Cryptographic performance on STM32L4 Series

This page reports measured performance when using the pure software cryptographic library algorithms with an STM32L4 MCU. In addition to performance figures, the required code footprint and memory are also given.


1 Measurement configuration

1.1 Hardware configuration

STM32 MCU STM32L476RGT6
Device ID 0x415
Revision ID 0x1007
Board STM32L476RG-Nucleo Rev C

1.2 Firmware configuration

Cryptographic Library version 040000B1[ver. 1]
  1. This value corresponds to the information returned by a call to cmox_getInfos

1.3 System configuration

System Core Clock Frequency 80 MHz
Flash latency 4 wait states
Voltage scaling Range 1
Instruction Cache (ART/ICU) 1 (0: disabled / 1: enabled)
Data Cache (ART/DCU) 1 (0: disabled / 1: enabled)
Prefetch Cache (ART) 1 (0: disabled / 1: enabled)

1.4 Development toolchains and compilers

IAR Embedded Workbench IAR ANSI C/C++ Compiler V8.50.4.261/W32 for ARM
Info white.png Information
NOTE: The measurements are done using a project built with High Speed optimization setting enabled.


2 Performance values

2.1 AES symmetric key encryption & decryption

This section provides the performance results for AES-CBC using different modes of operation:

  • Sole buffer: one sole buffer is encrypted or decrypted. Time to perform is given in µs.
  • Data flow: a big message is encrypted or decrypted by chunk. Bit rate is given in kilobytes per second.

2.1.1 Sole buffer mode

In this mode the entire encryption or decryption process, for the whole message size, is managed through a single API call provided by the CMOX library.

The table below shows the number of clock cycles and time (in µs) needed to perform the described operation in small and fast configurations.

AES mode Key size Buffer size Cipher operation Configuration Cycles Time
AES CBC 128 bits 32 bytes Encryption Small 6484 81 µs
AES CBC 128 bits 32 bytes Encryption Fast 6993 87 µs
AES CBC 128 bits 64 bytes Encryption Small 10 295 128 µs
AES CBC 128 bits 64 bytes Encryption Fast 11 312 141 µs
AES CBC 128 bits 128 bytes Encryption Small 17 722 221 µs
AES CBC 128 bits 128 bytes Encryption Fast 19 885 248 µs
AES CBC 192 bits 32 bytes Encryption Small 6930 86 µs
AES CBC 192 bits 32 bytes Encryption Fast 7634 95 µs
AES CBC 192 bits 64 bytes Encryption Small 11 356 141 µs
AES CBC 192 bits 64 bytes Encryption Fast 12 573 157 µs
AES CBC 192 bits 128 bytes Encryption Small 20 130 251 µs
AES CBC 192 bits 128 bytes Encryption Fast 22 494 281 µs
AES CBC 256 bits 32 bytes Encryption Small 8194 102 µs
AES CBC 256 bits 32 bytes Encryption Fast 8709 108 µs
AES CBC 256 bits 64 bytes Encryption Small 13 199 164 µs
AES CBC 256 bits 64 bytes Encryption Fast 14 358 179 µs
AES CBC 256 bits 128 bytes Encryption Small 23 050 288 µs
AES CBC 256 bits 128 bytes Encryption Fast 25 593 319 µs
AES CBC 128 bits 32 bytes Decryption Small 10 596 132 µs
AES CBC 128 bits 32 bytes Decryption Fast 9371 117 µs
AES CBC 128 bits 64 bytes Decryption Small 18 270 228 µs
AES CBC 128 bits 64 bytes Decryption Fast 13 802 172 µs
AES CBC 128 bits 128 bytes Decryption Small 33 605 420 µs
AES CBC 128 bits 128 bytes Decryption Fast 22 630 282 µs
AES CBC 192 bits 32 bytes Decryption Small 11 921 149 µs
AES CBC 192 bits 32 bytes Decryption Fast 10 588 132 µs
AES CBC 192 bits 64 bytes Decryption Small 21 150 264 µs
AES CBC 192 bits 64 bytes Decryption Fast 15 718 196 µs
AES CBC 192 bits 128 bytes Decryption Small 39 497 493 µs
AES CBC 192 bits 128 bytes Decryption Fast 25 916 323 µs
AES CBC 256 bits 32 bytes Decryption Small 13 765 172 µs
AES CBC 256 bits 32 bytes Decryption Fast 12 145 151 µs
AES CBC 256 bits 64 bytes Decryption Small 24 549 306 µs
AES CBC 256 bits 64 bytes Decryption Fast 17 958 224 µs
AES CBC 256 bits 128 bytes Decryption Small 45 901 573 µs
AES CBC 256 bits 128 bytes Decryption Fast 29 581 369 µs
Cryptolib STM32L476 AES CBC SB Enc.svg
Cryptolib STM32L476 AES CBC SB Dec.svg


The table below shows Flash and RAM usage (in bytes).

