Delphi DLL

Set the FTP Password from a SecureString

Demonstrates the Chilkat Ftp2.SetSecurePassword method, which sets the login password from a SecureString. The only argument is the SecureString. It is equivalent to setting the Password property but avoids holding the password as an ordinary immutable string.

Background: An ordinary string password can linger in memory (and in memory dumps) because strings are immutable and copied freely. A SecureString keeps the value encrypted under a session key and clears it deterministically, reducing that exposure — a sensible upgrade for a credential the process holds for the life of the connection. Populate it from a runtime source rather than a hard-coded literal.

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Delphi DLL

var
success: Boolean;
ftp: HCkFtp2;
password: PWideChar;
securePassword: HCkSecureString;

begin
success := False;

//  Demonstrates the Ftp2.SetSecurePassword method, which sets the login password from a
//  SecureString.  The only argument is the SecureString.  This avoids holding the password as an
//  ordinary immutable string.

ftp := CkFtp2_Create();

CkFtp2_putHostname(ftp,'ftp.example.com');
CkFtp2_putUsername(ftp,'myFtpLogin');

//  Normally you would not hard-code the password in source.  You should instead obtain it
//  from an interactive prompt, environment variable, or a secrets vault.
password := 'myPassword';

//  Place the password into a SecureString, which keeps it encrypted in memory.
securePassword := CkSecureString_Create();
CkSecureString_Append(securePassword,password);

//  Setting the secure password is equivalent to setting the Password property, but more
//  protective.
success := CkFtp2_SetSecurePassword(ftp,securePassword);
if (success = False) then
  begin
    Memo1.Lines.Add(CkFtp2__lastErrorText(ftp));
    Exit;
  end;

success := CkFtp2_Connect(ftp);
if (success = False) then
  begin
    Memo1.Lines.Add(CkFtp2__lastErrorText(ftp));
    Exit;
  end;
Memo1.Lines.Add('Connected using a secure password.');

success := CkFtp2_Disconnect(ftp);
if (success = False) then
  begin
    Memo1.Lines.Add(CkFtp2__lastErrorText(ftp));
    Exit;
  end;

CkFtp2_Dispose(ftp);
CkSecureString_Dispose(securePassword);