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EC-Council

312-50V13 · Question #409

Harper, a software engineer, is developing an email application. To ensure the confidentiality of email messages. Harper uses a symmetric-key block cipher having a classical 12- or 16-round Feistel ne

The correct answer is A. CAST-128. The described symmetric-key block cipher, featuring a 12- or 16-round Feistel network, 64-bit block size, 8x32-bit S-boxes based on bent functions, and specific key-dependent operations, is the CAST-128 algorithm.

Submitted by andreas_gr· Mar 6, 2026Cryptography

Question

Harper, a software engineer, is developing an email application. To ensure the confidentiality of email messages. Harper uses a symmetric-key block cipher having a classical 12- or 16-round Feistel network with a block size of 64 bits for encryption, which includes large 8 x 32-bit S-boxes (S1, S2, S3, S4) based on bent functions, modular addition and subtraction, key-dependent rotation, and XOR operations. This cipher also uses a masking key(Km1)and a rotation key (Kr1) for performing its functions. What is the algorithm employed by Harper to secure the email messages?

Options

  • ACAST-128
  • BAES
  • CGOST block cipher
  • DDES

How the community answered

(49 responses)
  • A
    84% (41)
  • B
    8% (4)
  • C
    4% (2)
  • D
    4% (2)

Why each option

The described symmetric-key block cipher, featuring a 12- or 16-round Feistel network, 64-bit block size, 8x32-bit S-boxes based on bent functions, and specific key-dependent operations, is the CAST-128 algorithm.

ACAST-128Correct

CAST-128 (also known as CAST5) is a symmetric-key block cipher that aligns with all the described features: it uses a 64-bit block size, a Feistel network with 12 or 16 rounds (depending on key length), and incorporates four 8x32-bit S-boxes derived from bent functions, along with modular arithmetic, key-dependent rotations, and XOR operations for its round function and key schedule, including masking and rotation keys.

BAES

AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is a substitution-permutation network, not a Feistel network, and uses a 128-bit block size with 10, 12, or 14 rounds, which differs from the description.

CGOST block cipher

The GOST block cipher (Magma) is a 64-bit block cipher with a 32-round Feistel network, but its specific S-box construction and key schedule details do not precisely match the comprehensive description provided.

DDES

DES (Data Encryption Standard) is a 64-bit block cipher using a 16-round Feistel network, but its S-box design and specific key-dependent operations like bent functions, masking, and rotation keys are not as described for CAST-128.

Concept tested: Symmetric cipher characteristics (CAST-128)

Source: https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2144.txt

Topics

#symmetric encryption#block cipher#Feistel network#CAST-128

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