Researchers from Michigan State University and partner schools showed that lost-device reporting systems across carriers can be abused to block phones and other connected devices that were never actually stolen. They found weaknesses in carrier identity checks, IMEI disclosure on certain chipsets, and cross-carrier block-list sharing, affecting devices such as Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 phones and home alarm gateways. #SamsungGalaxyZFold7 #GSMA #MichiganStateUniversity
Keypoints
- Researchers blocked a brand-new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 before it was ever used.
- Three major U.S. carriers allowed lost-device reports with weak identity verification.
- Some cellular chipsets leaked IMEIs after a malformed request.
- Home alarm gateways could be forced offline by abusing fallback cellular reporting.
- Proposed fixes include stronger ID checks, better device certification, and improved carrier-to-carrier sharing.
Read More: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2026/09/11/cellular-network-lost-phone-reporting/