# SysSec-KAIST/LTESniffer

An Open-source LTE Downlink/Uplink Eavesdropper

Repository: https://github.com/SysSec-KAIST/LTESniffer
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/ltesniffer
Language: C++
License: AGPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: cellular, lte, sniffer, wireless, sdr
Last push: 2024-10-23T16:48:32+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 20/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 0, release rhythm 8, longevity 88
- inputs: {"age_days": 1239, "days_push": 679, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2219, forks 235 (observed 2026-08-28T04:06:27.375796+00:00)

## What it is
LTESniffer is an open-source LTE downlink/uplink eavesdropper built on FALCON and srsRAN that decodes PDCCH, PDSCH, and PUSCH channels to capture traffic between cell towers and smartphones. It includes a security research API for identity mapping, IMSI collecting, and capability profiling, and cannot decrypt encrypted messages.

## Use cases
- sniff LTE traffic between a cell tower and phones
- capture unencrypted LTE control and data channel messages
- research LTE security vulnerabilities with a passive sniffer
- map device identities and collect IMSIs over the air
- profile UE capabilities from cellular traffic
- record and offline-decode LTE IQ samples

## When to choose
- you need an open-source passive LTE sniffer for security research
- you want to decode PDSCH/PUSCH traffic that other open-source sniffers cannot
- you have SDR hardware like USRP B-series and need real-time LTE decoding
- you need identity mapping or IMSI collection for cellular privacy research

## When to avoid
- you need to decrypt encrypted LTE user data - it cannot do that
- you lack SDR hardware or local legal authorization for LTE sniffing
- you need a production cellular monitoring system rather than a research tool
- you work on non-LTE networks like 5G NR

## Facets
- artifact type: cli-tool
- maturity: active
- function: security, networking, monitoring, developer-tools
- domain: security, networking
- platform: cpp
- tags: lte, sdr, cellular-security, eavesdropping, pdcch, pdsch, pusch, imsi, wireless-sniffer, usrp, telecommunications, research, linux

## Member repositories
- SysSec-KAIST/LTESniffer (main) score 20

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:27.375796+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T02:45:51.960684+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/SysSec-KAIST/LTESniffer (fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:27.375796+00:00, sha 2a86adbbfc2d)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.