HMACSHA256 Class

Definition

Namespace:

System.Security.Cryptography

Assembly:

System.Security.Cryptography.dll

Source:

HMACSHA256.cs

Computes a Hash-based Message Authentication Code (HMAC) by using the SHA256 hash function.

public ref class HMACSHA256 : System::Security::Cryptography::HMAC

public class HMACSHA256 : System.Security.Cryptography.HMAC

type HMACSHA256 = class
    inherit HMAC

Public Class HMACSHA256
Inherits HMAC

Inheritance

Object

HashAlgorithm

KeyedHashAlgorithm

HMAC

HMACSHA256

Examples

The following example shows how to sign a file by using the HMACSHA256 object and then how to verify the file.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::IO;
using namespace System::Security::Cryptography;

// Computes a keyed hash for a source file, creates a target file with the keyed hash
// prepended to the contents of the source file, then decodes the file and compares
// the source and the decoded files.
void EncodeFile( array<Byte>^key, String^ sourceFile, String^ destFile )
{
   
   // Initialize the keyed hash object.
   HMACSHA256^ myhmacsha256 = gcnew HMACSHA256( key );
   FileStream^ inStream = gcnew FileStream( sourceFile,FileMode::Open );
   FileStream^ outStream = gcnew FileStream( destFile,FileMode::Create );
   
   // Compute the hash of the input file.
   array<Byte>^hashValue = myhmacsha256->ComputeHash( inStream );
   
   // Reset inStream to the beginning of the file.
   inStream->Position = 0;
   
   // Write the computed hash value to the output file.
   outStream->Write( hashValue, 0, hashValue->Length );
   
   // Copy the contents of the sourceFile to the destFile.
   int bytesRead;
   
   // read 1K at a time
   array<Byte>^buffer = gcnew array<Byte>(1024);
   do
   {
      
      // Read from the wrapping CryptoStream.
      bytesRead = inStream->Read( buffer, 0, 1024 );
      outStream->Write( buffer, 0, bytesRead );
   }
   while ( bytesRead > 0 );

   myhmacsha256->Clear();
   
   // Close the streams
   inStream->Close();
   outStream->Close();
   return;
} // end EncodeFile



// Decode the encoded file and compare to original file.
bool DecodeFile( array<Byte>^key, String^ sourceFile )
{
   
   // Initialize the keyed hash object. 
   HMACSHA256^ hmacsha256 = gcnew HMACSHA256( key );
   
   // Create an array to hold the keyed hash value read from the file.
   array<Byte>^storedHash = gcnew array<Byte>(hmacsha256->HashSize / 8);
   
   // Create a FileStream for the source file.
   FileStream^ inStream = gcnew FileStream( sourceFile,FileMode::Open );
   
   // Read in the storedHash.
   inStream->Read( storedHash, 0, storedHash->Length );
   
   // Compute the hash of the remaining contents of the file.
   // The stream is properly positioned at the beginning of the content, 
   // immediately after the stored hash value.
   array<Byte>^computedHash = hmacsha256->ComputeHash( inStream );
   
   // compare the computed hash with the stored value
   bool err = false;
   for ( int i = 0; i < storedHash->Length; i++ )
   {
      if ( computedHash[ i ] != storedHash[ i ] )
      {
         err = true;
      }
   }
   if (err)
        {
            Console::WriteLine("Hash values differ! Encoded file has been tampered with!");
            return false;
        }
        else
        {
            Console::WriteLine("Hash values agree -- no tampering occurred.");
            return true;
        }

} //end DecodeFile


int main()
{
   array<String^>^Fileargs = Environment::GetCommandLineArgs();
   String^ usageText = "Usage: HMACSHA256 inputfile.txt encodedfile.hsh\nYou must specify the two file names. Only the first file must exist.\n";
   
   //If no file names are specified, write usage text.
   if ( Fileargs->Length < 3 )
   {
      Console::WriteLine( usageText );
   }
   else
   {
      try
      {
         
         // Create a random key using a random number generator. This would be the
         //  secret key shared by sender and receiver.
         array<Byte>^secretkey = gcnew array<Byte>(64);
         
         RandomNumberGenerator^ rng = RandomNumberGenerator::Create();
         
         // The array is now filled with cryptographically strong random bytes.
         rng->GetBytes( secretkey );
         
         // Use the secret key to encode the message file.
         EncodeFile( secretkey, Fileargs[ 1 ], Fileargs[ 2 ] );
         
