firestuff/2016-03-21-elliptic-curve-certificate-authority.html

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<p>Notes from setting up a two-level (root and intermediate) CA using EC certs, combined from two decent sets of instructions <a href="https://jamielinux.com/docs/openssl-certificate-authority/introduction.html">here</a> and <a href="https://wiki.openssl.org/index.php/Command_Line_Elliptic_Curve_Operations">here</a>. This is the CliffsNotes version; see those two docs for more detail. XXXX is used as a placeholder here; search for it and replace.</p>

<h2>Create directory structure</h2>

<pre><code>mkdir ca
cd ca
mkdir -p {root,intermediate}/{certs,crl,csr,newcerts,private}
mkdir -p {client,server}/{certs,csr,pfx,private}
touch {root,intermediate}/database
echo 1000 | tee {root,intermediate}/{serial,crlnumber}
chmod 700 {root,intermediate,client,server}/private
Create openssl.cnf
cat &gt; openssl.cnf &lt;&lt;'END'
[ ca ]
default_ca = ca_intermediate

[ ca_root ]
dir               = root
certs             = $dir/certs
crl_dir           = $dir/crl
new_certs_dir     = $dir/newcerts
database          = $dir/database
serial            = $dir/serial
crlnumber         = $dir/crlnumber
private_key       = $dir/private/root.key.pem
certificate       = $dir/certs/root.cert.pem
crl               = $dir/crl/root.crl.pem
crl_extensions    = ext_crl
default_md        = sha256
name_opt          = ca_default
cert_opt          = ca_default
default_crl_days  = 30
default_days      = 3650
preserve          = no
policy            = policy_strict

[ ca_intermediate ]
dir               = intermediate
certs             = $dir/certs
crl_dir           = $dir/crl
new_certs_dir     = $dir/newcerts
database          = $dir/database
serial            = $dir/serial
crlnumber         = $dir/crlnumber
private_key       = $dir/private/intermediate.key.pem
certificate       = $dir/certs/intermediate.cert.pem
crl               = $dir/crl/intermediate.crl.pem
crl_extensions    = ext_crl
default_md        = sha256
name_opt          = ca_default
cert_opt          = ca_default
default_crl_days  = 30
default_days      = 375
preserve          = no
policy            = policy_loose

[ policy_strict ]
countryName             = match
stateOrProvinceName     = match
organizationName        = match
organizationalUnitName  = optional
commonName              = supplied
emailAddress            = optional

[ policy_loose ]
countryName             = optional
stateOrProvinceName     = optional
localityName            = optional
organizationName        = optional
organizationalUnitName  = optional
commonName              = supplied
emailAddress            = optional

[ req ]
default_bits        = 2048
string_mask         = utf8only
default_md          = sha256
distinguished_name  = req_distinguished_name

[ req_distinguished_name ]
countryName                     = Country Name (2 letter code)
stateOrProvinceName             = State or Province Name
localityName                    = Locality Name
0.organizationName              = Organization Name
organizationalUnitName          = Organizational Unit Name
commonName                      = Common Name
emailAddress                    = Email Address

[ ext_root ]
subjectKeyIdentifier    = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier  = keyid:always, issuer
basicConstraints        = critical, CA:true
keyUsage                = critical, digitalSignature, cRLSign, keyCertSign

[ ext_intermediate ]
subjectKeyIdentifier    = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier  = keyid:always, issuer
basicConstraints        = critical, CA:true, pathlen:0
keyUsage                = critical, digitalSignature, cRLSign, keyCertSign

[ ext_client ]
basicConstraints        = CA:FALSE
nsCertType              = client, email
nsComment               = "OpenSSL Generated Client Certificate"
subjectKeyIdentifier    = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier  = keyid, issuer
keyUsage                = critical, nonRepudiation, digitalSignature, keyEncipherment
extendedKeyUsage        = clientAuth, emailProtection

[ ext_server ]
basicConstraints        = CA:FALSE
nsCertType              = server
nsComment               = "OpenSSL Generated Server Certificate"
subjectKeyIdentifier    = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier  = keyid, issuer:always
keyUsage                = critical, digitalSignature, keyEncipherment
extendedKeyUsage        = serverAuth

[ ext_crl ]
authorityKeyIdentifier  = keyid:always

[ ext_ocsp ]
basicConstraints        = CA:FALSE
subjectKeyIdentifier    = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier  = keyid, issuer
keyUsage                = critical, digitalSignature
extendedKeyUsage        = critical, OCSPSigning
END
</code></pre>

<h2>Create a root key</h2>

<pre><code>openssl ecparam -name secp384r1 -genkey | openssl ec -aes-256-cbc -out root/private/root.key.pem
# Create strong root key password
chmod 400 root/private/root.key.pem
</code></pre>

<h2>Create a self-signed root cert</h2>

<pre><code>openssl req -config openssl.cnf -key root/private/root.key.pem -new -extensions ext_root -out root/certs/root.cert.pem -x509 -subj '/C=US/ST=California/O=XXXX/OU=XXXX Certificate Authority/CN=XXXX Root CA' -days 7300
# Enter root key password
chmod 444 root/certs/root.cert.pem
</code></pre>

