Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)
Development Effort

Known Answer Test (KAT) and Monte Carlo Test (MCT) Information

Section 2.B.3 of the Request for Candidate Algorithm Nominations for the AES requires that all submissions contain (in electronic form) values for specified Known Answer Tests (KATs) and Monte Carlo Tests (MCTs). The following documents provide a detailed description of these tests, as well as example files for submitting authentic KAT and MCT values to NIST:

• Description of KATs and MCTs (PDF format, 14 pages) - Note: This document was updated on 1/14/98 by adding sections 3.3 and 3.4, which describe the Tables and Intermediate Values Known Answer Tests, respectively. Also, two minor corrections were made on 2/17/98, to reflect the required 128-bit block size.

• Example files showing exact required format for KAT and MCT submissions:

  ecb_vk.txt	Variable Key Known Answer Test - ECB Mode
  ecb_vt.txt	Variable Text Known Answer Test - ECB Mode
  ecb_tbl.txt (if applicable)	Tables Known Answer Test - ECB Mode (added 1/14/98)
  ecb_e_m.txt	ECB Encrypt Monte Carlo Test
  ecb_d_m.txt	ECB Decrypt Monte Carlo Test
  cbc_e_m.txt	CBC Encrypt Monte Carlo Test
  cbc_d_m.txt	CBC Decrypt Monte Carlo Test

• ZIP file containing all of the PDF and example files listed above.

Questions?

Computer Security Division
National Institute of Standards and Technology