Cipher operation Configuration Code Constant data Global data Stack usage
Encryption Small 2936 bytes 380 bytes 1 bytes 524 bytes
Encryption Fast 3188 bytes 1404 bytes 1 bytes 548 bytes
Decryption Small 3068 bytes 636 bytes 1 bytes 552 bytes
Decryption Fast 3644 bytes 1660 bytes 1 bytes 556 bytes
Cryptolib STM32L476 AES CBC SB Enc FP.svg
Cryptolib STM32L476 AES CBC SB Dec FP.svg


2.1.2 Data flow mode

In this mode, operation is performed in several calls to the CMOX library APIs, as below:

  • cmox_cipher_init
  • cmox_cipher_setKey
  • cmox_cipher_setIV
  • cmox_cipher_append: called several times to encrypt or decrypt the whole message by chunk of fixed size

The table below shows the number of clock cycles and bit rate (in kilobytes per second) needed to perform described operation in small and in fast configuration.

AES mode Key size Message size Chunk size Cipher operation Configuration Cycles Bit rate
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 128 bytes Encryption Small 966 832 661 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 128 bytes Encryption Fast 1 097 208 583 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 512 bytes Encryption Small 953 736 671 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 512 bytes Encryption Fast 1 082 816 591 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 1024 bytes Encryption Small 951 504 672 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 1024 bytes Encryption Fast 1 080 368 592 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 2048 bytes Encryption Small 950 432 673 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 2048 bytes Encryption Fast 1 079 152 593 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 128 bytes Encryption Small 1 114 096 574 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 128 bytes Encryption Fast 1 266 304 505 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 512 bytes Encryption Small 1 105 760 578 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 512 bytes Encryption Fast 1 251 912 511 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 1024 bytes Encryption Small 1 104 240 579 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 1024 bytes Encryption Fast 1 249 456 512 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 2048 bytes Encryption Small 1 103 576 579 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 2048 bytes Encryption Fast 1 248 232 512 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 128 bytes Encryption Small 1 271 672 503 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 128 bytes Encryption Fast 1 436 048 445 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 512 bytes Encryption Small 1 258 896 508 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 512 bytes Encryption Fast 1 421 552 450 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 1024 bytes Encryption Small 1 256 712 509 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 1024 bytes Encryption Fast 1 419 104 450 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 2048 bytes Encryption Small 1 255 648 509 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 2048 bytes Encryption Fast 1 417 864 451 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 128 bytes Decryption Small 1 973 416 324 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 128 bytes Decryption Fast 1 145 800 558 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 512 bytes Decryption Small 1 953 560 327 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 512 bytes Decryption Fast 1 127 760 567 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 1024 bytes Decryption Small 1 949 088 328 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 1024 bytes Decryption Fast 1 123 528 569 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 2048 bytes Decryption Small 1 944 896 329 kbyte/s
AES CBC 128 bits 8000 bytes 2048 bytes Decryption Fast 1 119 480 571 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 128 bytes Decryption Small 2 341 896 273 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 128 bytes Decryption Fast 1 320 088 484 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 512 bytes Decryption Small 2 321 328 275 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 512 bytes Decryption Fast 1 302 072 491 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 1024 bytes Decryption Small 2 316 696 276 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 1024 bytes Decryption Fast 1 297 832 493 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 2048 bytes Decryption Small 2 312 440 276 kbyte/s
AES CBC 192 bits 8000 bytes 2048 bytes Decryption Fast 1 293 792 494 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 128 bytes Decryption Small 2 709 424 236 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 128 bytes Decryption Fast 1 495 328 427 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 512 bytes Decryption Small 2 689 440 237 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 512 bytes Decryption Fast 1 477 128 433 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 1024 bytes Decryption Small 2 685 016 238 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 1024 bytes Decryption Fast 1 472 864 434 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 2048 bytes Decryption Small 2 680 880 238 kbyte/s
AES CBC 256 bits 8000 bytes 2048 bytes Decryption Fast 1 468 800 435 kbyte/s
Cryptolib STM32L476 AES CBC DF Enc.svg
Cryptolib STM32L476 AES CBC DF Dec.svg


The table below shows Flash and RAM usage (in bytes).

