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EVP_PKEY_SIZE(3) Library Functions Manual EVP_PKEY_SIZE(3)

EVP_PKEY_size, EVP_PKEY_bits, EVP_PKEY_security_bitsEVP_PKEY information functions

#include <openssl/evp.h>

int
EVP_PKEY_size(const EVP_PKEY *pkey);

int
EVP_PKEY_bits(const EVP_PKEY *pkey);

int
EVP_PKEY_security_bits(const EVP_PKEY *pkey);

() returns the maximum size in bytes needed for the output buffer for almost any operation that can be done with pkey. The primary use is with EVP_SignFinal(3) and EVP_SealInit(3). The returned size is also large enough for the output buffer of EVP_PKEY_sign(3), EVP_PKEY_encrypt(3), EVP_PKEY_decrypt(3), and EVP_PKEY_derive(3).

Unless the documentation for the operation says otherwise, the size returned by () is only an upper limit and the final content of the target buffer may be smaller. It is therefore crucial to take note of the size given back by the function that performs the operation. For example, EVP_PKEY_sign(3) returns that length in the *siglen argument.

Using () is discouraged with EVP_DigestSignFinal(3).

Most functions using an output buffer support passing NULL for the buffer and a pointer to an integer to get the exact size that this function call delivers in the context that it is called in. This allows those functions to be called twice, once to find out the exact buffer size, then allocate the buffer in between, and call that function again to actually output the data. For those functions, it isn't strictly necessary to call () to find out the buffer size, but it may still be useful in cases where it's desirable to know the upper limit in advance.

By default, () is supported for the following algorithms:

same result as from:
CMAC = 32
DH DH_size(3)
DSA DSA_size(3)
EC ECDSA_size(3)
ED25519 64, but see below
HMAC = 64
RSA RSA_size(3)
X25519 = 32

For EVP_PKEY_ED25519, the situation is special: while the key size is ED25519_KEYLEN = 32 bytes, () returns 64 because the signature is longer than the keys.

The application program can support additional algorithms by calling EVP_PKEY_asn1_set_public(3).

() returns the cryptographic length of the cryptosystem to which the key in pkey belongs, in bits. The definition of cryptographic length is specific to the key cryptosystem. By default, the following algorithms are supported:

cryptographic length = same result as from:
significant bits in ...
DH the public domain parameter p DH_bits(3)
DSA the public domain parameter p DSA_bits(3)
EC the order of the group EC_GROUP_order_bits(3)
ED25519 253
RSA the public modulus RSA_bits(3)
X25519 253

The application program can support additional algorithms by calling EVP_PKEY_asn1_set_public(3).

() returns the security strength measured in bits of the given pkey as defined in NIST SP800-57. By default, the following algorithms are supported:

same result as from:
DH DH_security_bits(3)
DSA DSA_security_bits(3)
EC EC_GROUP_order_bits(3) divided by 2
ED25519 128
RSA RSA_security_bits(3)
X25519 128

For EC keys, if the result is greater than 80, it is rounded down to 256, 192, 128, 112, or 80.

The application program can support additional algorithms by calling EVP_PKEY_asn1_set_security_bits(3).

EVP_PKEY_size() and EVP_PKEY_bits() return a positive number or 0 if this size isn't available.

EVP_PKEY_security_bits() returns a number in the range from 0 to 256 inclusive or -2 if this function is unsupported for the algorithm used by pkey. It returns 0 if pkey is NULL.

EVP_PKEY_decrypt(3), EVP_PKEY_derive(3), EVP_PKEY_encrypt(3), EVP_PKEY_new(3), EVP_PKEY_sign(3), EVP_SealInit(3), EVP_SignFinal(3)

EVP_PKEY_size() first appeared in SSLeay 0.6.0 and EVP_PKEY_bits() in SSLeay 0.9.0. Both functions have been available since OpenBSD 2.4.

EVP_PKEY_security_bits() first appeared in OpenSSL 1.1.0 and has been available since OpenBSD 7.2.

March 5, 2024 OpenBSD-current