs Ultimate
Phone Models
Honor Play 40S
Honor X8 5g
Honor X6 5G
Honor Play 30M 5G
Honor Play 30
Honor Magic5 Lite 5G
Honor Magic4 Lite 5G
Honor X40
Honor X30
Honor X9a
Honor X9 5G
Honor X8a 5G
Honor 70
Honor 50
Honor 60
Honor 60 Pro
Honor V Purse
Honor 50 Pro
Honor Magic 3
Honor X40 GT
Honor Magic 3 Pro
Honor Magic 3 Pro+
Honor X40 GT Racing
Honor 60 SE
Honor 80 SE
Honor X30 Max
Honor 50 SE
Honor X20
Honor Play 5 Youth
HTC Desire 21 Pro 5G
HTC Desire 22 Pro
HTC U20 5G
Huawei Mate 50 Pro
Huawei P60 Pro
Huawei Mate 50
Huawei Mate 50 RS Porsche Design
Huawei P60
Huawei P60 Art
Huawei Mate X3
Huawei Maimang 10 SE 5G
Huawei Hi nova 9z
Huawei Hi nova 9 SE
Huawei Mate 50E
Huawei Mate 50e
Huawei nova 9
Huawei P50E
Huawei nova 11 Ultra
Huawei nova 11
Huawei nova 11 Pro
Huawei nova 10 Pro
Huawei nova 10
Huawei Pocket S
Huawei nova 9 Pro
Huawei P50 Pro
Huawei P50 Pocket
Huawei Mate Xs 2
Huawei P50
Infinix Zero 5G
Legion Phone Duel 2
Leica Leitz Phone 2
Leica Leitz 1
Lenovo Legion Y90
Lenovo Legion Y70
Lenovo Z6 Pro
Lenovo Z6 Pro 5G
Lenovo Z5 Pro GT
Lenovo Legion Phone Duel
Lenovo Legion Pro
Lenovo Legion 2 Pro
LG K92 5G
LG Velvet 5G
LG Wing
LG Velvet
LG Q92
LG V50 ThinQ 5G
LG G8 ThinQ
LG G8s ThinQ
LG G8X ThinQ
LG V50s ThinQ
LG V60 ThinQ
Meizu 20 Pro
Meizu 20
Meizu 20 Infinity
Meizu 20 Classic
Meizu 16S
Meizu 16T
Meizu 16S Pro
Meizu 17 Pro
Meizu 17
Meizu 18X
Meizu 18 Pro
Meizu 18
Meizu 18s Pro
Meizu 18s
Microsoft Surface Duo
Microsoft Surface Duo 2
Motorola Edge+ 2022
Motorola Edge 30 Pro
Motorola Edge X30
Motorola Edge+
Motorola Edge+ (2023)
Motorola X40
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
Motorola X30 Pro
Motorola ThinkPhone
Motorola Razr 2022
Motorola Razr+
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra
Motorola Moto G51 5G
Motorola Moto G62 5G
Motorola Moto G53
Motorola Moto G50
Motorola Moto G (2023)
Motorola Edge 30 Neo
Motorola Moto G82
Motorola Moto G84
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022)
Motorola Moto G71S
Motorola Moto G71 5G
Motorola Moto G62 5G
Motorola Moto G 5G
Motorola Moto One 5G Ace
Motorola one 5G UW ace
Motorola Edge
Motorola Moto G 5G Plus
Motorola Razr 5G
Motorola Moto One 5G
Motorola Edge 30
Motorola Moto Edge 20
Motorola Edge 2021
Motorola Edge Lite Luxury Edition
Motorola Edge+
Motorola Moto Edge 20 Pro
Motorola Moto G100
Motorola Edge S Pro
Motorola Edge S
Motorola Edge 30 Fusion
Motorola Moto G200 5G
Motorola Moto S30 Pro
Motorola Moto Edge S30
NIO Phone
Nokia X20
Nokia G42
Nokia XR20
Nokia G50
Nokia X10
Nokia X100
Nokia G310
Nokia G300
Nokia X30 5G
Nokia G60 5G
Nokia XR21
Nokia 8.3 5G
Nokia 8 V 5G UW
Nothing Phone (2)
Nothing Phone (1)
Nubia RedMagic 7
Nubia RedMagic 7 Pro
Nubia Z40 Pro
Nubia Red Magic 7 Pro
Nubia Red Magic 7
Nubia Z50s Pro
Nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro
Nubia Z50
Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+
Nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+
