User equipment authentication preventing sequence number leakage

A method comprising:

• obtaining a permanent identifier and an authentication sequence value that are unique to user equipment;
• concealing the permanent identifier and the authentication sequence value;
• and
• sending the concealed permanent identifier and the authentication sequence value in a registration message from the user equipment to a communication network.

An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embodied therein executable program code that when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform the steps of:

• obtaining a permanent identifier and an authentication sequence value that are unique to user equipment;
• concealing the permanent identifier and the authentication sequence value;
• and
• sending the concealed permanent identifier and the authentication sequence value in a registration message from the user equipment to a communication network.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one memory including computer program code;
• the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
• receive a registration message that comprises a concealed combination of a permanent identifier and an authentication sequence value that are unique to user equipment;
• cause de-concealment of the permanent identifier and the authentication sequence value;
• store the received authentication sequence value for use in a later step of authentication failure;
• and
• determine an authentication method based on the permanent identifier.

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a network entity of a communication network, a registration message that comprises a concealed combination of a permanent identifier and an authentication sequence value that are unique to user equipment;
• causing de-concealment of the permanent identifier and the authentication sequence value;
• storing the received authentication sequence value for use in a later step of authentication failure;
• and
• determining an authentication method based on the permanent identifier.

An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embodied therein executable program code that when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform the steps of:

• receiving, at a network entity of a communication network, a registration message that comprises a concealed combination of a permanent identifier and an authentication sequence value that are unique to user equipment;
• causing de-concealment of the permanent identifier and the authentication sequence value;
• storing the authentication sequence value at the network entity;
• and
• determining an authentication method based on the permanent identifier.