"ROOT All The Things!"
Makes a CA PEM file correctly in the fewest steps possible.
- so simple, it makes self-signed certificates;
- so flexible, it creates the widest variety of PEM files.
- so advanced, that I used it to recreate a big Internet full of secured websites in my closed-network lab.
Beats EasyRSA. Beats all online CA providers. Definitely beats using OpenSSL directly.
That's how simple it should be to create a CA ecosystem:
tls-ca-manage.sh create -t root MyPrivateRootCA
tls-ca-manage.sh create -p MyPrivateRootCA -t intermediate my-intermediate-ca
tls-cert-manage.sh create my-web-site server my-intermediate-ca
Certificate Authority Management tool is witten in bash shell. Runs on any platform that runs OpenSSL v1.1.1 or v3.0
If you have ANY of the following:
- befuddle by myriad of OpenSSL CLI options, particularly encryption
- perplex by how to cross-set the numerous settings between sections within and between the OpenSSL configuration files.
- a white lab or clean room
- many CA nodes needed
- have a private TLD domain name and infrastructure
- have custom CA directory layouts to maintain
- Experiment with highest-encryption CA nodes.
- On a power-trip to having your very own Root CA
- Use 802.1AR to secure HW nodes on network
- Experimenting with SmartCard and PKCS#15.
- Work with PKCS#7, PKCS#8, PKCS#10, PKCS#12, PKCS#15.
Fret no more, this tool may help you. I did all the hard work and made it easy to support the following features:
- Different multi-directory layouts:
- centralized or OpenSSL traditional
- Nested CA or flat
- friendly error-free data entry of all combinations of crypto settings
- Digest algorithms:
- SHA512, SHA384, SHA256, SHA3-256, SHA3-224, SHA1, MD5
- Cipher algorithms
- aes128, aes256, aes-256-cbc, aes-128-cbc, des-ede3-cbc, camellia-256-cbc
- Encryption algorithms
- RSA, ECDSA, ED25519, POLY1305
- Encryption bit size
- 4096, 2048, 1024, 521, 512, 384, 256, 224, 192, 128
- No UNIX root account required (enforces
ssl-certsupplemental group) - see actual commands and argument settings via verbosity level
- And lastly, correct generation of
openssl.cnffile with all sections properly crossreferences to each other as well as to other CA nodes' configuration file.
sudo chown root:ssl-cert /etc/ssl
sudo chmod g rxw,o-rwx /etc/ssl
sudo cp ./tls-ca-managed /usr/local/bin
No install script purposely given here; this is serious admin effort here. May impact other servers' improperly configured but direct access to /etc/ssl.
My belief is that /etc/ssl was never intended for a direct access by end-servers' need for TLS/SSL; just a holding area of certificates.
I've tried to give 'ssl-cert' group access to end-server(s) then I realized that would be giving away the TLS/SSL store too much.
You create the appropriate 'private' subdirectory in each of the end-server's /etc// and COPY their server-specific certs over to there.
The example setups are given in following sections:
- Creating Root CA node
- Creating Intermediate CA node
- Creating 2nd Intermediate CA node
- Renew Root CA node
- Renew Intermediate CA node
- Encrypt using ChaCha20-Poly1305
- Encrypt using Elliptic Curve
Bash! Flexible! Wrapping complex PKI trees using complex OpenSSL commands into a simple command line.
There are OpenSSL encryption options that don't play well with other digest or bitsize settings. It started out with parameter validation and explicitly telling you what options you can used with which (none of that man pages and connecting the dots there).
Wait, there's more.
File organization for nested CAs also come in two flavors:
- flat
- nested-tree
At first, I defaulted it to this nested-tree because OpenSSL team seems to like this, until a new layout came along.
Later, I ran into an awesome webpage on Expert PKI (diagram and all). But I noticed the new directory layout (diametrically different than traditional OpenSSL directory layout). I'm going to call it the 'centralized' directory layout. Edited: I've later learned that Sweden .se TLD team effort is behind this design.