Nubia Z50 Ultra
Nubia Red Magic 7S Pro
Nubia Z40S Pro
Nubia Red Magic 7S
Nubia Red Magic 5G Lite
Nubia Play 5G
Nubia Red Magic 3
Nubia X 5G
Nubia Red Magic 3S
Nubia Z20
nubia Z20
Nubia Red Magic 5S
Nubia Red Magic 5G
Nubia Red Magic 5S
Nubia Red Magic 6 Pro
Nubia Red Magic 6R
Nubia Red Magic 6
Nubia Z30 Pro
Nubia Red Magic 6S Pro
OnePlus 10 Pro
OnePlus 11
OnePlus Ace 2 Pro
OnePlus Open
OnePlus 10T
OnePlus Ace Pro
OnePlus 11R
OnePlus Ace 2
OnePlus Nord N200 5G
Oneplus Nord N10 5G
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G
Oneplus Nord N20 5G
OnePlus Nord CE 5G
Oneplus Nord
OnePlus 7 Pro
OnePlus 7
OnePlus 7T Pro
OnePlus 7T
OnePlus 8 Pro
OnePlus 8T
OnePlus 8
OnePlus 8T+
OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077
OnePlus 9R
OnePlus 9 Pro
OnePlus 9
OnePlus 9RT
OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G
OnePlus Nord 2
Oppo Find X5 Pro
Oppo Find X6 Pro
Oppo Find N3
Oppo Reno9 Pro+
Oppo Reno10 Pro +
Oppo Reno11 Pro
Oppo Find N2
Oppo A54 5G
Oppo A74 5G
Oppo A93 5G
Oppo A55s 5G
Oppo K10x
Oppo A1 Pro
Oppo A98 5G
Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G
Oppo Reno7 Lite 5G
Oppo K11x
Oppo A96 5G
Oppo F21 Pro 5G
Oppo Reno 8T 5G
Oppo F23 5G
Oppo Reno7 Z 5G
Oppo Reno7 A
Oppo Reno8 Z
Oppo F21s Pro 5G
Oppo A1 5G
Oppo Reno5 K 5G
Oppo Reno4 Pro 5G
Oppo Find X2 Neo
Oppo Reno4 5G
Oppo Find X3 Lite
Oppo Find X2 Lite
Oppo Reno3 Pro
Oppo Reno5 5G
Oppo Reno 3 Pro
Oppo Reno5 A
Oppo Reno 3 Vitality Edition
Oppo K7 5G
Oppo Reno10 Pro
Oppo Reno10 China
Oppo Reno9
Oppo Reno7
Oppo K9s
Oppo K10 Vitality Edition
Oppo Reno 10x Zoom
Oppo Reno 10x Zoom 5G
Oppo Reno 2 5G
Oppo Reno Ace
Oppo Find X2 Pro
Oppo Find X3 Neo
Oppo Find X2
Oppo Reno5 Pro+
Oppo Reno Ace 2
Oppo Reno 6 Pro
Oppo Find X3
Oppo Reno 6 Pro+
Oppo Find X5
Oppo Find X3 Pro
Oppo K10 Pro
Oppo Find N
Oppo Reno7 5G
Oppo Reno 6
Oppo Find X5 Lite
Oppo K9x
Oppo Reno7 SE
Oppo Reno 6 Pro
Oppo Reno7 Pro
Oppo K9 Pro
POCO M6 Pro 5G
POCO F4 GT
Poco F5 Pro
POCO X4 Pro 5G
Poco X5 5G
Poco X5 Pro 5G
POCO X3 Pro
POCO F2 Pro
POCO F4 5G
POCO F3
POCO F3 GT
realme GT 2 Pro
realme GT5
realme GT Neo 6
realme GT3
realme GT 2 Master Explorer Edition
realme GT Neo 5
realme 10 Pro
realme 9 Pro
realme 9 5G
realme Q5
realme 9 Pro 5G
realme V25
realme Q3 5G
realme X50 5G
realme X50 5G Master Edition
realme X50m
realme X50t
realme GT Master Edition
realme Q3s
realme 9 5G Speed Edition
realme Q3t
realme X3 SuperZoom
realme X2 Pro
realme X3
realme X50 Pro
realme X50 Pro Player
realme GT Neo 3T
realme GT Neo 2
realme GT Master Explore Edition
realme Q5 Pro
realme GT 2
realme GT 5G
realme GT
realme X7 Max
realme GT Neo Flash
realme GT Neo 2T
realme GT Neo
Redmi Note 11 Pro + 5G
Redmi K20 Pro
Redmi K20 Pro
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S22+
Samsung Galaxy S22
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Samsung Galaxy S23
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
Samsung Galaxy A42 5G
