21929 total geeks with 3247 solutions
Recent challengers:
 Welcome, you are an anonymous user! [register] [login] Get a yourname@osix.net email address 

Articles

GEEK

User's box
Username:
Password:

Forgot password?
New account

Shoutbox
redore
o noes the webserver was acting up earlier and it was spewing out all those full path disclosures ..
DnD
Tks, I'm checking my code.
CodeX
are you thinking of level 4? I'm sure there's been plenty of people who were dismayed after calculating the answer
MaxMouse
Also... Level5 lol, when you get the answer you'll shout at your computer, guaranteed.
MaxMouse
DnD, none of the challenges have been changed in a long time, i can assure you, none of them have a bug (Except level13, and it's more of a quirk than a bug)

Donate
Donate and help us fund new challenges
Donate!
Due Date: Feb 28
February Goal: $30.00
Gross: $0.00
Net Balance: $0.00
Left to go: $30.00
Contributors


News Feeds
The Register
Ex-Intel exec
pleads guilty to
insider trading
Adobe apologizes
for festering Flash
crash bug
Conficker outbreak
infects Leeds
hospital servers
Intel
"Tukwila" born
after long and
painful labor
SourceForge
reverses ban on US
foes
Oracle issues
emergency security
patch for WebLogic
Microsoft tests
show no Win 7
battery flaw
Microsoft kills
FAST"s Linux and
Unix search biz
Linus Torvalds
doesn"t hate the
Googlephone
Sweden to prosecute
alleged Cisco, NASA
hacker
Slashdot
Virtualizing a
Supercomputer
Study Says OOXML
Unsuitable For
Norwegian
Government
Virus-Detecting
"Lab On a Chip"
Developed At BYU
Google Shooting For
Smartphone
Universal
Translator
New Material
Transforms Car
Bodies Into
Batteries
Verizon Blocking
4chan
A Reflection On Sun
Executive Payouts
For Failure
Turns Out You
Actually Can Be
Bored To Death
Cacti 0.8 Network
Monitoring
What Are the Best
Valentine"s Day
Stunts?
Article viewer

MonoAlphabetic Substitution Cipher : Part 5 of a Series



Written by:typedeaF
Published by:Nightscript
Published on:2004-07-16 15:41:40
Topic:C
Search OSI about C.More articles by typedeaF.
 viewed 16407 times send this article printer friendly

Digg this!
    Rate this article :
MonoAlphabetic Substitution Cipher written in C.
Ok, I almost made the mistake of bypassing this cipher. By simply remapping the letters of the alphabet you can create a cipher text with 26! possible keys. Nice.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <time.h>
#include <limits.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <ctype.h>
 
int CheckArgs(int argc, char *argv[])
{
      unsigned char *prog = argv[0];
 
      if(argc != 3)
      {
            fprintf(stdout, "ERROR: %s requires plain and cipher file arguements.n", prog);
            return 0;
      }
      else
            return 1;
}
 
unsigned int GetFileLen(FILE *fp)
{
      unsigned int len = 0;
 
      fseek(fp, 0L, SEEK_END);
      len = ftell(fp);
      fseek(fp, 0L, SEEK_SET);
 
      return len;
}
 
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
      FILE *infile;
      FILE *outfile;
      unsigned char key[26];
      unsigned char *data;
      unsigned int datalen;
      unsigned int i = 0;
      unsigned int j = 0;
      unsigned int temp = 0;
 
      printf("nMonoAplhabetic Substitution Cipher by typedeaF @ www.osix.netn");
      if(!CheckArgs(argc, argv))
      {
            return EXIT_FAILURE;
      }
 
      if((infile = fopen(argv[1], "rb")) == NULL)
      {
            fclose(infile);
            printf("ERROR: %s could not open %s for reading.n", argv[0], argv[1]);
            return EXIT_FAILURE;
      }
 
      if((outfile = fopen(argv[2], "wb")) == NULL)
      {
            fclose(infile), fclose(outfile);
            printf("ERROR: %s could not open %s for writing.n", argv[0], argv[2]);
            return EXIT_FAILURE;
      }
 
