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TLS-ECDHE-ECDSA-WITH-AES-256-CCM-8 Cipher Suite
A breakdown of the Cipher Suite TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_AES_256_CCM_8, its strengths, and its weaknesses.
Key Exchange Mechanism
Elliptic Curve Diffie Hellman Ephemeral - ECDHE
Grade - A
ECDHE (Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral) is used because it enhances security through the use of ephemeral keys, which are temporary and unique for each session. This ensures that even if one session’s key is compromised, past and future sessions remain secure. ECDHE provides perfect forward secrecy, meaning that the compromise of long-term keys does not affect the confidentiality of past communications. The ephemeral nature of the keys significantly reduces the risk of long-term data breaches and enhances the overall robustness of the cryptographic protocol.
Authentication
Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm - ECDSA
Grade - A
ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm) is used in cipher suites for authentication and integrity verification. Its efficiency in generating and verifying digital signatures makes it suitable for secure communication protocols like TLS, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity during exchanges over networks.
Cipher
Advanced Encryption Standard - AES
Grade - A
AES should be used in cipher suites because it offers strong security with efficient performance, large block size (128 bits), and resistance to known attacks. Its widespread adoption and thorough analysis by the cryptographic community ensure reliability and robustness for encrypting sensitive data.
Cipher Mode
Counter with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code - CCM
Grade - A
CCM (Counter with CBC-MAC) is a mode of operation for cryptographic block ciphers, providing both encryption and authentication. Used in cipher suites, CCM ensures data confidentiality and integrity by combining the Counter (CTR) mode for encryption with the Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code (CBC-MAC) for authentication. This dual functionality makes CCM highly efficient and secure, suitable for resource-constrained environments like IoT and wireless networks. By integrating CCM, cipher suites offer robust protection against unauthorized access and tampering, enhancing overall security in secure communications.
