4G and 5G have put encryption and integrity protection for the radio interface into the upper part of the L2 radio protocol stack, leaving lower layers, such as the Medium Access (MAC) layer without cryptographic protection due to perceived low risk of applicable threats at the time. However, attacks against the unprotected lower layers have been figured out by security researchers over the years, and as one of the 6G key values is in security and trustworthiness, it would be imperative to ensure protection of also the lower layer control procedures such as MAC CEs.