Thread: Generating public key from private key

I'm wrtiting a program, that when given a bitcoin private key address, will generate a public key address.

I have been following a few online examples, but seem to be stuck...

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <libgen.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <openssl/bn.h>
#include <openssl/err.h>
#include <openssl/ec.h>
#include <openssl/obj_mac.h>

// Declare global variables.
char *program_name = "public_key";

int main (int argc, char *argv[])
{
// Declare variables.
    EC_KEY *pkey = NULL;
    EC_POINT *pub_key = NULL;
    const EC_GROUP *group = NULL;
    BN_CTX *ctx = NULL;
    BIGNUM *res = NULL;

// Allocates and initialize BIGNUM structure.
    if((res = BN_new()) == NULL)
    {
        fprintf(stderr, "%s: generate_pubic_key error: BN_new failed (%s)\n", program_name, ERR_error_string(ERR_get_error(), NULL));
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

// Allocates and initialize BN_CTX structure.
    if((ctx = BN_CTX_new()) == NULL)
    {
        fprintf(stderr, "%s: generate_pubic_key error: BN_CTX_new failed (%s)\n", program_name, ERR_error_string(ERR_get_error(), NULL));
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

// Convert hexadecimal to BIGNUM.
    if(BN_hex2bn(&res, argv[1]) == 0)
    {
        fprintf(stderr, "%s: generate_pubic_key error: BN_hex2bn failed (%s)\n", program_name, ERR_error_string(ERR_get_error(), NULL));
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

// Generate public key.
    if((pkey = EC_KEY_new_by_curve_name(NID_secp256k1)) == NULL)
    {
        fprintf(stderr, "%s: generate_pubic_key error: EC_KEY_new_by_curve_name failed\n", program_name);
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

// Set EC_KEY group object.
    group = EC_KEY_get0_group(pkey);

// Create a new point on the curve.
    if((pub_key = EC_POINT_new(group)) == NULL)
    {
        fprintf(stderr, "%s: generate_pubic_key error: EC_POINT_new failed\n", program_name);
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

// Set the private key.
    if(EC_KEY_set_private_key(pkey, res) == 0)
    {
        fprintf(stderr, "%s: generate_pubic_key error: EC_KEY_set_private_key failed\n", program_name);
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

// Convert BIGNUM to EC_POINT.
    if(EC_POINT_bn2point(group, res, pub_key, ctx) == NULL)
    {
        fprintf(stderr, "%s: generate_pubic_key error: EC_POINT_bn2point failed\n", program_name);
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

// Exit gracefully.
    exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
}

I'm getting the following when I run it:

Code:

public_key: generate_public_key error: EC_POINT_bn2point failed

When I check the man page for 'EC_POINT_bn2point' the RETURN VALUES section says:

Code:

EC_POINT_bn2point() returns the pointer to the EC_POINT supplied, or NULL on error.

Can someone help to explain what I've done wrong? The return value leaves a lot to be desired.

How/where are you stuck?

Originally Posted by Hodor

How/where are you stuck?

The bolded part:

Code:

// Convert BIGNUM to EC_POINT.
    if(EC_POINT_bn2point(group, res, pub_key, ctx) == NULL)
    {
        fprintf(stderr, "%s: generate_pubic_key error: EC_POINT_bn2point failed\n", program_name);
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }

Code:

I've created all the needed arugments for 'EC_POINT_bn2point', but it only returns NULL on error. I have no way of knowing what is wrong, as the other arguments are all created while checking their return values. So they aren't failing. I'm just looking to see if anybody has any insight.