DEAL block cipher (Knudsen/Outerbridge AES candidate) using DES as its round function: 8 rounds, four 64-bit round-key-schedule DES encryptions with a fixed key. 128-bit block, 256-bit key. As implemented in the DarkCrypt Total Commander plugin, matching the standard DEAL-256 construction exactly.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Category | Block Ciphers |
| Sub-category | Block Cipher |
| Security status | 🎓 Educational Only |
| Complexity | Advanced |
| Inventor | Lars Knudsen, Richard Outerbridge; DarkCrypt packaging by Alexander Myasnikov |
| Year | 1998 |
| Origin | 🇷🇺 Russia |
| Source | algorithms/block/darkcrypt-deal.js |
| Parameter | Supported values |
|---|---|
| Key sizes | 32 bytes (256 bits) |
| Block sizes | 16 bytes (128 bits) |
Status: 🎓 Educational Only
| Issue | Description | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Key-schedule weaknesses | Equivalent keys and related-key attacks found by Kelsey and Schneier; not selected as an AES finalist. | Use AES or another vetted cipher. |
3 vectors ship with this algorithm and run in the test suite. Byte values are hexadecimal.
Vector 1 — DarkCrypt Deal — zero key/plaintext
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
key |
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 |
input |
00000000000000000000000000000000 |
expected |
f0137a90d2268b14614f67c16aa5ec51 |
Vector 2 — DarkCrypt Deal — incrementing key/plaintext
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
key |
000102030405060708090a0b0c0d0e0f101112131415161718191a1b1c1d1e1f |
input |
000102030405060708090a0b0c0d0e0f |
expected |
5b9014b97fdc142a19b54e5107666fe9 |
Vector 3 — DarkCrypt Deal — shifted incrementing key/plaintext
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
key |
0102030405060708090a0b0c0d0e0f101112131415161718191a1b1c1d1e1f20 |
input |
101112131415161718191a1b1c1d1e1f |
expected |
671a2730e253852dba5a9a2f54b84004 |