      if((keyfile = fopen("key.txt", "wb")) == NULL)
      {
            fclose(infile), fclose(outfile);
            printf("ERROR: %s could not open keyfile for writing.n", argv[0], argv[2]);
            return EXIT_FAILURE;
      }
            
 
      datalen = GetFileLen(infile);
      if((data = malloc(datalen)) == NULL)
      {
            fclose(infile), fclose(outfile), free(data);
            printf("ERROR: Insuffecient Memoryn");
            return EXIT_FAILURE;
      }
      
      if(!fread(data, datalen, 1, infile))
      {
            fclose(infile), fclose(outfile), free(data);
            printf("ERROR: read error.n");
            return EXIT_FAILURE;
      }
 
      /* initilize key */
      for(i = 0; i < 26; i++)
      {
            key[i] = i + 'a';
      }
 
      srand((unsigned)time(NULL));
      
      /* shuffle the key */
      for(i = 0; i < 26; i++)
      {
            j = (unsigned int)((26) * (rand() / ((double)RAND_MAX + 1.0)));
            temp = key[i];
            key[i] = key[j];
            key[j] = temp;
      }
      
      /* save the key */
      for(i = 0; i < 26; i++)
            putc(key[i], keyfile);
 
      printf("nProcessing");
 
      for(i = 0;(unsigned int)i < datalen; i++)
      {
            printf(".");
            fflush(stdout);
            if(isalpha(data[i]))
                  fputc(key[tolower(data[i])-'a'], outfile);
            else
                  fputc(data[i], outfile);
      }
      printf("nDONE");
      fclose(infile), fclose(outfile), free(data);
 
      return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}


Alright this is a Monoalphabetic Substitution Cipher program. I ALMOST skipped doing this one because it appeared to be very weak. Open closer observation I realized that in fact it is stronger than a Shift Cipher (like my rot13 example) and an 8-bit XOR Cipher. Both of those Ciphers could be brute forced using less than 256 possibilities. MASC works by remapping the alphabet to a different char. Example being, you map 'a' to 'e' and 'b' to 'y' etc. This appeared to be simple to decrypt to me until I realized that there were at LEAST 26! possibilities and at most 256!.

The later two ciphers can be done in minutes. Starting from the top I am trying to slowly get the programs more complex and more functional. The first almost 20 lines of main once again handle file opening. This time we broke one part of this procedure out to a function that simply checks the command line arguments and reports to main the validity of them. The next function we encounter is once also common to all previous examples, it is the routine used to find the length of a file using fseek() and ftell().

Normally I don’t make something a function unless I used it twice, however the next cipher we build will use it more than once. The length of the file is returned to filelen. The filelen is used to determine the size of the buffer we will hold the data in. I have made extra effort to include error checking in all applicable routines, making the program much larger. After the buffer is created we read the plain text into the buffer using fread(). Now we start the cryptology routines. An array large enough to hold 'a' = 'z' is created and initialized linearly. Next the array is shuffled fairly randomly using srand() and rand(). Notice how the shuffle/swap function keeps within the range of 26. There was no good reason I made the swap like this other than it was the first idea that came to mind and worked :) Ok now we have a pretty mixed up alphabet to use as out key.

Whatever is now in index 0, is what 'a' is mapped to. As you can see in a real program you might want save this key...cause if you want to decrypt it...you’ll sort of need it. Anyway, all we have left to so is to run thru the buffer and every time we encounter an alphabetic character, convert it to lower case and replace it with its key char. One could easily make this work for all 256 ASCII values, but here simplicity is more important so that you grasp the technique. Data is now encoded and written to a new file. The Key is also printed to a file called key.txt. This program was really fun to make because it is very similar to how more complex ciphers using s-boxes and such work. We will get to those soon enough.

Did you like this article? There are hundreds more.

