5G • Security
K_RRCint
RRC Integrity Protection Key
Integrity key derived by gNodeB and UE from K_gNB preventing injection or tampering of RRC control messages.
Technical Explanation
Derived from K_gNB, K_RRCint is used by PDCP to calculate a 32-bit MAC-I appended to every RRC PDU. Integrity verification is mandatory for all connected RRC signaling; any message with a failing checksum is immediately discarded.
Key Functions
- Provides mandatory integrity protection on all over-the-air RRC messages
- Prevents rogue base stations from injecting unauthorized handover commands
- Appends 32-bit MAC-I to PDCP headers of SRBs
Specifications
3GPP TS 33.501, TS 38.323
Interfaces
Uu
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