Recommendation for Block Cipher Modes of Operation: Methods and Techniques

Dworkin, Morris

doi:https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-38A

SP 800-38A

Recommendation for Block Cipher Modes of Operation: Methods and Techniques

Date Published: December 2001

Planning Note (3/24/2022): NIST has announced its decision proposal to REVISE SP 800-38A. Public comments may be submitted by April 25, 2022. See the announcement for full details.

Author(s)

Morris Dworkin (NIST)

Abstract

This recommendation defines five confidentiality modes of operation for use with an underlying symmetric key block cipher algorithm: Electronic Codebook (ECB), Cipher Block Chaining (CBC), Cipher Feedback (CFB), Output Feedback (OFB), and Counter (CTR). Used with an underlying block cipher algorithm that is approved in a Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS), these modes can provide cryptographic protection for sensitive, but unclassified, computer data.

Keywords

block cipher; cryptography; encryption; mode of operation

Control Families

System and Communications Protection

Documentation

Publication:
SP 800-38A (DOI)
Local Download

Supplemental Material:
None available

Other Parts of this Publication:
SP 800-38A Addendum

Document History:
12/01/01: SP 800-38A (Final)

Topics

Security and Privacy
authentication; cryptography