C++

Save a Private Key as an Encrypted PKCS #8 PEM File

Demonstrates the Chilkat PrivateKey.SavePkcs8EncryptedPemFile method, which saves the key as password-protected PKCS #8 PEM (the ENCRYPTED PRIVATE KEY label). The first argument is the password and the second is the destination path.

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: The text (PEM) form of an encrypted saved key — portable across systems and safe to store because the private material is protected by a passphrase. It is the encrypted counterpart to SavePkcs8PemFile and a good default for keys kept in configuration or version-controlled deployment repositories. Source the password securely.

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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";

    //  Save as password-protected PKCS #8 PEM (the "ENCRYPTED PRIVATE KEY" label).  The 1st argument
    //  is the password and the 2nd is the destination path.
    success = privKey.SavePkcs8EncryptedPemFile(password,"qa_output/private_pkcs8_enc.pem");
    if (success == false) {
        std::cout << privKey.lastErrorText() << "\r\n";
        return;
    }

    std::cout << "Saved (encrypted)." << "\r\n";
    }