Unicode C++

Export an Encrypted PKCS #8 Private Key as PEM

Demonstrates the Chilkat PrivateKey.GetPkcs8EncryptedPem method, which exports the key as password-protected PKCS #8 PEM (-----BEGIN ENCRYPTED PRIVATE KEY-----). The only argument is the password; the cipher is selected by the Pkcs8EncryptAlg property.

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: This is the safe way to export a key for storage or transfer — the private material is encrypted under a passphrase, so a leaked file is not immediately usable. It is the format to reach for whenever a key leaves your process. Control the encryption cipher with Pkcs8EncryptAlg, and source the password securely rather than hard-coding it.

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#include <CkPrivateKeyW.h>

void ChilkatSample(void)
    {
    bool success = false;

    //  Load a private key to export.
    CkPrivateKeyW privKey;
    success = privKey.LoadPemFile(L"qa_data/private.pem");
    if (success == false) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",privKey.lastErrorText());
        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 wchar_t *password = L"myKeyPassword";

    //  Export as password-protected PKCS #8 PEM ("-----BEGIN ENCRYPTED PRIVATE KEY-----").  The
    //  encryption cipher is selected by the Pkcs8EncryptAlg property.
    const wchar_t *pem = privKey.getPkcs8EncryptedPem(password);
    if (privKey.get_LastMethodSuccess() == false) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",privKey.lastErrorText());
        return;
    }

    wprintf(L"%s\n",pem);
    }