I too incorporated the new centralized directory layout into this tls-ca-manage.sh tool. It could do either approach. I defaulted it to the new centralized ones.
All details regarding directory layouts are given here: CA_DIRECTORY_LAYOUTS
Even with a carefully crafted OpenSSL configuration file, it is a hair-pulling experience to use the command line (especially 6-month later when you forget all those little things).
It is so bad that even EasyRSA has a problem staying current with the OpenSSL versions. I wanted to avoid all that dependency of OpenSSL version (after starting with its v1.1.1, due to introduction of openssl genpkey command).
Also, tls-ca-manage/tls-cert-manage cannot mix node type to a single end-node, for that would make its end-node too over-privileged. Make a unique single-type 'endnode' for each cert type.
This doesn't work:
tls-ca-manage.sh create -p root -t root root
tls-ca-manage.sh create -p root -t endnode mycompany_intca
# splitting a CA into multiple functions (bad)
tls-cert-manage.sh create mycompany_servers server mycompany_intca
tls-cert-manage.sh create mycompany_emails server mycompany_intca
This works best:
tls-ca-manage.sh create -p root -t root root
# making an endnode CA into a unique function (good)
tls-ca-manage.sh create -p root -t email mycompany_emails
tls-ca-manage.sh create -p root -t server mycompany_servers
# each cert type has its own CA (good)
tls-cert-manage.sh create fred_flintsone email mycompany_emails
So, to make it easy, the syntax is about the CA node itself; A simple filename for a simple CA node.
Coupled that with three basic commands: Create, renew, and verify.
Full syntax is:
Usage: ./tls-ca-manage.sh
[ --help|-h ] [ --verbosity|-v ] [ --force-delete|-f ]
[ --base-dir|-b <ssl-directory-path> ]
[ --algorithm|-a [rsa|ed25519|ecdsa|poly1305] ]
[ --message-digest|-m [sha512|sha384|sha256|sha224|sha3-256|
sha3-224|sha3-512|sha1|md5] ]
[ --keysize|-k [4096, 2048, 1024, 512, 256] ]
[ --serial|-s <num> ] # (default: 1000)
[ --group|-g <group-name> ] # (default: ssl-cert)
[ --openssl|-o <openssl-binary-filespec ] # (default: /usr/local/bin/openssl)
[ --parent-ca|-p ] [-t|--ca-type <ca-type>] [ --traditional|-T ]
< create | renew | revoke | verify | help >
<ca-name>
<ca-type>: standalone, root, intermediate, network, identity, component,
server, client, email, ocsp, timestamping, security, codesign
Default settings:
Top-level SSL directory: /etc/ssl Cipher: rsa
Digest: sha256 Keysize: 4096
A front-end tool to OpenSSL that enables creation, renewal, revocation, and verification of Certificate Authorities (CA).
CA can be Root CA or Intermediate CA.
Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.
-a, --algorithm
Selects the cipher algorithm.
Valid algorithms are: rsa, ecdsa, poly1305 OR ed25519
These value are case-sensitive.
If no algorithm specified, then RSA is used by default.
-b, --base-dir
The top-level directory of SSL, typically /etc/ssl
Useful for testing this command in non-root shell
or maintaining SSL certs elsewhere (other than /etc/ssl).
-c, --cipher
Specify the encryption method of the PEM key file in
which to protect the key with. Default is plaintext file.
-f, --force-delete
Forces deletion of its specified CA's configuration file
as pointed to by CA-NAME argument.
-g, --group
Use this Unix group name for all files created or updated.
Default is ssl-cert group.
-h, --help
-i, --intermediate-node
Makes this CA the intermediate node where additional CA(s)
can be branched from this CA. Root CA is also an intermediate
node but top-level, self-signed intermediate node.
Not specifying --intermediate-node option means that this CA
cannot borne any additional CA branches and can only sign
other certificates.
Dictacts the presence of 'pathlen=0' in basicConstraints
during the CA Certificate Request stage.
Not specifying --parent-ca and not specifying --intermediate-node
means this certificate is a self-signed standalone
test certificate which cannot sign any other certificate.