Cipher operation Configuration Code Constant data Global data Stack usage
Encryption Small 2828 bytes 372 bytes 1 bytes 140 bytes
Encryption Fast 3080 bytes 1396 bytes 1 bytes 172 bytes
Decryption Small 2960 bytes 628 bytes 1 bytes 176 bytes
Decryption Fast 3536 bytes 1652 bytes 1 bytes 180 bytes
Cryptolib STM32L476 AES CBC DF Enc FP.svg
Cryptolib STM32L476 AES CBC DF Dec FP.svg


2.2 HASH digest

In this section we provide the performance results for HASH using different modes of operation:

  • Sole buffer: one sole buffer is hashed. Time to perform is given in us.
  • Data flow: a big message is hashed by chunk. Bit rate is given in bytes per s.

2.2.1 Sole buffer mode

In this mode, the entire message hashing process is managed through a single API call provided by the CMOX library.

The table below shows the number of clock cycles and time (in µs) needed to perform described operation.

HASH mode Buffer size Cycles Time
SHA256 32 bytes 5878 73 µs
SHA256 64 bytes 9333 116 µs
SHA256 128 bytes 12 434 155 µs
SHA384 32 bytes 19 703 246 µs
SHA384 64 bytes 19 909 248 µs
SHA384 128 bytes 36 871 460 µs
Cryptolib STM32L476 HASH SB Dig.svg


The table below shows Flash and RAM usage (in bytes).

HASH mode Code Constant data Global data Stack usage
SHA256 1848 296 bytes 1 bytes 564 bytes
SHA384 3004 744 bytes 1 bytes 1124 bytes
Cryptolib STM32L476 HASH SB Dig FP.svg


2.2.2 Data flow mode

In this mode, operation is performed in several calls to the CMOX library APIs, as below:

  • cmox_hash_init
  • cmox_hash_append: called several times to hash the whole message by chunk of fixed size
  • cmox_hash_generateTag

The table below shows the number of clock cycles and bit rate (in kilobytes per second) needed to perform described operation.

HASH mode Message size Chunk size Cycles Bit rate
SHA256 8000 bytes 128 bytes 429 503 1490 kbyte/s
SHA256 8000 bytes 512 bytes 402 149 1591 kbyte/s
SHA256 8000 bytes 1024 bytes 397 493 1610 kbyte/s
SHA256 8000 bytes 2048 bytes 395 165 1619 kbyte/s
SHA384 8000 bytes 128 bytes 1 095 542 584 kbyte/s
SHA384 8000 bytes 512 bytes 1 042 745 613 kbyte/s
SHA384 8000 bytes 1024 bytes 1 033 593 619 kbyte/s
SHA384 8000 bytes 2048 bytes 1 029 017 621 kbyte/s
Cryptolib STM32L476 HASH DF Dig.svg


The table below shows final tag generation done through the call to cmox_hash_generateTag.

HASH mode Cycles Time
SHA256 4766 59 µs
SHA384 18 346 229 µs

The table below shows Flash and RAM usage (in bytes).

HASH mode Code Constant data Global data Stack usage
SHA256 1856 bytes 288 bytes 1 bytes 372 bytes
SHA384 3012 bytes 736 bytes 1 bytes 828 bytes
Cryptolib STM32L476 HASH DF Dig FP.svg


2.3 ECDSA signature & verification

In this section we provide the performance results for ECDSA signature & verification.

The table below shows the number of clock cycles and time (in ms) needed to perform described operation in different configurations.

Curve Operation ECC mathematics configuration Curve definition Cycles Time
SECP256R1 Signature Small Low 3 110 704 38 ms
SECP256R1 Signature Small High 3 019 288 37 ms
SECP256R1 Signature SuperFast Low 3 142 208 39 ms
SECP256R1 Signature SuperFast High 3 055 024 38 ms
SECP256R1 Verification Small Low 7 572 160 94 ms
SECP256R1 Verification Small High 6 710 744 83 ms
SECP256R1 Verification SuperFast Low 7 606 584 95 ms
SECP256R1 Verification SuperFast High 6 767 896 84 ms
SECP384R1 Signature Small Low 8 440 616 105 ms
SECP384R1 Signature Small High 8 087 160 101 ms
SECP384R1 Signature Fast Low 8 416 504 105 ms
SECP384R1 Signature Fast High 8 034 424 100 ms
SECP384R1 Verification Small Low 20 387 224 254 ms
SECP384R1 Verification Small High 17 715 128 221 ms
SECP384R1 Verification Fast Low 20 307 552 253 ms
SECP384R1 Verification Fast High 17 633 912 220 ms
Cryptolib STM32L476 ECDSA Sig.svg
Cryptolib STM32L476 ECDSA Ver.svg


The table below shows ECDSA Flash and RAM usage (in bytes).

