Methods, systems, and computer readable media for integrity protection for subscribe/notify and discovery messages between network function (nf) and nf repository function (nrf)

Abstract

A method for integrity protection for subscribe/notify and NF discovery transactions between an NF and an NRF includes receiving, from the NF, a subscribe or discovery request message, determining that the subscribe or discovery request message includes at least one indicator requesting NRF communications integrity protection, and computing an integrity check value of at least a portion of the subscribe or discovery request message and comparing the computed integrity check value to an integrity check value included in the subscribe or discovery request message. The method further includes determining that the computed integrity check value matches the integrity check value included in the subscribe or discovery request message, and formulating a response to the subscribe or discovery request message, generating and adding at least one digital signature to the response message, and transmitting the response message to the NF.