If --intermediate-node and no --parent-ca, creates your Root CA.
-k, --key-size
Specifies the number of bits in the key. The choice of key
size depends on the algorithm (-a) used.
The key size does not need to be specified if using a default
algorithm. The default key size is 4096 bits.
Key size for ed25519 algorithm gets ignored here.
Valid poly1305 key sizes are:
Valid rsa key sizes are: 4096, 2048, 1024 or 512.
Valid ecdsa key sizes are: 521, 384, 256, 224 or 192.
-m, --message-digest
blake2b512 blake2s256 gost md4
md5 rmd160 sha1 sha224
sha256 sha3-224 sha3-256 sha3-384
sha3-512 sha384 sha512 sha512-224
sha512-256 shake128 shake256 sm3
-n, --nested-ca
First chaining of first-level CAs are placed in subdirectory inside
its Root CA directory, and subsequent chaining of second-level CA
get nesting also in subdirectory inside its respective Intermediate
CA directory. Very few organizations use this.
-p, --parent-ca
Specifies the Parent CA name. It may often be the Root CA name
or sometimes the Intermediate CA name. The Parent CA name is
the same CA-NAME used when creating the parent CA.
-r, --reason
Specifies the reason for the revocation.
The value can be one of the following: unspecified,
keyCompromise, CACompromise, affiliationChanged,
superseded, cessationOfOperation, certificateHold,
and removeFromCRL. (from RFC5280)
Used only with 'revoke' command
-s, --serial
Specifies the starting serial ID number to use in the certificate.
The default serial ID is 1000 HEXI-decimal. Format of number are
stored and handled in hexidecimal format of even number length.
-t, --ca-type
Specifies the type of CA node that this is going to be:
root - Top-most Root node of CA tree
intermediate - Middle node of CA tree
security - Signing CA for security plant
component - Generic signing CA for network
network - Generic signing CA for network
End-nodes are:
standalone - self-signed test certificate
server - TLS server: Web server, MTA, VPN, IMAP, POP3, 802.1ar
client - TLS client:
ocsp - OCSP
email - Encryption part of SMTP body
identity - Signing CA for Microsoft SmartCard identity
encryption - Microsoft Encrypted File System (msEFS)
codesign - Signed executable code
timestamping - ANSI X9.95 TimeStamping (RFC3161)
-T, --traditional
Indicates the standard OpenSSL directory layout.
Default is to use the new centralized directory layout.
-v, --verbosity
Sets the debugging level.
Makes one assumption: that the openssl.cnf is ALWAYS the filename (never tweaked) Just that different directory has different openssl.cnf
Enforces 'ssl-cert' group; and requires all admins to have 'ssl-cert' group when using this command
DO NOT be giving 'ssl-cert' group to server daemons' supplemental group ID (or worse, as its group ID); for that, you copy the certs over to app-specific directory and use THAT app's file permissions.
This command does not deal with distribution of certificates, just creation/renewal/revokation of therein.
'ssl-cert' group means 'working with SSL/TLS certificates, not just reading certs'.
Inspired by: https://jamielinux.com/docs/openssl-certificate-authority/create-the-root-pair.html
tls-ca-managed.sh - Creates/Renew/Verify all CA nodes (root or intermediate)
tls-create-server.sh - Adds all the end-CAs (TLS servers, ...)
Example test runs:
tls-ca-managed.sh create -t root root # creates the Root CA under /etc/ssl
tls-ca-managed.sh verify root # Verifies Root CA certificates
tls-ca-managed.sh create -p root -t server network # creates Network Intermediate CA
tls-ca-managed.sh verify network # Verifies Network CA certificates
tls-ca-managed.sh create -p root -t identity company_id # creates Identity Intermediate CA
tls-ca-managed.sh create -p root -t security ActiveCardKeysCA # creates Security Intermediate CA
tls-ca-managed.sh create -b /tmp/etc/ssl root # creates Root CA under /tmp/etc/ssl
tls-ca-managed.sh -T root # creates Root CA in traditional OpenSSL directory layout
To create a root CA node, execute:
$ tls-ca-manage.sh create root
Create /etc/ssl/ca subdirectory? (Y/n): y
/etc/ssl/etc/root-ca.cnf file is missing, recreating ...
