nerdexam
EC-Council

312-50V13 · Question #391

Tony wants to integrate a 128-bit symmetric block cipher with key sizes of 128,192, or 256 bits into a software program, which involves 32 rounds of computational operations that include substitution

The correct answer is C. RC5. The RC5 algorithm is a 128-bit symmetric block cipher that supports variable key sizes (128, 192, 256 bits), a variable number of rounds (up to 255, typically 32), and uses substitution, permutation, and 32-bit word blocks, matching the description.

Submitted by ricky.ec· Mar 6, 2026Cryptography

Question

Tony wants to integrate a 128-bit symmetric block cipher with key sizes of 128,192, or 256 bits into a software program, which involves 32 rounds of computational operations that include substitution and permutation operations on four 32-bit word blocks using 8-variable S-boxes with 4-bit entry and 4-bit exit. Which of the following algorithms includes all the above features and can be integrated by Tony into the software program?

Options

  • ATEA
  • BCAST-128
  • CRC5
  • Dserpent

How the community answered

(47 responses)
  • A
    6% (3)
  • B
    2% (1)
  • C
    79% (37)
  • D
    13% (6)

Why each option

The RC5 algorithm is a 128-bit symmetric block cipher that supports variable key sizes (128, 192, 256 bits), a variable number of rounds (up to 255, typically 32), and uses substitution, permutation, and 32-bit word blocks, matching the description.

ATEA

TEA (Tiny Encryption Algorithm) is a 64-bit block cipher with a 128-bit key, and typically 32 rounds, but its block size and operational details do not precisely match the description of 32-bit word blocks with 8-variable S-boxes with 4-bit entry/exit for a 128-bit block.

BCAST-128

CAST-128 (also known as CAST5) is a 64-bit block cipher with a key size between 40 and 128 bits, using 16 rounds of a Feistel network, which doesn't match the 128-bit block and 32 rounds specified.

CRC5Correct

RC5 is a symmetric block cipher that can operate on 32-bit, 64-bit, or 128-bit blocks, supports key sizes from 0 to 2040 bits (commonly 128, 192, 256), and has a variable number of rounds (typically 32). It features data-dependent rotations, variable key size, and variable number of rounds, using simple operations like addition, XOR, and shifts on 32-bit words, which aligns with the description of substitution and permutation.

Dserpent

Serpent is a 128-bit block cipher that supports 128, 192, or 256-bit keys and uses 32 rounds, but its internal structure involves a fixed, bit-sliced design with 4 S-boxes rather than 8-variable S-boxes and the operational details described for RC5.

Concept tested: Symmetric encryption algorithms (RC5 characteristics)

Topics

#symmetric encryption#block cipher#Serpent#cryptography algorithms

Community Discussion

No community discussion yet for this question.

Full 312-50V13 Practice