7.2.4.9.1 IPSec Padding

Automatic Padding is enabled by writing a ‘1’ to AES_EMR.APEN. IPSEC padding mode is selected by writing a ‘0’ to AES_EMR.APM.

Figure 7-11. IPSec Padding

Each byte of the padding area contains incremental integer values.

The “Pad Length” in bytes is configured in AES_EMR.PADLEN and the “Next Header” value is configured in AES_EMR.NHEAD. AES_EMR.PADLEN must be configured with the length of the padding section, not including the length of the “Pad Length” and “Next Header” sections.

The BCNT field in the AES Byte Counter register (AES_BCNT) defines the length, in bytes, of the message to process. It must be configured before writing the first data in AES_IDATARx and the remaining bytes to process can be read at anytime (BCNT value is decremented after each AES_IDATARx access).

AES_BCNT.BCNT and AES_EMR.PADLEN must be configured so that the sum of the length of the message (Payload Data) and of the length of the Padding, Pad Length (1 byte) and Next Header (1 byte) sections is a multiple of the AES block size (128 bits).

To process an IPSec message using auto-padding, the sequence is as follows:

  1. Set AES_MR.OPMOD to either CBC or CTR mode.
  2. Set AES_EMR.APEN to ‘1’, AES_EMR.APM to ‘0’, AES_EMR.PADLEN to the desired padding length in byte and AES_EMR.NHEAD to the desired Next Header field value.
  3. Configure AES_BCNT.BCNT with the whole message length, without padding, in byte.
  4. Write the key.
  5. Set AES_IVRx.IV if needed.
  6. Fill AES_IDATARx.IDATA with the message to process according to the SMOD configuration used. On the last data block, write only what is necessary (e.g., write only AES_IDATAR0 if last block size is ≤ 32 bits).
  7. Wait for the DATRDY flag to be raised, meaning auto-padding completion and last block processing.