Organization (default: 'ACME Networks'):
Org. Unit/Section/Division: (default: 'Trust Division'):
Common Name: (default: 'ACME Internal Root CA A1'):
Country (2-char max.): (default: 'US'):
State: (default: ''):
Locality/City: (default: ''):
Contact email: (default: '[email protected]'):
Base URL: (default: 'https://example.invalid/ca'):
CRL URL: (default: 'http://example.invalid/ca/example-crl.crt'):
Creating /etc/ssl/etc/root-ca.cnf file...
Created Parent CA /etc/ssl/etc/root-ca.cnf file
.....................................................................................................................
.........................................................
Creating Parent CA certificate ...
Using configuration from /etc/ssl/etc/root-ca.cnf
Check that the request matches the signature
Signature ok
Certificate Details:
Serial Number: 4096 (0x1000)
Validity
Not Before: Nov 18 23:50:16 2019 GMT
Not After : Nov 15 23:50:16 2029 GMT
Subject:
countryName = US
organizationName = ACME Networks
organizationalUnitName = Trust Division
commonName = ACME Internal Root CA A1
X509v3 extensions:
X509v3 Key Usage: critical
Certificate Sign, CRL Sign
X509v3 Basic Constraints: critical
CA:TRUE
X509v3 Subject Key Identifier:
58:A9:A1:9B:F0:30:03:9C:A0:7A:71:C0:EE:A7:96:C3:D6:04:EE:DA
X509v3 Authority Key Identifier:
58:A9:A1:9B:F0:30:03:9C:A0:7A:71:C0:EE:A7:96:C3:D6:04:EE:DA
Certificate is to be certified until Nov 15 23:50:16 2029 GMT (3650 days)
Write out database with 1 new entries
Data Base Updated
Creating Parent CA certificate revocation list (CRL)...
Using configuration from /etc/ssl/etc/root-ca.cnf
Displaying MD5 of various CA certificates:
MD5(stdin)= ba9093a4bab91ef89406ac3e7bcee3dc /etc/ssl/ca/root-ca.crt
To see decoded Parent CA certificate, execute:
/usr/local/bin/openssl x509 -in /etc/ssl/ca/root-ca.crt -noout -text
Created the following files:
Parent CA cert req : /etc/ssl/ca/root-ca.csr
Parent CA certificate: /etc/ssl/ca/root-ca.crt
Parent CA private key: /etc/ssl/ca/root-ca/private/root-ca.key
Parent CA new cert : /etc/ssl/ca/root-ca/1000.pem
Parent CA CRL : /etc/ssl/crl/root-ca.crl
Successfully completed; exiting...
To creata an intermediate CA node, execute:
tls-ca-manage.sh create -p root component
/etc/ssl/etc/component-ca.cnf file is missing, recreating ...
Organization (default: 'ACME Networks'):
Org. Unit/Section/Division: (default: 'Semi-Trust Department'):
Common Name: (default: 'ACME Internal Intermediate CA B2'):
Country (2-char max.): (default: 'US'):
State: (default: ''):
Locality/City: (default: ''):
Contact email: (default: '[email protected]'):
Base URL: (default: 'https://example.invalid/ca/subroot'):
CRL URL: (default: 'https://example.invalid/subroot-ca.crl'):
Creating /etc/ssl/etc/component-ca.cnf file...
Created Intermediate CA /etc/ssl/etc/component-ca.cnf file
..................................
....................................................................................................................................................................................................
........................
Creating Intermediate CA certificate ...