Curve Operation ECC mathematics configuration Curve definition Code Constant data Global data Stack usage Working buffer
SECP256R1 Signature Small Low 11 732 bytes 1184 bytes 1 bytes 328 bytes 628 bytes
SECP256R1 Signature Small High 11 732 bytes 1568 bytes 1 bytes 328 bytes 696 bytes
SECP256R1 Signature SuperFast Low 13 042 bytes 1184 bytes 1 bytes 332 bytes 628 bytes
SECP256R1 Signature SuperFast High 13 042 bytes 1568 bytes 1 bytes 332 bytes 696 bytes
SECP256R1 Verification Small Low 12 216 bytes 1200 bytes 1 bytes 424 bytes 856 bytes
SECP256R1 Verification Small High 12 216 bytes 1584 bytes 1 bytes 424 bytes 1648 bytes
SECP256R1 Verification SuperFast Low 13 526 bytes 1200 bytes 1 bytes 428 bytes 856 bytes
SECP256R1 Verification SuperFast High 13 526 bytes 1584 bytes 1 bytes 428 bytes 1648 bytes
SECP384R1 Signature Small Low 11 732 bytes 1664 bytes 1 bytes 328 bytes 884 bytes
SECP384R1 Signature Small High 11 732 bytes 2240 bytes 1 bytes 328 bytes 984 bytes
SECP384R1 Signature Fast Low 12 102 bytes 1664 bytes 1 bytes 344 bytes 884 bytes
SECP384R1 Signature Fast High 12 102 bytes 2240 bytes 1 bytes 344 bytes 984 bytes
SECP384R1 Verification Small Low 12 216 bytes 1680 bytes 1 bytes 424 bytes 1192 bytes
SECP384R1 Verification Small High 12 216 bytes 2256 bytes 1 bytes 424 bytes 2272 bytes
SECP384R1 Verification Fast Low 12 586 bytes 1680 bytes 1 bytes 440 bytes 1192 bytes
SECP384R1 Verification Fast High 12 586 bytes 2256 bytes 1 bytes 440 bytes 2272 bytes
Cryptolib STM32L476 ECDSA SECP256R1 Sig FP.svg
Cryptolib STM32L476 ECDSA SECP256R1 Ver FP.svg
Cryptolib STM32L476 ECDSA SECP384R1 Sig FP.svg
Cryptolib STM32L476 ECDSA SECP384R1 Ver FP.svg


2.4 EdDSA signature & verification

In this section we provide the performance results for EdDSA signature & verification.

The table below shows the number of clock cycles and time (in ms) needed to perform described operation in different configurations.

Curve Message size Operation ECC mathematics configuration Curve definition Cycles Time
Ed25519 1023 bytes Signature Small OptLow 4 966 168 62 ms
Ed25519 1023 bytes Signature Small OptHigh 2 892 016 36 ms
Ed25519 1023 bytes Signature SuperFast OptLow 4 974 464 62 ms
Ed25519 1023 bytes Signature SuperFast OptHigh 2 893 096 36 ms
Ed25519 1023 bytes Verification Small OptLow 7 393 224 92 ms
Ed25519 1023 bytes Verification Small OptHigh 6 459 280 80 ms
Ed25519 1023 bytes Verification SuperFast OptLow 7 406 968 92 ms
Ed25519 1023 bytes Verification SuperFast OptHigh 6 456 536 80 ms
Cryptolib STM32L476 EdDSA Sig.svg
Cryptolib STM32L476 EdDSA Ver.svg


The table below shows EdDSA Flash and RAM usage (in bytes).

