Thread: Encode strings in C code

Hi,

I'm trying to encode all my dll strings in my C code. So, for instance, if I have a:

Code:

sprintf(var1, "hello %s", name);

I want to encode "hello %s", or create a new function that might encode this instruction given a key. And encode (and decrypt) any string like "Info 1", for example.

Any sugestions?

Kind regards,

JKepler

I don't understand what you're asking.

Hi,

Thanks for the attention. I was trying to do something like:

Code:

sprintf(var1, decrypt("awesrte67"), name);

where decrypt("awesrte67") is decrypted to "hello %s".

Is it possible?

Kind regards,

JKepler

Sure, that's possible.

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

// Here the simple encrypting is to add one.
// So "hello %s" becomes "ifmmp!&t".
// decrypt subtracts one to obtain the original string.
char *decrypt(char *buf, const char *from) {
    char *to = buf;
    while (*from) *to++ = *from++ - 1;
    *to = '\0';
    return buf;
}

int main(void) {
    char str[100], buf[100], name[100] = "joe";
    sprintf(str, decrypt(buf, "ifmmp!&t"), name);
    printf("[%s]\n", str);
    return 0;
}

Hi algorism,

Your solution is simply...brilliant - and it works like a charm

Now, I'm trying to make a XOR with the string. Supose the encrypted string has a key="12345"

I'm trying:

Code:

char *decrypt2(char *buf, const char *from, char *key) {
    char *to = buf;
    while (*from) *to++ = *from++^*key++;    
    *to = '\0';
    return buf;
}

And calling it:

Code:

sprintf(str, decrypt2(buf, "[PY\]^d\GYU","12345"), name);

But I don't get all the characters - some are scrambled...

Can you please tell me what am I doing wrong?

Regards,

JKepler

You need to put two backslashes for every backslash you want in your string. And you have to wrap the key around when it gets to the end. You also probably shouldn't be using str for the "to" string of decrypt and also for the string to which sprintf is writing. What is the original string?

Code:

#include <stdio.h>

char *crypto(char *out, const char *from, const char *key) {
    const char *k = key;
    char *to = out;
    while (*from) {
        *to++ = *from++ ^ *k++;
        if (*k == '\0') k = key;
    }
    *to = '\0';
    return out;
}

int main(void) {
    char plain[100] = "hello %s", cipher[100], key[] = "12345";
    char str[100], name[]="joe";

    crypto(cipher, plain, key);
    printf("[%s]\n", cipher); // not necessarily all printable characters

    sprintf(str, crypto(plain, cipher, key), name);
    printf("[%s]\n", str);

    // This prints [jbjhhoVosld]
    sprintf(str, crypto(plain, "[PY\\]^d\\GYU", key), name);
    printf("[%s]\n", str);

    return 0;
}

Hi,

Once again thanks It's a great and simple solution. Just one more question if I may: if I have a string with an hexadecimal value (like "22f5e789") how can I convert it into a ascii symbols variable? I can't seem to find a straight answer in Google. Most allow the printing of that string - not saving it in a variable function.

Sorry for the trouble.

Kind regards,

JKepler

I think you mean something like this:

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <ctype.h>

void tohex(char *out, const char *in) {
    for ( ; *in; in++, out += 2)
        sprintf(out, "%02x", (unsigned char)*in);
    *out = '\0';
}

void fromhex(char *out, const char *in) {
    unsigned n = 0;
    for (int pos = 0; sscanf(in, "%2x%n", &n, &pos) == 1; in += pos)
        *out++ = (char)n;
    *out = '\0';
}

void dump(char *res) {
    for (unsigned char *r = (unsigned char*)res; *r; r++)
        printf("%02x %3u %c\n", *r, *r, isprint(*r) ? *r : '.');
}

int main(void) {
    const char str[] = "22f5e789414243303132";
    char res[100];

    printf("[%s]\n", str);
    fromhex(res, str);
    dump(res);

    const char s[] = "hello WORLD!!";
    char t[100];
    tohex(t, s);
    printf("[%s]\n", t);
    
    fromhex(res, t);
    dump(res);

    return 0;
}

Good morning algorism,

Works like a charm. Thanks for the help - and I've learned a lot, believe me. You are a good teacher.

Kind regards,

JKepler

Good evening algorism,

I've realized something (my code is working well though): it's not possible to use the encryption to the values of an array, is it?

I mean, if an array is like

Code:

{"hello", "hi",...}

I can't make it like

Code:

{crypto(plain,"ghdgte",name),...

for example, can I? The function will not be assumed as variable I think...

Must I create a set of variables like

Code:

a=crypto(plain,"ghdgte",name),...

and then apply to the array

Code:

{a,...

?

Your advice is highly regarded.

Kind regards,

JKepler

Maybe this will do.

Code:

#define MAXSTRINGS 10
#define MAXSTRSIZE 50  // long enough to hold longest string (and terminating null char)
char str[MAXSTRINGS][MAXSTRSIZE];
crypto(str[0], "ghdgte", name);
crypto(str[1], "xywzyd", name);
//...

If it's better to dynamically allocate the space for each string then something like this:

Code:

char *str[MAXSTRINGS];
char buf[MAXSTRSIZE];
str[0] = strdup(crypto(buf, "ghdgte", name));
str[1] = strdup(crypto(buf, "xywzyd", name));
//...

You might want to free that memory at some point. If it's used throughout the run of the program then you can just let the OS clean up.

Hi algorism,

I'm sorry for the late reply, but I had to go for one day to Lisbon... I've tryed both codes, and the compiler doesn't let me cast a function value in a constant. I've tryed this in the .c file. Must it be in the header? I would like to apply the encrypt to #define string values and constant string values and structures.

This is actually a commom problem in Google.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Kind regards,

JKepler