Using configuration from /etc/ssl/etc/root-ca.cnf
Check that the request matches the signature
Signature ok
Certificate Details:
Serial Number: 4097 (0x1001)
Validity
Not Before: Nov 18 23:51:58 2019 GMT
Not After : Nov 15 23:51:58 2029 GMT
Subject:
countryName = US
organizationName = ACME Networks
organizationalUnitName = Semi-Trust Department
commonName = ACME Internal Intermediate CA B2
X509v3 extensions:
X509v3 Key Usage: critical
Certificate Sign, CRL Sign
X509v3 Basic Constraints: critical
CA:TRUE, pathlen:0
X509v3 Subject Key Identifier:
21:95:BC:6F:6C:BE:2C:8E:1D:66:7A:CC:2B:B1:24:A0:91:71:21:B3
X509v3 Authority Key Identifier:
58:A9:A1:9B:F0:30:03:9C:A0:7A:71:C0:EE:A7:96:C3:D6:04:EE:DA
Authority Information Access:
CA Issuers - URI:https://example.invalid/ca/root-ca.crt
X509v3 CRL Distribution Points:
Full Name:
URI:https://example.invalid/ca/root-ca.crl
Certificate is to be certified until Nov 15 23:51:58 2029 GMT (3650 days)
Write out database with 1 new entries
Data Base Updated
Creating Intermediate CA chain certificate ...
cat /etc/ssl/ca/component-ca.crt /etc/ssl/ca/root-ca.crt > /etc/ssl/ca/component-ca-chain.pem
Creating Intermediate CA certificate revocation list (CRL)...
Using configuration from /etc/ssl/etc/component-ca.cnf
Displaying MD5 of various CA certificates:
MD5(stdin)= 8f65f5e06738f10a3f0b2862ad3a7ca6 /etc/ssl/ca/component-ca.crt
To see decoded Intermediate CA certificate, execute:
/usr/local/bin/openssl x509 -in /etc/ssl/ca/component-ca.crt -noout -text
Created the following files:
Intermediate CA cert req : /etc/ssl/ca/component-ca.csr
Intermediate CA certificate: /etc/ssl/ca/component-ca.crt
Intermediate CA private key: /etc/ssl/ca/component-ca/private/component-ca.key
Intermediate CA new cert : /etc/ssl/ca/component-ca/1000.pem
Intermediate CA chain cert : /etc/ssl/ca/component-ca-chain.pem
Intermediate CA CRL : /etc/ssl/crl/component-ca.crl
Successfully completed; exiting...
To add a second Intermediate CA node, execute:
tls-ca-manage.sh create -p root identity
/etc/ssl/etc/identity-ca.cnf file is missing, recreating ...
Organization (default: 'ACME Networks'):
Org. Unit/Section/Division: (default: 'Semi-Trust Department'):
Common Name: (default: 'ACME Internal Intermediate CA B2'):
Country (2-char max.): (default: 'US'):
State: (default: ''):
Locality/City: (default: ''):
Contact email: (default: '[email protected]'):
Base URL: (default: 'https://example.invalid/ca/subroot'):
CRL URL: (default: 'https://example.invalid/subroot-ca.crl'):
Creating /etc/ssl/etc/identity-ca.cnf file...
Created Intermediate CA /etc/ssl/etc/identity-ca.cnf file
................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................................................
Creating Intermediate CA certificate ...
Using configuration from /etc/ssl/etc/root-ca.cnf
Check that the request matches the signature
Signature ok
Certificate Details:
Serial Number: 4098 (0x1002)
Validity
Not Before: Nov 18 23:54:33 2019 GMT
Not After : Nov 15 23:54:33 2029 GMT
Subject:
countryName = US
organizationName = ACME Networks
organizationalUnitName = Semi-Trust Department
commonName = ACME Internal Intermediate CA B2
X509v3 extensions:
X509v3 Key Usage: critical
Certificate Sign, CRL Sign
X509v3 Basic Constraints: critical
CA:TRUE, pathlen:0
X509v3 Subject Key Identifier:
97:18:EF:DF:20:04:9E:66:21:BB:0D:59:EB:03:2A:4D:EB:55:98:D2
X509v3 Authority Key Identifier:
58:A9:A1:9B:F0:30:03:9C:A0:7A:71:C0:EE:A7:96:C3:D6:04:EE:DA
Authority Information Access:
CA Issuers - URI:https://example.invalid/ca/root-ca.crt
X509v3 CRL Distribution Points:
Full Name:
URI:https://example.invalid/ca/root-ca.crl
Certificate is to be certified until Nov 15 23:54:33 2029 GMT (3650 days)
Write out database with 1 new entries
Data Base Updated
Creating Intermediate CA chain certificate ...
cat /etc/ssl/ca/identity-ca.crt /etc/ssl/ca/root-ca.crt > /etc/ssl/ca/identity-ca-chain.pem
Creating Intermediate CA certificate revocation list (CRL)...
