[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45761-45762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18811]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Announcing a Workshop on Modes of Operation for Symmetric Key 
Block Cipher Algorithms

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Doc.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
announces a workshop to discuss modes of operation for the protection 
of data using a symmetric key block cipher algorithm. The results of 
this workshop will be used by NIST in development a draft modes of 
operation standard for symmetric key block cipher algorithms. Comments 
and papers are encouraged prior to the workshop to propose, define, and 
justify any modes that are appropriate for NIST to include in such a 
standard. These comments and papers should be addressed to 
[email protected].

[[Page 45762]]


DATES: The Modes of Operation workshop will be held on Friday, October 
20, 2000, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    To provide for sufficient time to prepare the agenda for the modes 
to be discussed at the workshop, comments are due by October 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center 
in Baltimore, Maryland. Details regarding workshop registration can be 
found at: http://www.nist.gov/modes.
    Comments regarding proposed modes of operation may be sent to: 
[email protected] or to Elaine Barker, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8930, Gaithersburg, MD 
20899-8930, USA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Symmetric Key Block Cipher Modes 
of Operation home page (http://www.nist.gov/modes) may be used to 
access information regarding the modes of operation workshop, 
registration and lodging information.
    Questions may also be addressed to: 1) Elaine Barker at (301) 975-
2911 (Email: [email protected]) or Bill Burr at (301) 975-2914 (Email: 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1997, NIST began the development of the 
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to specify a symmetric key block 
cipher algorithm that would provide confidentiality for sensitive 
(unclassified) data. As the AES development process nears its 
conclusion, the specific modes of operation for its use need to be 
addressed. In 1980, Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 81, 
DES Modes of Operation, defined four encryption modes for the Data 
Encryption Standard (DES). The four modes are the Electronic Codebook 
(ECB) mode, the Cipher Block Chaining (CBC) mode, the Cipher Feedback 
(CFB) mode, and the Output Feedback (OFB) mode. Each mode of FIPS 81 
specifies a different way to use the DES block encryption algorithm to 
encrypt and decrypt data, with somewhat different security and 
operational characteristics, and each is best suited to different 
applications. Cryptographic system designers or security application 
designers need to select one or more of the modes when using the DES 
symmetric key block cipher algorithm in a cryptographic system or 
security application. However, FIPS 81 was written to be specific to 
DES and its key and block size. A new standard is needed that will 
address other symmetric key block cipher algorithms (e.g., AES). The 
workshop will provide NIST with useful input as the standard is 
drafted.
    It is NIST's intention that the planned standard be independent of 
specific key or block sizes of particular encryption algorithms and 
that the standard include the four modes specified in FIPS 81, plus 
other modes needed for current applications and technology. During the 
development of the AES, NIST received comments suggesting that 
additional modes should be included in a Modes of Operation standard, 
and that the development of a new modes standard should be carefully 
considered by the cryptographic community. To this end, the workshop 
will discuss appropriate secure modes that participants believe NIST 
should consider for the standard. Comments are requested prior to the 
workshop on any recommended modes so as to facilitate discussion of 
specific proposals at the workshop. Following the workshop, NIST 
intends to prepare a draft standard that will be made available for 
public review and comment.
    Advance registration and a workshop fee is required for workshop 
attendance. Details of the workshop may be obtained at http://www.nist.gov/modes. Note that this workshop follows the National 
Information Systems Security Conference (NISSC) held in Baltimore, 
Maryland from October 16-19, 2000.
    NIST solicits comments from interested parties, including industry, 
academia, voluntary standards organizations, the public, Federal 
agencies, and State and local governments concerning the Modes of 
Operation Standard issues and techniques for discussion at the 
workshop.

    Authority: NIST's activities to develop computer security 
standards to protect Federal sensitive (unclassified) systems are 
undertaken pursuant to specific responsibilities assigned to NIST in 
Section 5131 of the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 
1996 (Pub. L. 104-106), the Computer Security of 1987 (Pub. L. 100-
235), and Appendix III to Office of Management and Budget Circular 
A-130.

    Dated: July 18, 2000.
Karen H. Brown,
Deputy Director, NIST.
[FR Doc. 00-18811 Filed 7-24-00; 8:45 am]
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