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CRYPT_GENSALT(3) BSD Library Functions Manual CRYPT_GENSALT(3)
NAME
crypt_gensalt, crypt_gensalt_rn, crypt_gensalt_ra -- encode settings for passphrase hashing
LIBRARY
Crypt Library (libcrypt, -lcrypt)
SYNOPSIS
#include <crypt.h>
char *
crypt_gensalt(const char *prefix, unsigned long count, const char *rbytes, int nrbytes);
char *
crypt_gensalt_rn(const char * prefix, unsigned long count, const char *rbytes, int nrbytes,
char * output, int output_size);
char *
crypt_gensalt_ra(const char *prefix, unsigned long count, const char *rbytes, int nrbytes);
DESCRIPTION
The crypt_gensalt, crypt_gensalt_rn, and crypt_gensalt_ra functions compile a string for use
as the setting argument to crypt, crypt_r, crypt_rn, and crypt_ra. prefix selects the hash-
ing method to use. count controls the CPU time cost of the hash; the valid range for count
and the exact meaning of "CPU time cost" depends on the hashing method, but larger numbers
correspond to more costly hashes. rbytes should point to nrbytes cryptographically random
bytes for use as "salt."
If prefix is a null pointer, the best available hashing method will be selected. (CAUTION:
if prefix is an empty string, the "traditional" DES-based hashing method will be selected;
this method is unacceptably weak by modern standards.) If count is 0, a low default cost
will be selected. If rbytes is a null pointer, an appropriate number of random bytes will
be obtained from the operating system, and nrbytes is ignored.
See crypt(5) for other strings that can be used as prefix, and valid values of count for
each.
RETURN VALUES
crypt_gensalt, crypt_gensalt_rn, and crypt_gensalt_ra return a pointer to an encoded setting
string. This string will be entirely printable ASCII, and will not contain whitespace or
the characters ':', ';', '*', '!', or '\'. See crypt(5) for more detail on the format of
this string. Upon error, they return a null pointer and set errno to an appropriate error
code.
crypt_gensalt places its result in a static storage area, which will be overwritten by sub-
sequent calls to crypt_gensalt. It is not safe to call crypt_gensalt from multiple threads
simultaneously. However, it is safe to pass the string returned by crypt_gensalt directly
to crypt without copying it; each function has its own static storage area.
crypt_gensalt_rn places its result in the supplied output buffer, which has output_size
bytes of storage available. output_size should be greater than or equal to
CRYPT_GENSALT_OUTPUT_SIZE.
crypt_gensalt_ra allocates memory for its result using malloc(3). It should be freed with
free(3) after use.
Upon error, in addition to returning a null pointer, crypt_gensalt and crypt_gensalt_rn will
write an invalid setting string to their output buffer, if there is enough space; this
string will begin with a '*' and will not be equal to prefix.
ERRORS
EINVAL prefix is invalid or not supported by this implementation; count is in-
valid for the requested prefix; the input nrbytes is insufficient for the
smallest valid salt with the requested prefix.
ERANGE crypt_gensalt_rn only: output_size is too small to hold the compiled
setting string.
ENOMEM Failed to allocate internal scratch memory.
crypt_gensalt_ra only: failed to allocate memory for the compiled setting
string.
ENOSYS, EACCES, EIO, etc.
Obtaining random bytes from the operating system failed. This can only
happen when rbytes is a null pointer.
FEATURE TEST MACROS
The following macros are defined by <crypt.h>:
CRYPT_GENSALT_IMPLEMENTS_DEFAULT_PREFIX
A null pointer can be specified as the prefix argument.
CRYPT_GENSALT_IMPLEMENTS_AUTO_ENTROPY
A null pointer can be specified as the rbytes argument.
PORTABILITY NOTES
The functions crypt_gensalt, crypt_gensalt_rn, and crypt_gensalt_ra are not part of any
standard. They originate with the Openwall project. A function with the name crypt_gensalt
also exists on Solaris 10 and newer, but its prototype and semantics differ.
The default prefix and auto entropy features are available since libxcrypt version 4.0.0.
Portable software can use feature test macros to find out whether null pointers can be used
for the prefix and rbytes arguments.
The set of supported hashing methods varies considerably from system to system.
ATTRIBUTES
For an explanation of the terms used in this section, see attributes(7).
+------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
|Interface | Attribute | Value |
+------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
|crypt_gensalt | Thread safety | MT-Unsafe race:crypt_gensalt |
+------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
|crypt_gensalt_rn, | Thread safety | MT-Safe |
|crypt_gensalt_ra | | |
+------------------+---------------+------------------------------+
SEE ALSO
crypt(3), getpass(3), getpwent(3), shadow(3), login(1), passwd(1), crypt(5), passwd(5),
shadow(5), pam(8)
Openwall Project October 11, 2017 Openwall Project
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