Objective-C
Objective-C
SSH Authenticate using a Smart Card Private Key
See more SSH Examples
Demonstrates using a private key stored on an HSM (smart card or token) for SSH public-key authentication. A JSON template locates the private and public key objects by class, key type, and label, and the returned handles are bound to an SshKey object.
Background: PKCS#11 objects are found by attribute rather than by name alone, which is why a template describing the class, key type, and label is used. An important practical detail is that the returned handles are valid only for the lifetime of the PKCS#11 session — they cannot be cached and reused later, so a subsequent session must locate the objects again. Logging out and closing the session when finished releases the device for other applications.
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#import <CkoPkcs11.h>
#import <NSString.h>
#import <CkoJsonObject.h>
#import <CkoSshKey.h>
#import <CkoSsh.h>
BOOL success = NO;
// This example requires the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
// See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.
// Demonstrates using a private key stored on an HSM (smart card or token) for SSH public-key
// authentication. Public-key authentication means the client uses the private key, while the
// corresponding public key is installed on the server under the SSH account.
//
// Note: Chilkat's PKCS#11 implementation runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, and other supported
// operating systems.
CkoPkcs11 *pkcs11 = [[CkoPkcs11 alloc] init];
// Use the PKCS#11 driver (.dll, .so, or .dylib) for your particular HSM.
pkcs11.SharedLibPath = @"C:/Program Files (x86)/Gemalto/IDGo 800 PKCS#11/IDPrimePKCS11.dll";
// The HSM PIN should come from a secure source rather than being hard-coded.
NSString *pin = @"0000";
// Normal user = 1
int userType = 1;
success = [pkcs11 QuickSession: [NSNumber numberWithInt: userType] pin: pin];
if (success == NO) {
NSLog(@"%@",pkcs11.LastErrorText);
return;
}
// Provide a template describing the PKCS#11 object to find: an RSA private key labeled
// "MySshKey". For how such a key is originally imported, see
// PKCS11 Import SSH Key
CkoJsonObject *jsonTemplate = [[CkoJsonObject alloc] init];
[jsonTemplate UpdateString: @"class" value: @"private_key"];
[jsonTemplate UpdateString: @"key_type" value: @"rsa"];
[jsonTemplate UpdateString: @"label" value: @"MySshKey"];
unsigned long privKeyHandle = [pkcs11 FindObject: jsonTemplate];
if (privKeyHandle == 0) {
NSLog(@"%@",pkcs11.LastErrorText);
return;
}
// The handle is only valid for the duration of this PKCS#11 session. To use the key in a
// later session, find it again.
NSLog(@"%@%d",@"private key handle: ",privKeyHandle);
// Find the corresponding public key by changing the class in the same template.
[jsonTemplate UpdateString: @"class" value: @"public_key"];
unsigned long pubKeyHandle = [pkcs11 FindObject: jsonTemplate];
if (pubKeyHandle == 0) {
NSLog(@"%@",pkcs11.LastErrorText);
return;
}
NSLog(@"%@%d",@"public key handle: ",pubKeyHandle);
// Create an empty SSH key object and tell it to use the PKCS#11 handles, indicating the key type.
CkoSshKey *sshKey = [[CkoSshKey alloc] init];
success = [sshKey UsePkcs11: pkcs11 privKeyHandle: privKeyHandle pubKeyHandle: pubKeyHandle keyType: @"rsa"];
if (success == NO) {
NSLog(@"%@",sshKey.LastErrorText);
return;
}
CkoSsh *ssh = [[CkoSsh alloc] init];
int port = 22;
success = [ssh Connect: @"ssh.example.com" port: [NSNumber numberWithInt: port]];
if (success == NO) {
NSLog(@"%@",ssh.LastErrorText);
return;
}
// Authentication uses the existing PKCS#11 session. The signing happens on the smart card --
// the private key never leaves the device.
success = [ssh AuthenticatePk: @"mySshLogin" privateKey: sshKey];
if (success == NO) {
NSLog(@"%@",ssh.LastErrorText);
return;
}
NSLog(@"%@",@"Public-key authentication successful.");
// ... use the authenticated SSH session ...
[ssh Disconnect];
[pkcs11 Logout];
[pkcs11 CloseSession];