Samsung Galaxy M23 5G
Samsung Galaxy M42 5G
Samsung Galaxy F23 5G
Samsung Galaxy F52 5G
Samsung Galaxy A71 5G
Samsung Galaxy M52 5G
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
Samsung Galaxy A73 5G
Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note10+
Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G
Samsung Galaxy Note10
Samsung Galaxy S10
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
Samsung Galaxy S10e
Samsung Galaxy A90 5G
Samsung Galaxy W20 5G
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus 5G
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S20 5G
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2021
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy Note20
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G
Samsung Galaxy W21 5G
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
Samsung W22 5G
Samsung Galaxy M53 5G
Sharp Aquos R7
Sharp Aquos R7s
Sharp Aquos R8 Pro
Sharp Aquos R8
Sharp Aquos Wish
Sharp Aquos Sense6
Sharp Aquos Sense7
Sharp Aquos Sense7 Plus
Sharp Aquos Sense6s
Sharp Aquos Zero6
Sharp Aquos Zero2
Sharp Aquos R3
Sharp Aquos R5G
Sharp Aquos R6
Smartisan Nut Pro 3
Smartisan Nut R2
Sony Xperia 5 IV
Sony Xperia 1 IV
Sony Xperia 1 V
Sony Xperia 5 V
Sony Xperia Ace III
Sony Xperia 10 III
Sony Xperia 10 V
Sony Xperia 10 IV
Sony Xperia 5
Sony Xperia 1
Sony Xperia 1 Professional Edition
Sony Xperia 1 II
Sony Xperia 5 II
Sony Xperia Pro
Sony Xperia 1 III
Sony Xperia 5 III
Sony Xperia PRO-I
TCL 30 V 5G
TCL 20 5G
TCL 20 Pro 5G
TCL 10 5G
Tecno Pova 5G
Ulefone Armor 23 Ultra
Ulefone Armor 18
Ulefone Armor 18T
UMIDIGI A13 Pro Max 5G
UMIDIGI Bison GT2 Pro 5G
UMIDIGI Bison GT2 5G
vivo iQOO Z6 Lite
vivo Y200 5G
vivo iQOO 9 Pro
vivo X Note
vivo X80 Pro
vivo iQOO 9
vivo X Fold
vivo iQOO Neo 6
vivo iQOO 11S
Vivo X90 Pro+
vivo iQOO 11
vivo iQOO 11 Pro
vivo X Fold2
Vivo iQOO Neo7 Pro
vivo iQOO 10 Pro
vivo iQOO Neo 8
vivo iQOO 10
vivo X Flip
vivo X Fold+
vivo iQOO 9T
Vivo iQOO Neo7 Racing Edition
vivo Y53s 5G
vivo Y52s t1
vivo Y72 5G India
vivo iQOO U3x 5G
vivo Y31s
vivo iQOO Z7s
vivo V29 Lite
vivo T1 5G
vivo T1
vivo V29e 5G
vivo iQOO Z7x
vivo V100
Vivo Y100A
Vivo T2 5G
Vivo Y78+ 5G
vivo iQOO Z6
vivo iQOO U5
vivo X51 5G
vivo X50 Pro
vivo X50
vivo V20 Pro
vivo S7
vivo Z6
vivo X50e
vivo iQOO Z1x
Vivo S17
Vivo V29 5G
Vivo V29
vivo iQOO Z5
vivo T1 Pro 5G
vivo iQOO Z6 CN
vivo iQOO Z6 Pro
vivo iQOO
vivo iQoo
vivo iQOO Neo 855
vivo Nex 3
vivo iQOO Pro
vivo iQOO Pro 5G
vivo iQOO Neo 855 Plus
vivo iQOO 5 Pro
vivo X50 Pro+
vivo iQOO 5
vivo iQOO 3
vivo NEX 3s 5G
vivo iQOO Neo3
vivo X60 Pro
Vivo S16
vivo X60
vivo S15
vivo iQOO Neo5
vivo iQOO Neo 6
vivo iQOO 7 India
vivo iQOO Neo6 SE
vivo T2
vivo iQOO Neo5 SE
vivo iQOO Neo5 Lite
vivo X60 Pro+
vivo X60T Pro+
vivo iQOO 7
vivo iQOO 8
vivo iQOO 9 SE
vivo iQOO 7 Legend
vivo iQOO Neo5S
vivo X70 Pro+
vivo iQOO 8 Pro
vivo iQOO 9 IN
vivo X80 Lite
Vivo Y100
vivo T1x
vivo V25
vivo S10e
vivo iQOO Z5x
