public static byte[] encrypt(final byte[] key, final byte[] iv, final byte[] cleartext) throws Exception {
        /* perform AES-128 encryption */
        final Cipher cipher = Cipher.getInstance("AES/CBC/NoPadding");

        cipher.init(Cipher.ENCRYPT_MODE, new SecretKeySpec(key, "AES"),
                new IvParameterSpec(iv));

        Arrays.fill(key, (byte) 0x00);
        Arrays.fill(iv, (byte) 0x00);

        return cipher.doFinal(cleartext);
    }