<h2>Verify root cert</h2>

<pre><code>openssl x509 -noout -text -in root/certs/root.cert.pem
</code></pre>

<p>Check:</p>

<ul>
<li>Expiration date (20 years in future)</li>
<li>Signature algorithm (ecdsa-with-SHA256)</li>
<li>Public key size (384 bit)</li>
<li>CA:TRUE</li>
</ul>

<h2>Create an intermediate key</h2>

<pre><code>openssl ecparam -name secp384r1 -genkey | openssl ec -aes-256-cbc -out intermediate/private/intermediate.key.pem
# Create strong intermediate key password
chmod 400 intermediate/private/intermediate.key.pem
</code></pre>

<h2>Create an intermediate certificate signing request (CSR)</h2>

<pre><code>openssl req -config openssl.cnf -new -key intermediate/private/intermediate.key.pem -out intermediate/csr/intermediate.csr.pem  -subj '/C=US/ST=California/O=XXXX/OU=XXXX Certificate Authority/CN=XXXX Intermediate'
# Enter intermediate key password
</code></pre>

<h2>Sign intermediate cert with root key</h2>

<pre><code>openssl ca -config openssl.cnf -name ca_root -extensions ext_intermediate -notext -in intermediate/csr/intermediate.csr.pem -out intermediate/certs/intermediate.cert.pem
# Enter root key password
chmod 444 intermediate/certs/intermediate.cert.pem
</code></pre>

<h2>Verify intermediate cert</h2>

<pre><code>openssl x509 -noout -text -in intermediate/certs/intermediate.cert.pem
openssl verify -CAfile root/certs/root.cert.pem intermediate/certs/intermediate.cert.pem
</code></pre>

<p>Check:</p>

<ul>
<li>Expiration date (10 years in future)</li>
<li>Signature algorithm (ecdsa-with-SHA256)</li>
<li>Public key size (384 bit)</li>
<li>CA:TRUE</li>
<li>OK</li>
</ul>

<h2>Create a chain certificate file</h2>

<pre><code>cat intermediate/certs/intermediate.cert.pem root/certs/root.cert.pem &gt; intermediate/certs/chain.cert.pem
chmod 444 intermediate/certs/chain.cert.pem
</code></pre>

<h2>Create a client key</h2>

<p>You can substitute “server” for “client” for a server cert.</p>

<pre><code>openssl ecparam -name secp384r1 -genkey | openssl ec -aes-256-cbc -out client/private/test1.key.pem
# Create client key password
chmod 400 client/private/test1.key.pem
</code></pre>

<h2>Create a client certificate signing request (CSR)</h2>

<pre><code>openssl req -config openssl.cnf -new -key client/private/test1.key.pem -out client/csr/test1.csr.pem  -subj '/C=US/ST=California/O=XXXX/OU=XXXX Test/CN=XXXX Test 1'
</code></pre>

<h2>Sign client cert with intermediate key</h2>

<pre><code>openssl ca -config openssl.cnf -extensions ext_client -notext -in client/csr/test1.csr.pem -out client/certs/test1.cert.pem
# Enter intermediate key password
chmod 444 client/certs/test1.cert.pem
</code></pre>

<h2>Verify client cert</h2>

<pre><code>openssl x509 -noout -text -in client/certs/test1.cert.pem
openssl verify -CAfile intermediate/certs/chain.cert.pem client/certs/test1.cert.pem
</code></pre>

<p>Check:</p>

<ul>
<li>Expiration date (1 year in future)</li>
<li>Signature algorithm (ecdsa-with-SHA256)</li>
<li>Public key size (384 bit)</li>
<li>CA:FALSE</li>
<li>OK</li>
</ul>

<h2>Create a PKCS#12 bundle for the client</h2>

<p>This is an easy(er) way to get all the necessary keys &amp; certs to the client in one package.</p>

<pre><code>openssl pkcs12 -export -out client/pfx/test1.pfx -inkey client/private/test1.key.pem -in client/certs/test1.cert.pem -certfile intermediate/certs/chain.cert.pem
# Enter both the client key password, and a new password for the export; you'll need to give the latter to the client
</code></pre>

<h2>Generate a certificate revocation list (CRL)</h2>

<p>Initially empty. You can also do this for your root CA.</p>

<pre><code>openssl ca -config openssl.cnf -gencrl -out intermediate/crl/intermediate.crl.pem
</code></pre>

<h2>Verify certificate revocation list</h2>

<pre><code>openssl crl -in intermediate/crl/intermediate.crl.pem -noout -text
</code></pre>

<p>Check:</p>

<ul>
<li>Expiration date (30 days in future)</li>
<li>Signature algorithm (ecdsa-with-SHA256)</li>
</ul>

<h2>Revoke a certificate</h2>

<p>Only do this if you need to. Find the certificate:</p>

<pre><code>cat intermediate/database
# You'll need the hex-formatted serial number, in the third field.
# Substitute serial number for YYYY below.
</code></pre>

<p>Revoke it:</p>

<pre><code>openssl ca -config openssl.cnf -revoke intermediate/newcerts/YYYY.pem
# Enter intermediate key password
</code></pre>

<p>Generate a new CRL file:</p>

<pre><code>openssl ca -config openssl.cnf -gencrl -out intermediate/crl/intermediate.crl.pem
# Enter intermediate key password
</code></pre>

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