RSA Security 5.2.2 Manual

A SERVICE OF

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Cryptography Overview

42 RSA BSAFE Crypto-C Developer’s Guide

Electronic Codebook (ECB) Mode

ECB is not a feedback mode; it encrypts each block of input independently of all other

blocks. Plaintext patterns are not concealed; instead each identical block of plaintext

yields an identical block of ciphertext. This could help an eavesdropper break the

code. In addition, the plaintext can be easily manipulated by removing, repeating, or

interchanging blocks. The speed of each encryption operation is identical to that of the

block cipher. ECB mode is as secure as the underlying block cipher.

Figure 3-3 Electronic Codebook (ECB) Mode

Key (K)

2nd message

block

2nd cipher

block

Block Cipher

Key (K)

1st message

block

1st cipher

block

Block Cipher