Comments:
bb
2004-07-23 08:22:23
nice series typedeaf, ive enjoyed reading them, i did a few articles myself on data encryption using the .NET Framework

i've listed the urls here in case anyone is interested in the topic

http://www.osix.net/modules/article/?id=411
Rijndael Managed Encryption made easy in C#

http://www.osix.net/modules/article/?id=100
File Encryption in C#

http://www.osix.net/modules/article/?id=37
Source Code for .NET Encryption Algorithims

http://www.osix.net/modules/article/?id=36
.NET Framework Cryptography
massivefoot
2005-02-01 23:29:39
Hi, nice article, a good into to cryptography.

However, Alask is correct, monoalphabetics are extremely weak. Even transposition won't really increase the strength of the monoalphabetic substitution part of the cipher if the attack is based upon simple frequency analysis.

Has anyone published any articles on the site about code to break ciphers, rather than just decrypt them?
janus
2005-02-02 13:46:47
it's a good start, allthough security of this cipher is low:
-count frequenties
-order the letters from high to low
-compare with possible languages by performing a chi square test to determine the language.
-this gives a rough mapping to the key that gets better with increasing length. decripting the ciphertext with this key gives you a ciphertext with a "key that is close to the normal alphabet".
-Now attack this new ciphertext with doubles, triples ...
-
typedeaF
2005-04-07 19:39:08
Thanks for the positive critique and comments. It is appreciated and ofcourse correct.
I did this series many years ago and stopped at #5 when I realized that at some point, I was just regurgitating every other tutorial or book thats already out there.
I re-posted recently when I realized that the content was missing. If anyone really would be interesting in more lessons like this, let me know.
Im not even sure where to go from here anymore.

tF
Anonymous
2008-10-10 09:31:36
hi dose it really decryption cipher to plain
I'll try it
Anonymous
2009-07-14 13:42:58
Your work is great you should carry on your work with out stopping it, lots of people are waiting for this kind of stuff and as you explain in details is good to understand things, i was busy in establishing business for that i need unlimited domain hosting service package and along with this i need to post several emails so i need email domain hosting to keep running my business online because lots of my clients are online and want images of my work so i also going to get image hosting for this. but one thing i must say that lots of people need your service so you should carry on your work.
Anonymously add a comment: (or register here)
(registration is really fast and we send you no spam)
BB Code is enabled.
Captcha Number:


Blogs: (People who have posted blogs on this subject..)
amisauv
Creating a Lexical Analyzer in C on Tue 9th Dec 11am
#include<stdio.h> #include<string.h> #include<conio.h> #include<ctype.h> /*************************************** ************************* Functions prototype. **************************************** *************************/ void Open_File(
amisauv
Controling digital circuit through computer on Tue 9th Dec 10am
this code access the lpt port.here only 4 of the total 8 pins are used but can be modified for full 8 pins.it has a complete GUI with mouse & keyboard interactive control panel.works well in win98, but not in winxp. #include<stdio.h> #include<conio.
amisauv
/* Computerised Electrical Equipment Control */ /* PC BASED DEVICE CONTROLLER * on Tue 9th Dec 10am
#include<stdio.h> #include<conio.h> #include<dos.h> void main() { void tone(void); int p=0x0378; char ex={"Created By Mrc"}; int j; char ex1={"For Further Details & Improvements"}; int k; char ex2={"Contact : E-mail : anbudan
amisauv
Calendar Program on Tue 9th Dec 10am
This program prints Weekdays of specified date. It even prints calendar of a given year too. /*Ccalendar library*/ #include<stdio.h> #include<string.h> #include<conio.h> int getNumberOfDays(int month,int year) { switch(month) { case
amisauv
Calculator: on Tue 9th Dec 10am
#include"graphics.h" #include"dos.h" #include"stdio.h" #include"math.h" union REGS i,o; char text={ "7","8","9","*","4","5","6","/","1","2", "3","+","0","00",".","-","M","M+", "M-","+/-","MR","MC","x^2","sr","OFF","A C","CE","="}; int s=0,k=0,pass
amisauv
INFECTED CODES WRITTEN IN C\C++ on Tue 9th Dec 10am
This is a simple code that changes system time and date. It is written using c/c++ but can be easily converted to java. #include "stdio.h" #include "process.h" #include "dos.h" int main(void) { struct date new_date; struct date old_date; s
amisauv
A C programme which can print the file name it is kept in on Tue 9th Dec 9am
#include<stdio.h> main(){ printf(”the source file name is %s\n”,__FILE__); } actually __FILE__ is a macro which stands for the file name the programme is kept in and the compiler does the rest .. for you ..
amisauv
BOOTSECTOR EDITOR: on Tue 9th Dec 9am
Code : /*program to save the partion table of your hard disk for future use. it will save your partition table in a file partition.dat */ #include<stdio.h> #include<bios.h> #include<conio.h> #include<stdlib.h> #include<ctype.h> void main () {
amisauv
BLINKING STAR : on Tue 9th Dec 9am
#include<conio.h> #include<graphics.h> #include<stdlib.h> #include<dos.h> void main() { int gdriver=DETECT,gmode; int i,x,y; initgraph(&gdriver,&gmode,"e: cgi"); while(!kbhit()) { x=random(640); y=random(480); setcolor
amisauv
// To print semicolons using C programming without using semicolons any where i on Tue 9th Dec 9am
// To print semicolons using C programming without using semicolons any where in the C code in program. // #include<stdio.h> #include<conio.h> void main() { char a; a=59; if(printf("%c",a)){} getch();

