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Perl

SSH Authenticate using a Smart Card Private Key

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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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Perl
use chilkat();

$success = 0;

#  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.

$pkcs11 = chilkat::CkPkcs11->new();

#  Use the PKCS#11 driver (.dll, .so, or .dylib) for your particular HSM.
$pkcs11->put_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.
$pin = "0000";

#  Normal user = 1
$userType = 1;

$success = $pkcs11->QuickSession($userType,$pin);
if ($success == 0) {
    print $pkcs11->lastErrorText() . "\r\n";
    exit;
}

#  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
$jsonTemplate = chilkat::CkJsonObject->new();
$jsonTemplate->UpdateString("class","private_key");
$jsonTemplate->UpdateString("key_type","rsa");
$jsonTemplate->UpdateString("label","MySshKey");

$privKeyHandle = $pkcs11->FindObject($jsonTemplate);
if ($privKeyHandle == 0) {
    print $pkcs11->lastErrorText() . "\r\n";
    exit;
}

#  The handle is only valid for the duration of this PKCS#11 session.  To use the key in a
#  later session, find it again.
print "private key handle: " . $privKeyHandle . "\r\n";

#  Find the corresponding public key by changing the class in the same template.
$jsonTemplate->UpdateString("class","public_key");

$pubKeyHandle = $pkcs11->FindObject($jsonTemplate);
if ($pubKeyHandle == 0) {
    print $pkcs11->lastErrorText() . "\r\n";
    exit;
}

print "public key handle: " . $pubKeyHandle . "\r\n";

#  Create an empty SSH key object and tell it to use the PKCS#11 handles, indicating the key type.
$sshKey = chilkat::CkSshKey->new();
$success = $sshKey->UsePkcs11($pkcs11,$privKeyHandle,$pubKeyHandle,"rsa");
if ($success == 0) {
    print $sshKey->lastErrorText() . "\r\n";
    exit;
}

$ssh = chilkat::CkSsh->new();

$port = 22;
$success = $ssh->Connect("ssh.example.com",$port);
if ($success == 0) {
    print $ssh->lastErrorText() . "\r\n";
    exit;
}

#  Authentication uses the existing PKCS#11 session.  The signing happens on the smart card --
#  the private key never leaves the device.
$success = $ssh->AuthenticatePk("mySshLogin",$sshKey);
if ($success == 0) {
    print $ssh->lastErrorText() . "\r\n";
    exit;
}

print "Public-key authentication successful." . "\r\n";

#  ... use the authenticated SSH session ...

$ssh->Disconnect();

$pkcs11->Logout();
$pkcs11->CloseSession();