Using configuration from /etc/ssl/etc/identity-ca.cnf
Displaying MD5 of various CA certificates:
MD5(stdin)= b0e64447a857b1f1d10ca09724a9eba9 /etc/ssl/ca/identity-ca.crt
To see decoded Intermediate CA certificate, execute:
/usr/local/bin/openssl x509 -in /etc/ssl/ca/identity-ca.crt -noout -text
Created the following files:
Intermediate CA cert req : /etc/ssl/ca/identity-ca.csr
Intermediate CA certificate: /etc/ssl/ca/identity-ca.crt
Intermediate CA private key: /etc/ssl/ca/identity-ca/private/identity-ca.key
Intermediate CA new cert : /etc/ssl/ca/identity-ca/1000.pem
Intermediate CA chain cert : /etc/ssl/ca/identity-ca-chain.pem
Intermediate CA CRL : /etc/ssl/crl/identity-ca.crl
Successfully completed; exiting...
tls-ca-manage.sh -a ecdsa -k 521 create -p root security
/etc/ssl/etc/security-ca.cnf file is missing, recreating ...
Organization (default: 'ACME Networks'):
Org. Unit/Section/Division: (default: 'Semi-Trust Department'):
Common Name: (default: 'ACME Internal Intermediate CA B2'):
Country (2-char max.): (default: 'US'):
State: (default: ''):
Locality/City: (default: ''):
Contact email: (default: '[email protected]'):
Base URL: (default: 'https://example.invalid/ca/subroot'):
CRL URL: (default: 'https://example.invalid/subroot-ca.crl'):
Creating /etc/ssl/etc/security-ca.cnf file...
Created Intermediate CA /etc/ssl/etc/security-ca.cnf file
Creating Intermediate CA certificate ...
Using configuration from /etc/ssl/etc/root-ca.cnf
Check that the request matches the signature
Signature ok
Certificate Details:
Serial Number: 4099 (0x1003)
Validity
Not Before: Nov 18 23:59:10 2019 GMT
Not After : Nov 15 23:59:10 2029 GMT
Subject:
countryName = US
organizationName = ACME Networks
organizationalUnitName = Semi-Trust Department
commonName = ACME Internal Intermediate CA B2
X509v3 extensions:
X509v3 Key Usage: critical
Certificate Sign, CRL Sign
X509v3 Basic Constraints: critical
CA:TRUE, pathlen:0
X509v3 Subject Key Identifier:
EC:76:73:6E:10:EC:C9:FC:DC:00:32:90:EE:06:B9:AC:5C:49:AE:19
X509v3 Authority Key Identifier:
58:A9:A1:9B:F0:30:03:9C:A0:7A:71:C0:EE:A7:96:C3:D6:04:EE:DA
Authority Information Access:
CA Issuers - URI:https://example.invalid/ca/root-ca.crt
X509v3 CRL Distribution Points:
Full Name:
URI:https://example.invalid/ca/root-ca.crl
Certificate is to be certified until Nov 15 23:59:10 2029 GMT (3650 days)
Write out database with 1 new entries
Data Base Updated
Creating Intermediate CA chain certificate ...
cat /etc/ssl/ca/security-ca.crt /etc/ssl/ca/root-ca.crt > /etc/ssl/ca/security-ca-chain.pem
Creating Intermediate CA certificate revocation list (CRL)...
