C++

Export an Encrypted PKCS #8 Private Key as PEM

Demonstrates the Chilkat PrivateKey.GetPkcs8EncryptedPem method, which exports the key as password-protected PKCS #8 PEM (-----BEGIN ENCRYPTED PRIVATE KEY-----). The only argument is the password; the cipher is selected by the Pkcs8EncryptAlg property.

Note: The file paths are relative to the application's current working directory. Absolute paths may also be used. Supply the paths appropriate to your own environment.

Background: This is the safe way to export a key for storage or transfer — the private material is encrypted under a passphrase, so a leaked file is not immediately usable. It is the format to reach for whenever a key leaves your process. Control the encryption cipher with Pkcs8EncryptAlg, and source the password securely rather than hard-coding it.

Chilkat C++ Downloads

Download Chilkat for C++

C++

#include <CkPrivateKey.h>

void ChilkatSample(void)
    {
    bool success = false;

    //  Load a private key to export.
    CkPrivateKey privKey;
    success = privKey.LoadPemFile("qa_data/private.pem");
    if (success == false) {
        std::cout << privKey.lastErrorText() << "\r\n";
        return;
    }

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

    //  Export as password-protected PKCS #8 PEM ("-----BEGIN ENCRYPTED PRIVATE KEY-----").  The
    //  encryption cipher is selected by the Pkcs8EncryptAlg property.
    const char *pem = privKey.getPkcs8EncryptedPem(password);
    if (privKey.get_LastMethodSuccess() == false) {
        std::cout << privKey.lastErrorText() << "\r\n";
        return;
    }

    std::cout << pem << "\r\n";
    }