(
AES-
Counter Mode
CBC-
MAC
Protocol) The encryption algorithm used in the 802.11i security protocol. It uses the AES block cipher, but restricts the key length to 128 bits. AES-CCMP incorporates two sophisticated cryptographic techniques (counter mode and CBC-MAC) and adapts them to Ethernet frames to provide a robust security protocol between the mobile client and the access point.
AES itself is a very strong cipher, but counter mode makes it difficult for an eavesdropper to spot patterns, and the CBC-MAC message integrity method ensures that messages have not been tampered with. See
802.11i,
AES,
counter mode and
CBC-MAC.