Using configuration from /etc/ssl/etc/security-ca.cnf
Displaying MD5 of various CA certificates:
MD5(stdin)= e30fbb5ba0cecaad7a2d0cb836584c05 /etc/ssl/ca/security-ca.crt
To see decoded Intermediate CA certificate, execute:
/usr/local/bin/openssl x509 -in /etc/ssl/ca/security-ca.crt -noout -text
Created the following files:
Intermediate CA cert req : /etc/ssl/ca/security-ca.csr
Intermediate CA certificate: /etc/ssl/ca/security-ca.crt
Intermediate CA private key: /etc/ssl/ca/security-ca/private/security-ca.key
Intermediate CA new cert : /etc/ssl/ca/security-ca/1000.pem
Intermediate CA chain cert : /etc/ssl/ca/security-ca-chain.pem
Intermediate CA CRL : /etc/ssl/crl/security-ca.crl
Successfully completed; exiting...
tls-ca-manage.sh verify -p root security
Certificate:
Data:
Version: 3 (0x2)
Serial Number: 4099 (0x1003)
Signature Algorithm: sha256WithRSAEncryption
Issuer: C = US, O = ACME Networks, OU = Trust Division, CN = ACME Internal Root CA A1
Validity
Not Before: Nov 18 23:59:10 2019 GMT
Not After : Nov 15 23:59:10 2029 GMT
Subject: C = US, O = ACME Networks, OU = Semi-Trust Department, CN = ACME Internal Intermediate CA B2
Subject Public Key Info:
Public Key Algorithm: id-ecPublicKey
Public-Key: (521 bit)
pub:
04:01:71:56:64:9d:2d:a2:cf:a6:ba:9e:36:ab:9d:
dc:d5:8b:81:ca:eb:2f:45:78:66:da:23:91:f8:85:
ab:09:3b:2d:fb:c8:91:0b:0b:cd:00:4a:e2:6a:1c:
5c:d4:92:8d:30:64:4a:46:86:19:47:04:1c:47:56:
b6:c1:51:30:71:4b:ee:01:93:a8:4b:8c:5f:81:d2:
17:dc:04:0c:05:f6:14:38:16:ab:be:02:37:ea:02:
b4:c2:06:1d:7f:9c:44:71:37:55:88:7e:4e:f5:31:
18:40:31:bb:f9:b6:e7:89:20:92:84:d7:95:4c:01:
3c:fc:0d:41:23:c7:20:72:8b:c3:e3:64:ef
ASN1 OID: secp521r1
NIST CURVE: P-521
X509v3 extensions:
X509v3 Key Usage: critical
Certificate Sign, CRL Sign
X509v3 Basic Constraints: critical
CA:TRUE, pathlen:0
X509v3 Subject Key Identifier:
EC:76:73:6E:10:EC:C9:FC:DC:00:32:90:EE:06:B9:AC:5C:49:AE:19
X509v3 Authority Key Identifier:
58:A9:A1:9B:F0:30:03:9C:A0:7A:71:C0:EE:A7:96:C3:D6:04:EE:DA
Authority Information Access:
CA Issuers - URI:https://example.invalid/ca/root-ca.crt
X509v3 CRL Distribution Points:
Full Name:
URI:https://example.invalid/ca/root-ca.crl
Signature Algorithm: sha256WithRSAEncryption
Signature Value:
63:30:a5:b7:6c:aa:1b:2e:3d:e9:df:02:51:ee:48:62:87:6f:
3c:b2:cb:25:0c:0a:d0:1a:f9:4b:be:6b:c7:bc:fc:e3:9c:01:
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Can't open /etc/ssl/ca/security-ca/999.pem for reading, No such file or directory
00:11:10:91:13:7F:00:00:error:system library:BIO_new_file:No such file or directory:crypto/bio/bss_file.c:69:calling fopen(/etc/ssl/ca/security-ca/999.pem, r)
00:11:10:91:13:7F:00:00:error:BIO routines:BIO_new_file:no such file:crypto/bio/bss_file.c:77:
unable to load certificate
MD5(stdin)= d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e
Can't open /etc/ssl/ca/security-ca/1001.pem for reading, No such file or directory
00:11:33:7D:C2:7F:00:00:error:system library:BIO_new_file:No such file or directory:crypto/bio/bss_file.c:69:calling fopen(/etc/ssl/ca/security-ca/1001.pem, r)
00:11:33:7D:C2:7F:00:00:error:BIO routines:BIO_new_file:no such file:crypto/bio/bss_file.c:77:
unable to load certificate
MD5(stdin)= d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e
MD5(stdin)= e30fbb5ba0cecaad7a2d0cb836584c05
MD5(stdin)= f7b2dc8f3be7464c6a73f0290b92dcfa /etc/ssl/ca/security-ca/private/security-ca.key
Successfully completed; exiting...
- Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) - Security architecture where trust is conveyed through the signature of a trusted CA.
- Certificate Authority (CA) - Entity issuing certificates and CRLs.
- Registration Authority (RA) - Entity handling PKI enrollment. May be identical with the CA.
- Certificate - Public key and ID bound by a CA signature.
- Certificate Signing Request (CSR) - Request for certification. Contains public key and ID to be certified.
- Certificate Revocation List (CRL) - List of revoked certificates. Issued by a CA at regular intervals.
- Certification Practice Statement (CPS) - Document describing structure and processes of a CA.
- Root CA - CA at the root of a PKI hierarchy. Issues only CA certificates.
- Intermediate CA - CA below the root CA but not a signing CA. Issues only CA certificates.
- Signing CA - CA at the bottom of a PKI hierarchy. Issues only user certificates.
- CA Certificate - Certificate of a CA. Used to sign certificates and CRLs.
- Root Certificate - Self-signed CA certificate at the root of a PKI hierarchy. Serves as the PKI’s trust anchor.
- Cross Certificate - CA certificate issued by a CA external to the primary PKI hierarchy. Used to connect two PKIs and thus usually comes in pairs.
- User Certificate - End-user certificate issued for one or more purposes: email-protection, server-auth, client-auth, code-signing, etc. A user certificate cannot sign other certificates.
- Privacy Enhanced Mail (PEM) - Text format. Base-64 encoded data with header and footer lines. Preferred format in OpenSSL and most software based on it (e.g. Apache mod_ssl, stunnel).
- Distinguished Encoding Rules (DER) - Binary format. Preferred format in Windows environments and certain high-end vendors. Also the official format for Internet download of certificates and CRLs. (Not used here)
Using self signed certificates is always a bad idea. It's far more secure to self manage a certificate authority than it is to use self signed certificates. Running a certificate authority is easy.
In addition to the scripts in this repository, here is a short recommended list of scripts and resources for managing a certificate authority.
- The [xca project][xca] provides a graphical front end to certificate authority management in openssl. It is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS.
- The OpenVPN project provides a nice [set of scripts][ovpn_scripts] for managing a certificate authority as well.
- [Be your own CA][yourca_tut] tutorial provides a more manual method of certificate authority management outside of scripts or UI. It provides openssl commands for certificate authority management. Additionaly, one can read up on certificate management in the [SSL Certificates HOWTO][tldp_certs] at The Linux Documentation Project.
- Use my scripts in this repository which is based on option
3in this list. Supports server certs only. - Use [certificate-automation][cert_auto] which is similar to these scripts organized slightly differently. Supports client certs as well.
Once a certificate authority is self managed simply add the CA certificate to all browsers and mobile devices. Enjoy secure and validated certificates everywhere.
If a service you manage is designated for public access then self managing a certificate authority may not be the best option. Signed Domain Validated (DV) certificates should still be the preferred method to secure your public service.
- [CAcert.org][cacert] is a community driven certificate authority which provides free SSL certificates. Note: See the [inclusion page][cacert_inclusion] to see which applications and distros include the cacert.org root certificates.
- [Let's Encrypt][lets_encrypt] is a free, automated, and open Certificate Authority.
I love how meta variables can be leverage for templating various file layouts.
Written, developed, and testd using JetBrain PyCharm, community-edition with Bash Pro plugin for excellent step-by-step debugging while viewing ALL variables, defined or unused.