         // Take the encoded file and decode
         DecodeFile( secretkey, Fileargs[ 2 ] );
      }
      catch ( IOException^ e ) 
      {
         Console::WriteLine( "Error: File not found", e );
      }

   }
} //end main

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Security.Cryptography;

public class HMACSHA256example
{

    public static void Main(string[] Fileargs)
    {
        string dataFile;
        string signedFile;
        //If no file names are specified, create them.
        if (Fileargs.Length < 2)
        {
            dataFile = @"text.txt";
            signedFile = "signedFile.enc";

            if (!File.Exists(dataFile))
            {
                // Create a file to write to.
                using (StreamWriter sw = File.CreateText(dataFile))
                {
                    sw.WriteLine("Here is a message to sign");
                }
            }
        }
        else
        {
            dataFile = Fileargs[0];
            signedFile = Fileargs[1];
        }
        try
        {
            // Create a random key using a random number generator. This would be the
            //  secret key shared by sender and receiver.
            byte[] secretkey = new Byte[64];

            using (RandomNumberGenerator rng = RandomNumberGenerator.Create())
            {
                // The array is now filled with cryptographically strong random bytes.
                rng.GetBytes(secretkey);

                // Use the secret key to sign the message file.
                SignFile(secretkey, dataFile, signedFile);

                // Verify the signed file
                VerifyFile(secretkey, signedFile);
            }
        }
        catch (IOException e)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Error: File not found", e);
        }
    }  //end main
    // Computes a keyed hash for a source file and creates a target file with the keyed hash
    // prepended to the contents of the source file.
    public static void SignFile(byte[] key, String sourceFile, String destFile)
    {
        // Initialize the keyed hash object.
        using (HMACSHA256 hmac = new HMACSHA256(key))
        {
            using (FileStream inStream = new FileStream(sourceFile, FileMode.Open))
            {
                using (FileStream outStream = new FileStream(destFile, FileMode.Create))
                {
                    // Compute the hash of the input file.
                    byte[] hashValue = hmac.ComputeHash(inStream);
                    // Reset inStream to the beginning of the file.
                    inStream.Position = 0;
                    // Write the computed hash value to the output file.
                    outStream.Write(hashValue, 0, hashValue.Length);
                    // Copy the contents of the sourceFile to the destFile.
                    int bytesRead;
                    // read 1K at a time
                    byte[] buffer = new byte[1024];
                    do
                    {
                        // Read from the wrapping CryptoStream.
                        bytesRead = inStream.Read(buffer, 0, 1024);
                        outStream.Write(buffer, 0, bytesRead);
                    } while (bytesRead > 0);
                }
            }
        }
        return;
    } // end SignFile

    // Compares the key in the source file with a new key created for the data portion of the file. If the keys
    // compare the data has not been tampered with.
    public static bool VerifyFile(byte[] key, String sourceFile)
    {
        bool err = false;
        // Initialize the keyed hash object.
        using (HMACSHA256 hmac = new HMACSHA256(key))
        {
            // Create an array to hold the keyed hash value read from the file.
            byte[] storedHash = new byte[hmac.HashSize / 8];
            // Create a FileStream for the source file.
            using (FileStream inStream = new FileStream(sourceFile, FileMode.Open))
            {
                // Read in the storedHash.
                inStream.Read(storedHash, 0, storedHash.Length);
                // Compute the hash of the remaining contents of the file.
                // The stream is properly positioned at the beginning of the content,
                // immediately after the stored hash value.
                byte[] computedHash = hmac.ComputeHash(inStream);
                // compare the computed hash with the stored value

                for (int i = 0; i < storedHash.Length; i++)
                {
                    if (computedHash[i] != storedHash[i])
                    {
                        err = true;
                    }
                }
            }
        }
        if (err)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Hash values differ! Signed file has been tampered with!");
            return false;
        }
        else
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Hash values agree -- no tampering occurred.");
            return true;
        }
    } //end VerifyFile
} //end class

Imports System.IO
Imports System.Security.Cryptography

Public Class HMACSHA256example

    Public Shared Sub Main(ByVal Fileargs() As String)
        Dim dataFile As String
        Dim signedFile As String
        'If no file names are specified, create them.
        If Fileargs.Length < 2 Then
            dataFile = "text.txt"
            signedFile = "signedFile.enc"

            If Not File.Exists(dataFile) Then
                ' Create a file to write to.
                Using sw As StreamWriter = File.CreateText(dataFile)
                    sw.WriteLine("Here is a message to sign")
                End Using
            End If