Curve Message size Operation ECC mathematics configuration Curve definition Code Constant data Global data Stack usage Working buffer
Ed25519 1023 bytes Signature Small OptLow 14 088 bytes 1744 bytes 1 bytes 1236 bytes 1388 bytes
Ed25519 1023 bytes Signature Small OptHigh 14 494 bytes 2896 bytes 1 bytes 1236 bytes 1388 bytes
Ed25519 1023 bytes Signature SuperFast OptLow 15 398 bytes 1744 bytes 1 bytes 1236 bytes 1388 bytes
Ed25519 1023 bytes Signature SuperFast OptHigh 15 804 bytes 2896 bytes 1 bytes 1236 bytes 1388 bytes
Ed25519 1023 bytes Verification Small OptLow 14 178 bytes 1748 bytes 1 bytes 1244 bytes 1152 bytes
Ed25519 1023 bytes Verification Small OptHigh 14 584 bytes 2900 bytes 1 bytes 1244 bytes 1992 bytes
Ed25519 1023 bytes Verification SuperFast OptLow 15 488 bytes 1748 bytes 1 bytes 1244 bytes 1152 bytes
Ed25519 1023 bytes Verification SuperFast OptHigh 15 894 bytes 2900 bytes 1 bytes 1244 bytes 1992 bytes
Cryptolib STM32L476 EdDSA Sig FP.svg
Cryptolib STM32L476 EdDSA Ver FP.svg


2.5 RSA signature & verification

In this section we provide the performance results for RSA signature & verification.

The table below shows the number of clock cycles and time (in ms) needed to perform described operation in different configurations.

PKCS#1 Priv. key mod. exp. method Hash method Modulus size Operation RSA mathematics configuration Priv. key mod. exp. implementation Cycles Time
v2.2 CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Small Low 187 670 752 2345 ms
v2.2 CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Small Mid 141 306 808 1766 ms
v2.2 CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Small High 118 682 200 1483 ms
v2.2 CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Fast Low 186 957 488 2336 ms
v2.2 CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Fast Mid 141 014 392 1762 ms
v2.2 CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Fast High 117 869 760 1473 ms
v2.2 No CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Small Low 713 570 976 8919 ms
v2.2 No CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Small Mid 536 007 032 6700 ms
v2.2 No CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Small High 448 383 432 5604 ms
v2.2 No CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Fast Low 712 342 056 8904 ms
v2.2 No CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Fast Mid 535 327 672 6691 ms
v2.2 No CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Fast High 446 742 296 5584 ms
v2.2 n/a SHA-256 3K Verification Small n/a 3 797 048 47 ms
v2.2 n/a SHA-256 3K Verification Fast n/a 3 776 552 47 ms
Cryptolib STM32L476 RSA Sig.svg
Cryptolib STM32L476 RSA Ver.svg


The table below shows RSA Flash and RAM usage (in bytes).

PKCS#1 Priv. key mod. exp. method Hash method Modulus size Operation RSA mathematics configuration Priv. key mod. exp. implementation Code Constant data Global data Stack usage Working buffer
v2.2 CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Small Low 7034 bytes 369 bytes 5 bytes 700 bytes 3704 bytes
v2.2 CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Small Mid 7282 bytes 369 bytes 5 bytes 700 bytes 4308 bytes
v2.2 CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Small High 7282 bytes 369 bytes 5 bytes 700 bytes 6708 bytes
v2.2 CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Fast Low 7404 bytes 369 bytes 5 bytes 700 bytes 3704 bytes
v2.2 CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Fast Mid 7652 bytes 369 bytes 5 bytes 700 bytes 4308 bytes
v2.2 CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Fast High 7652 bytes 369 bytes 5 bytes 700 bytes 6708 bytes
v2.2 No CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Small Low 6064 bytes 361 bytes 5 bytes 700 bytes 3484 bytes
v2.2 No CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Small Mid 6312 bytes 361 bytes 5 bytes 700 bytes 4664 bytes
v2.2 No CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Small High 6312 bytes 361 bytes 5 bytes 700 bytes 9368 bytes
v2.2 No CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Fast Low 6434 bytes 361 bytes 5 bytes 700 bytes 3484 bytes
v2.2 No CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Fast Mid 6682 bytes 361 bytes 5 bytes 700 bytes 4664 bytes
v2.2 No CRT SHA-256 3K Signature Fast High 6682 bytes 361 bytes 5 bytes 700 bytes 9368 bytes
v2.2 n/a SHA-256 3K Verification Small n/a 6810 bytes 365 bytes 5 bytes 716 bytes 3108 bytes
v2.2 n/a SHA-256 3K Verification Fast n/a 7180 bytes 365 bytes 5 bytes 716 bytes 3108 bytes
Cryptolib STM32L476 RSA 3K CRT Sig FP.svg
Cryptolib STM32L476 RSA 3K NoCRT Sig FP.svg
Cryptolib STM32L476 RSA 3K Ver FP.svg