Delphi ActiveX

Load an Encrypted Private Key from a PEM File

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.

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var
success: Integer;
privKey: TPrivateKey;
password: WideString;

begin
success := 0;

//  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 := TPrivateKey.Create(Self);

//  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 := privKey.LoadEncryptedPemFile('qa_data/private_encrypted.pem',password);
if (success = 0) then
  begin
    Memo1.Lines.Add(privKey.LastErrorText);
    Exit;
  end;

Memo1.Lines.Add('Loaded a ' + privKey.KeyType + ' private key.');