        Else
            dataFile = Fileargs(0)
            signedFile = Fileargs(1)
        End If
        Try
            ' Create a random key using a random number generator. This would be the
            '  secret key shared by sender and receiver.
            Dim secretkey() As Byte = New [Byte](63) {}

            Using rng As RandomNumberGenerator = RandomNumberGenerator.Create()
                ' The array is now filled with cryptographically strong random bytes.
                rng.GetBytes(secretkey)

                ' Use the secret key to encode the message file.
                SignFile(secretkey, dataFile, signedFile)

                ' Take the encoded file and decode
                VerifyFile(secretkey, signedFile)
            End Using
        Catch e As IOException
            Console.WriteLine("Error: File not found", e)
        End Try

    End Sub

    ' Computes a keyed hash for a source file and creates a target file with the keyed hash
    ' prepended to the contents of the source file. 
    Public Shared Sub SignFile(ByVal key() As Byte, ByVal sourceFile As String, ByVal destFile As String)
        ' Initialize the keyed hash object.
        Using myhmac As New HMACSHA256(key)
            Using inStream As New FileStream(sourceFile, FileMode.Open)
                Using outStream As New FileStream(destFile, FileMode.Create)
                    ' Compute the hash of the input file.
                    Dim hashValue As Byte() = myhmac.ComputeHash(inStream)
                    ' Reset inStream to the beginning of the file.
                    inStream.Position = 0
                    ' Write the computed hash value to the output file.
                    outStream.Write(hashValue, 0, hashValue.Length)
                    ' Copy the contents of the sourceFile to the destFile.
                    Dim bytesRead As Integer
                    ' read 1K at a time
                    Dim buffer(1023) As Byte
                    Do
                        ' Read from the wrapping CryptoStream.
                        bytesRead = inStream.Read(buffer, 0, 1024)
                        outStream.Write(buffer, 0, bytesRead)
                    Loop While bytesRead > 0
                End Using
            End Using
        End Using
        Return

    End Sub
    ' end SignFile

    ' Compares the key in the source file with a new key created for the data portion of the file. If the keys 
    ' compare the data has not been tampered with.
    Public Shared Function VerifyFile(ByVal key() As Byte, ByVal sourceFile As String) As Boolean
        Dim err As Boolean = False
        ' Initialize the keyed hash object. 
        Using hmac As New HMACSHA256(key)
            ' Create an array to hold the keyed hash value read from the file.
            Dim storedHash(hmac.HashSize / 8 - 1) As Byte
            ' Create a FileStream for the source file.
            Using inStream As New FileStream(sourceFile, FileMode.Open)
                ' Read in the storedHash.
                inStream.Read(storedHash, 0, storedHash.Length - 1)
                ' Compute the hash of the remaining contents of the file.
                ' The stream is properly positioned at the beginning of the content, 
                ' immediately after the stored hash value.
                Dim computedHash As Byte() = hmac.ComputeHash(inStream)
                ' compare the computed hash with the stored value
                Dim i As Integer
                For i = 0 To storedHash.Length - 2
                    If computedHash(i) <> storedHash(i) Then
                        err = True
                    End If
                Next i
            End Using
        End Using
        If err Then
            Console.WriteLine("Hash values differ! Signed file has been tampered with!")
            Return False
        Else
            Console.WriteLine("Hash values agree -- no tampering occurred.")
            Return True
        End If

    End Function 'VerifyFile 
End Class
'end class

Remarks

HMACSHA256 is a type of keyed hash algorithm that is constructed from the SHA-256 hash function and used as a Hash-based Message Authentication Code (HMAC). The HMAC process mixes a secret key with the message data, hashes the result with the hash function, mixes that hash value with the secret key again, and then applies the hash function a second time. The output hash is 256 bits in length.

An HMAC can be used to determine whether a message sent over an insecure channel has been tampered with, provided that the sender and receiver share a secret key. The sender computes the hash value for the original data and sends both the original data and hash value as a single message. The receiver recalculates the hash value on the received message and checks that the computed HMAC matches the transmitted HMAC.

Any change to the data or the hash value results in a mismatch, because knowledge of the secret key is required to change the message and reproduce the correct hash value. Therefore, if the original and computed hash values match, the message is authenticated.

HMACSHA256 accepts keys of any size, and produces a hash sequence 256 bits in length.

Constructors

HMACSHA256()	Initializes a new instance of the HMACSHA256 class with a randomly generated key.
HMACSHA256(Byte[])	Initializes a new instance of the HMACSHA256 class with the specified key data.

