The encapsulating security payload (ESP) protocol provides confidentiality over what the ESP encapsulates. ESP also provides the services that AH provides. However, ESP does not protect the outer IP header. ESP provides authentication services to ensure the integrity of the protected packet. Because ESP uses encryption-enabling technology, a system that provides ESP can be subject to import and export control laws.
The ESP header and trailer encapsulate the IP payload. When encryption is used with ESP, it is applied only over the IP payload data, as shown in the following illustration.
In a TCP packet, the ESP header is authenticated and it encapsulates the TCP header and its data. If the packet is an IP-in-IP packet, ESP protects the inner IP packet. Per-socket policy allows self-encapsulation, so ESP can encapsulate IP options when necessary.
Self-encapsulation can be used by writing a program that uses the setsockopt(). If self-encapsulation is set, a copy of the IP header is made to construct an IP-in-IP packet. For example, when self-encapsulation is not set on a TCP socket, the packet is sent in the following format:
[ IP(a -> b) options + TCP + data ]
When self-encapsulation is set on that TCP socket, the packet is sent in the following format:
[ IP(a -> b) + ESP [ IP(a -> b) options + TCP + data ] ]
For further discussion, see Transport and Tunnel Modes in IPsec.
The following table compares the protections that are provided by AH and ESP.
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