Load an Encrypted Private Key from a PEM File

See more Private Key Examples

Demonstrates the Chilkat PrivateKey.LoadEncryptedPemFile method, which loads a private key from a file, using a password when the key is encrypted. The first argument is the file path and the second is the password.

Note: The file path is relative to the application's current working directory. Absolute paths may also be used. Supply the path to your own key file.

Background: The file-based encrypted loader — the natural choice for a .pem key stored with a passphrase, as most deployment keys are. It decrypts encrypted PKCS #8 PEM and also accepts unencrypted files, so it works whether or not the specific file is protected. Supply the passphrase from a secure source.

Chilkat C Downloads

Download Chilkat for C

#include <C_CkPrivateKey.h>

void ChilkatSample(void)
    {
    BOOL success;
    HCkPrivateKey privKey;
    const char *password;

    success = FALSE;

    //  Demonstrates the PrivateKey.LoadEncryptedPemFile method, which loads a private key from a file,
    //  using a password when the key is encrypted.  The 1st argument is the file path and the 2nd is
    //  the password.

    privKey = CkPrivateKey_Create();

    //  The key password is not hard-coded in a real application; obtain it from an interactive
    //  prompt, environment variable, or a secrets vault.
    password = "myKeyPassword";

    success = CkPrivateKey_LoadEncryptedPemFile(privKey,"qa_data/private_encrypted.pem",password);
    if (success == FALSE) {
        printf("%s\n",CkPrivateKey_lastErrorText(privKey));
        CkPrivateKey_Dispose(privKey);
        return;
    }

    printf("Loaded a %s private key.\n",CkPrivateKey_keyType(privKey));


    CkPrivateKey_Dispose(privKey);

    }