blowfish(3)blowfish(3)NAME
blowfish, BF_set_key, BF_encrypt, BF_decrypt, BF_ecb_encrypt,
BF_cbc_encrypt, BF_cfb64_encrypt, BF_ofb64_encrypt, BF_options - Blow‐
fish encryption
SYNOPSIS
#include <openssl/blowfish.h>
void BF_set_key(
BF_KEY *key, int len, const unsigned char *data ); void
BF_ecb_encrypt(
const unsigned char *in, unsigned char *out, BF_KEY
*key, int enc ); void BF_cbc_encrypt(
const unsigned char *in, unsigned char *out, long
length, BF_KEY *schedule, unsigned char *ivec, int enc ); void
BF_cfb64_encrypt(
const unsigned char *in, unsigned char *out, long
length, BF_KEY *schedule, unsigned char *ivec, int *num, int
enc ); void BF_ofb64_encrypt(
const unsigned char *in, unsigned char *out, long
length, BF_KEY *schedule, unsigned char *ivec, int *num ); const char
*BF_options(
void ); void BF_encrypt(
BF_LONG *data,const BF_KEY *key ); void BF_decrypt(
BF_LONG *data,const BF_KEY *key );
DESCRIPTION
This library implements the Blowfish cipher, which was invented and
described by Counterpane. See http://www.counterpane.com/blowfish.html.
Blowfish is a block cipher that operates on 64-bit (8 byte) blocks of
data. It uses a variable size key, but typically, 128-bit (16 byte)
keys are considered good for strong encryption. Blowfish can be used
in the same modes as DES. See des_modes(7). Blowfish is one of the
faster block ciphers. It is faster than DES, and much faster than IDEA
or RC2.
Blowfish consists of a key setup phase and the actual encryption or
decryption phase.
The BF_set_key() function sets up the BF_KEY key using the len bytes
long key at data.
The BF_ecb_encrypt() function is the basic Blowfish encryption and
decryption function. It encrypts or decrypts the first 64 bits of in
using the key key, putting the result in out. The enc decides if
encryption (BF_ENCRYPT) or decryption (BF_DECRYPT) shall be performed.
The vector pointed at by in and out must be 64 bits in length, no less.
If they are larger, everything after the first 64 bits is ignored.
The BF_cbc_encrypt(), BF_cfb64_encrypt(), and BF_ofb64_encrypt() mode
functions all operate on variable length data. They all take an ini‐
tialization vector ivec which needs to be passed along into the next
call of the same function for the same message. The ivec may be ini‐
tialized with anything, but the recipient needs to know what was used,
or it won't be able to decrypt. Some programs and protocols simplify
this. For example, ivec is simply initialized to zero in SSH. The
BF_cbc_encrypt() function operates of data that is a multiple of 8
bytes long, while the BF_cfb64_encrypt() and BF_ofb64_encrypt() func‐
tions are used to encrypt a variable number of bytes (the amount does
not have to be an exact multiple of 8). The purpose of the latter two
is to simulate stream ciphers, and therefore, they need the parameter
num, which is a pointer to an integer where the current offset in ivec
is stored between calls. This integer must be initialized to zero when
ivec is initialized.
The BF_cbc_encrypt() function is the Cipher Block Chaining function for
Blowfish. It encrypts or decrypts the 64 bits chunks of in using the
key schedule, putting the result in out. The enc decides if encryption
(BF_ENCRYPT) or decryption (BF_DECRYPT) shall be performed. The ivec
must point at an 8 byte long initialization vector.
The BF_cfb64_encrypt() function is the CFB mode for Blowfish with
64-bit feedback. It encrypts or decrypts the bytes in in using the key
schedule, putting the result in out. The enc decides if encryption
(BF_ENCRYPT) or decryption (BF_DECRYPT) shall be performed. The ivec
must point at an 8 byte long initialization vector. The num must point
at an integer which must be initially zero.
The BF_ofb64_encrypt() function is the OFB mode for Blowfish with
64-bit feedback. It uses the same parameters as the BF_cfb64_encrypt()
function, which must be initialized the same way.
The BF_encrypt() and BF_decrypt() functions are the lowest level func‐
tions for Blowfish encryption. They encrypt or decrypt the first 64
bits of the vector pointed by data, using the key key. They also take
each 32-bit chunk in host-byte order, which is little-endian on little-
endian platforms and big-endian on big-endian platforms. These func‐
tions should not be used unless you implement modes of Blowfish. The
alternative is to use the BF_ecb_encrypt() function.
NOTES
Applications should use the higher level functions, such as EVP_Encryp‐
tInit(), instead of calling the blowfish functions directly.
RETURN VALUES
None of the functions presented here return any value.
HISTORY
The blowfish functions are available in all versions of SSLeay and
OpenSSL.
SEE ALSO
Files: des_modes(7)blowfish(3)