vivo X70
vivo X70 Pro
vivo V23 Pro
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R Pro
Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G
Xiaomi Redmi 12R
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12R
Xiaomi 12
Xiaomi 12 Pro
Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming Edition
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
Xiaomi 13
Xiaomi 13 Pro
Xiaomi Redmi K70
Xiaomi Redmi K60 Pro
Xiaomi 13 Limited Edition
Xiaomi Mix Fold 3
Xiaomi 12T Pro
Xiaomi 12S Pro
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
Xiaomi Redmi K60
Xiaomi 12S
Xiaomi Redmi K50 Extreme Edition
Xiaomi Mix Fold 2
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 JE
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10T
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro + 5G
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11E Pro
Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G
Xiaomi Mi 10i
Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G
Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth Edition
Xiaomi Redmi K30 5G
Xiaomi Redmi K30i 5G
Xiaomi 12 Lite
Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed Edition
Xiaomi Civi 1S
Xiaomi Civi
Xiaomi 11 Youth Vitality Edition
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
Xiaomi Mi 11 Youth
Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G
Xiaomi Mi 9
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G
Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha
Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro
Xiaomi Mi 10
Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro
Xiaomi Mi 10T
Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra
Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro Zoom
Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro
Xiaomi Redmi K30s Ultra
Xiaomi 12X
Xiaomi Redmi K40S
Xiaomi Mi 10S
Xiaomi Redmi K40
Xiaomi Mi 11X
Xiaomi Mi 11
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
Xiaomi MI 11i
Xiaomi 11T Pro
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro
Xiaomi Mix Fold
Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+
Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro
Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro
Xiaomi Mix 4
Xiaomi 11T
Xiaomi Redmi K40 Game Enhanced Edition
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition
ZTE Axon 41 Ultra 5G Extreme Edition
ZTE Axon 41 Ultra 5G
ZTE Axon 50 Ultra
ZTE Axon 11 5G
ZTE Axon 20 5G
ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme Edition
ZTE a1
ZTE Blade 20 Pro
ZTE Blade X1 5G
ZTE Axon 10 Pro
ZTE Axon 10s Pro
ZTE Axon 40 Pro
ZTE Axon 30 5G
ZTE Axon 30 5G Ultimate Edition
ZTE Axon 30S
ZTE Axon 41 5G
ZTE Axon 40
ZTE Axon 30 Ultra
ZTE Axon 30 Ultra Aerospace Edition
ZTE Axon 31 Ultra 5G
ZTE Axon 30 Pro 5G
ZTE Axon 31 Pro 5G

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Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.