Fields

HashSizeInBits	The hash size produced by the HMAC SHA256 algorithm, in bits.
HashSizeInBytes	The hash size produced by the HMAC SHA256 algorithm, in bytes.
HashSizeValue	Represents the size, in bits, of the computed hash code. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
HashValue	Represents the value of the computed hash code. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
KeyValue	The key to use in the hash algorithm. (Inherited from KeyedHashAlgorithm)
State	Represents the state of the hash computation. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)

Properties

BlockSizeValue	Gets or sets the block size to use in the hash value. (Inherited from HMAC)
CanReuseTransform	Gets a value indicating whether the current transform can be reused. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
CanTransformMultipleBlocks	When overridden in a derived class, gets a value indicating whether multiple blocks can be transformed. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
Hash	Gets the value of the computed hash code. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
HashName	Gets or sets the name of the hash algorithm to use for hashing. (Inherited from HMAC)
HashSize	Gets the size, in bits, of the computed hash code. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
InputBlockSize	When overridden in a derived class, gets the input block size. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
Key	Gets or sets the key to use in the HMAC calculation.
OutputBlockSize	When overridden in a derived class, gets the output block size. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)

Methods

Clear()	Releases all resources used by the HashAlgorithm class. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
ComputeHash(Byte[], Int32, Int32)	Computes the hash value for the specified region of the specified byte array. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
ComputeHash(Byte[])	Computes the hash value for the specified byte array. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
ComputeHash(Stream)	Computes the hash value for the specified Stream object. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
ComputeHashAsync(Stream, CancellationToken)	Asynchronously computes the hash value for the specified Stream object. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
Dispose()	Releases all resources used by the current instance of the HashAlgorithm class. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
Dispose(Boolean)	Releases the unmanaged resources used by the HMACSHA256 and optionally releases the managed resources.
Equals(Object)	Determines whether the specified object is equal to the current object. (Inherited from Object)
GetHashCode()	Serves as the default hash function. (Inherited from Object)
GetType()	Gets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object)
HashCore(Byte[], Int32, Int32)	Routes data written to the object into the HMAC algorithm for computing the HMAC.
HashCore(ReadOnlySpan<Byte>)	Routes data written to the object into the HMAC algorithm for computing the HMAC.
HashData(Byte[], Byte[])	Computes the HMAC of data using the SHA256 algorithm.
HashData(Byte[], Stream)	Computes the HMAC of a stream using the SHA256 algorithm.
HashData(ReadOnlySpan<Byte>, ReadOnlySpan<Byte>, Span<Byte>)	Computes the HMAC of data using the SHA256 algorithm.
HashData(ReadOnlySpan<Byte>, ReadOnlySpan<Byte>)	Computes the HMAC of data using the SHA256 algorithm.
HashData(ReadOnlySpan<Byte>, Stream, Span<Byte>)	Computes the HMAC of a stream using the SHA256 algorithm.
HashData(ReadOnlySpan<Byte>, Stream)	Computes the HMAC of a stream using the SHA256 algorithm.
HashDataAsync(Byte[], Stream, CancellationToken)	Asynchronously computes the HMAC of a stream using the SHA256 algorithm.
HashDataAsync(ReadOnlyMemory<Byte>, Stream, CancellationToken)	Asynchronously computes the HMAC of a stream using the SHA256 algorithm.
HashDataAsync(ReadOnlyMemory<Byte>, Stream, Memory<Byte>, CancellationToken)	Asynchronously computes the HMAC of a stream using the SHA256 algorithm.
HashFinal()	Finalizes the HMAC computation after the last data is processed by the algorithm.
Initialize()	Resets the hash algorithm to its initial state.
MemberwiseClone()	Creates a shallow copy of the current Object. (Inherited from Object)
ToString()	Returns a string that represents the current object. (Inherited from Object)
TransformBlock(Byte[], Int32, Int32, Byte[], Int32)	Computes the hash value for the specified region of the input byte array and copies the specified region of the input byte array to the specified region of the output byte array. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
TransformFinalBlock(Byte[], Int32, Int32)	Computes the hash value for the specified region of the specified byte array. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
TryComputeHash(ReadOnlySpan<Byte>, Span<Byte>, Int32)	Attempts to compute the hash value for the specified byte array. (Inherited from HashAlgorithm)
TryHashData(ReadOnlySpan<Byte>, ReadOnlySpan<Byte>, Span<Byte>, Int32)	Attempts to compute the HMAC of data using the SHA256 algorithm.
TryHashFinal(Span<Byte>, Int32)	Attempts to finalize the HMAC computation after the last data is processed by the HMAC algorithm.

See also

• Cryptographic Services