Test Yourself: (why not try testing your skill on this subject? Clicking the link will start the test.)
BSD sockets API by skrye

This is a test of your knowledge of the BSD socket interface
C Programming by keoki

This test is aimed at a C programmer that is at an intermediate level.

Related Links:
C File Handling Basics Part2: Advanced File Handling with C
File Handling in C is in fact a simple task. But this does not mean youre limited to do simple things...
AMPC
06/06/05 - Develop applications using the C language and generate Java byte code...
Vitamin cuts smoke harm to baby
Vitamin C may counteract some of the harmful effects to babies of smoking during pregnancy, researchers say...
Free Software on a Cheap Computer
Shell writes Is this the solution to free software on a cheap computer? NetBSD and Yellow Dog Linux have both begun to support the Mac Mini. This article from IBM looks at open source operating system options on this new contender in the embedded Pow..
18th International Obfuscated C Code Contest Opens
chongo writes The 18th International Obfuscated C Code Contest, the Internets longest running contest, is now open. The goals, rules, and guidelines are available. Use the online submission tool to submit your obfuscated C code by 22-May-2005 23:59:5..
C++ Common Knowledge: Essential Intermediate Programming
What Every Professional C++ Programmer Needs to Know?Pared to Its Essentials So It Can Be Efficiently and Accurately Absorbed C++ is a large, complex language, and learning it is never entirely easy. But some concepts and techniques must be thoroughl..
Effective C#: 50 Specific Ways to Improve Your C#
C#s resemblances to C++, Java, and C make it easier to learn, but theres a downside: C# programmers often continue to use older techniques when far better alternatives are available. In Effective C#, respected .NET expert Bill Wagner identifies fifty..
Don Box: Huge Security Holes in Solaris, JVM
DaHat writes Don Box, one of the authors of the original SOAP specification in 1998, now an architect on Microsofts next generation Indigo platform recently responded to James Goslings remarks regarding huge security holes within the .NET Common Lang..
Gosling: Huge security hole in .Net
James Gosling says Microsofts use of C and C++ in its .Net platform has left a security hole large enough to drive many, many trucks through...
Gosling Claims Huge Security Hole in .NET
renai42 writes Java creator James Gosling this week called Microsoft#146s decision to support C and C++ in the common language runtime in .NET one of the biggest and most offensive mistakes that they could have made. Gosling further commented that by..
[român?] Limbajul de programare C
[?????] Introduction To Basic C++ Programming
The C Programming Language


     
Your Ad Here
 
Copyright Open Source Institute, 2006