📸 Image-Steganography-CLI-Tool 🔐

A Python-based Image Steganography Command Line Tool that allows you to encrypt a secret message and embed it inside an image (PNG) using LSB steganography, and later extract & decrypt it securely using a password. This CLI tool is built for terminal users, automation, and security-focused experimentation, combining strong cryptography with invisible data hiding.

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🧱 Project Structure

Image-Steganography-CLI-Tool/
│
├── assets/             # Screenshots
├── main.py             # Basic CLI application
├── interactive.py      # Rich CLI Version
├── requirements.txt    # Project Dependancies
└── README.md           # Project documentation

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✨ Features

🔐 Encryption & Embedding

• Encrypts message using Fernet (AES-128 encryption)
• Derives key from password using PBKDF2-HMAC (SHA256)
• Embeds encrypted payload into WAV audio using LSB (Least Significant Bit)
• Supports:
  • Direct text input
  • Message from file

🔓 Extraction & Decryption

• Extracts embedded payload from WAV
• Uses stored salt to regenerate the Fernet key
• Decrypts message securely
• Outputs decrypted message to:
  • Terminal or
  • File

🎨 Rich CLI Interface

• Colored terminal output
• Structured key display tables
• Styled panels for encoding/decoding results
• Better user experience and readability

⚡ Dual Mode Support

• 🧼 Basic CLI → Lightweight, no dependencies
• 🎨 Rich CLI → Enhanced UI with colors and panels

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🛠 Technologies Used

Technology	Purpose
Python 3	Core language
argparse	CLI argument parsing
Pillow (PIL)	Image processing
cryptography (Fernet + PBKDF2HMAC)	Secure encryption
LSB Steganography	Data hiding technique
struct / secrets / base64	Payload & cryptographic helpers
Rich	Interactive CLI interface

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▶️ How to Run

1️⃣ Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/ShakalBhau0001/Image-Steganography-CLI-Tool.git

2️⃣ Enter the project directory

cd Image-Steganography-CLI-Tool

3️⃣ Install Dependencies

pip install rich cryptography pillow

OR

pip install -r requirements.txt

4️⃣ Running the Project

Basic CLI Version

python main.py

Rich Interactive Version

python interactive.py

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▶️ Usage

🔐 Encrypt & Embed

1. Text Encrypt & Embed

python main.py encrypt --in-image cover.png --out-image stego.png --password mypass --message "secret"

python main.py encrypt --in-image inputfile.png --out-image outputfile.png --password yourpassword --message "Enter Your Secret Message"

2. Text File Encrypt & Embed

python main.py encrypt --in-image cover.png --out-image stego.png --password mypass --message-file secret.txt

python main.py encrypt --in-image inputfile.png --out-image outputfile.png --password yourpassword --message-file Add Your Secret txt file

🔓 Decrypt & Extract

1. Text Decrypt & Extract

python main.py decrypt --in-image stego.png --password mypass

python main.py decrypt --in-image outputfile.png --password yourpassword

2. Text File Decrypt & Extract

python main.py decrypt --in-image stego.png --password mypass123 --out-file output.txt

python main.py decrypt --in-image outputfile.png --password yourpassword --out-file filename.txt

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📁 Supported Formats

• Input Image: PNG / RGB or RGBA images
• Output Image: PNG (RGBA)
• Message Type:
  • UTF-8 text
  • Binary files (via --message-file)

⚠️ Payload size depends on image resolution. Small images may not support large messages.

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⚙️ How It Works

1️⃣ Key Derivation

• Password → PBKDF2-HMAC(SHA256, 390k iterations) → 32-byte key → Fernet key

2️⃣ Encryption

• Message encrypted using Fernet
• Payload format:

  [STEG][16-byte salt][4-byte length][encrypted data]

3️⃣ Embedding

• Each bit of payload embedded into:

  • LSB of R, G, B channels

• Alpha channel remains untouched

• Image visually unchanged

4️⃣ Extraction

• Reads LSB bits
• Reconstructs payload
• Validates MAGIC header
• Regenerates key from password + salt
• Decrypts message

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⚠️ Common Errors

• Wrong password → Fernet Decryption fails
• Wrong image → MAGIC header not found
• Small image → Payload too large
• Corrupted stego image → Payload integrity error

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🌟 Future Enhancements

• Auto capacity detection before embedding
• Progress indicator for large images
• Support for JPEG (with DCT-based steganography)
• Multi-file embedding
• Optional compression before encryption

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📦 Extended Version

This repository focuses on a specific steganography technique implemented as a command-line (CLI) learning project.

The goal of this project is to:

• Understand how steganography works at a practical level
• Experiment with data hiding techniques
• Learn how CLI-based security tools are structured

For a more advanced and combined implementation that includes:

• Image steganography
• Audio steganography
• File encryption support

please refer to:

🔗 StegaVault-CLI

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⚠️ Disclaimer

This project is intended for educational and research purposes only.

It is not designed for real-world secure communication. Steganography alone does not guarantee secrecy and should not be considered a replacement for proper cryptographic security.

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📸 Preview

1. Encryption

2. Decryption

3. Info

4. Exit

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🪪 Author

Creator: Shakal Bhau

GitHub: ShakalBhau0001

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⭐ Support

If you like this project, consider giving it a ⭐ on GitHub!

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