crypt - password and data encryption
SYNOPSIS
#define _XOPEN_SOURCE
#include <unistd.h>
char *crypt(const char *key, const char *salt);
DESCRIPTION
crypt is the password encryption function. It is based on
the Data Encryption Standard algorithm with variations
intended (among other things) to discourage use of hard
ware implementations of a key search.
key is a user's typed password.
salt is a two-character string chosen from the set
[a-zA-Z0-9./]. This string is used to perturb the algo
rithm in one of 4096 different ways.
By taking the lowest 7 bit of each character of the key, a
56-bit key is obtained. This 56-bit key is used to
encrypt repeatedly a constant string (usually a string
consisting of all zeros). The returned value points to
the encrypted password, a series of 13 printable ASCII
characters (the first two characters represent the salt
itself). The return value points to static data whose
content is overwritten by each call.
Warning: The key space consists of 2**56 equal 7.2e16 pos
sible values. Exhaustive searches of this key space are
possible using massively parallel computers. Software,
such as crack(1), is available which will search the por
tion of this key space that is generally used by humans
for passwords. Hence, password selection should, at mini
mum, avoid common words and names. The use of a passwd(1)
program that checks for crackable passwords during the
selection process is recommended.
The DES algorithm itself has a few quirks which make the
use of the crypt(3) interface a very poor choice for any
thing other than password authentication. If you are
planning on using the crypt(3) interface for a cryptogra
phy project, don't do it: get a good book on encryption
and one of the widely available DES libraries.
RETURN VALUE
A pointer to the encrypted password is returned. On
error, NULL is returned.
ERRORS
ENOSYS The crypt function was not implemented, probably
because of U.S.A. export restrictions.
SVID, X/OPEN, BSD 4.3
SEE ALSO
login(1), passwd(1), encrypt(3), getpass(3), passwd(5)
Man(1) output converted with
man2html