certtool - Man Page

certtool [-flags] [-flag [value]] [--option-name[[=| ]value]]

All arguments must be options.

Tool to parse and generate X.509 certificates, requests and private keys. It can be used interactively or non interactively by specifying the template command line option.

The tool accepts files or supported URIs via the --infile option. In case PIN is required for URI access you can provide it using the environment variables GNUTLS_PIN  and GNUTLS_SO_PIN.

-d num, --debug=num

Enable debugging. This option takes an integer number as its argument. The value of num is constrained to being:

in the range 0 through 9999

Specifies the debug level.

-V,  --verbose

More verbose output.

--infile=file

Input file.

--outfile=str

Output file.

--attime=timestamp

Perform validation at the timestamp instead of the system time.

timestamp is an instance in time encoded as Unix time or in a human
readable timestring such as "29 Feb 2004", "2004-02-29". Full documentation available at  <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/manual/html_node/Date-input-formats.html> or locally via info '(coreutils) date invocation'.

Certtool's template file format
A template file can be used to avoid the interactive questions of certtool. Initially create a file named 'cert.cfg' that contains the information about the certificate. The template can be used as below:

$ certtool --generate-certificate --load-privkey key.pem     --template cert.cfg --outfile cert.pem    --load-ca-certificate ca-cert.pem --load-ca-privkey ca-key.pem

An example certtool template file that can be used to generate a certificate request or a self signed certificate follows.

# X.509 Certificate options
#
# DN options

# The organization of the subject.
organization = "Koko inc."

# The organizational unit of the subject.
unit = "sleeping dept."

# The locality of the subject.
# locality =

# The state of the certificate owner.
state = "Attiki"

# The country of the subject. Two letter code.
country = GR

# The common name of the certificate owner.
cn = "Cindy Lauper"

# A user id of the certificate owner.
#uid = "clauper"

# Set domain components
#dc = "name"
#dc = "domain"

# If the supported DN OIDs are not adequate you can set
# any OID here.
# For example set the X.520 Title and the X.520 Pseudonym
# by using OID and string pairs.
#dn_oid = "2.5.4.12 Dr."
#dn_oid = "2.5.4.65 jackal"

# This is deprecated and should not be used in new
# certificates.
# pkcs9_email = "none@none.org"

# An alternative way to set the certificate's distinguished name directly
# is with the "dn" option. The attribute names allowed are:
# C (country), street, O (organization), OU (unit), title, CN (common name),
# L (locality), ST (state), placeOfBirth, gender, countryOfCitizenship, 
# countryOfResidence, serialNumber, telephoneNumber, surName, initials, 
# generationQualifier, givenName, pseudonym, dnQualifier, postalCode, name, 
# businessCategory, DC, UID, jurisdictionOfIncorporationLocalityName, 
# jurisdictionOfIncorporationStateOrProvinceName,
# jurisdictionOfIncorporationCountryName, XmppAddr, and numeric OIDs.

#dn = "cn = Nikos,st = New Something,C=GR,surName=Mavrogiannopoulos,2.5.4.9=Arkadias"

# The serial number of the certificate
# The value is in decimal (i.e. 1963) or hex (i.e. 0x07ab).
# Comment the field for a random serial number.
serial = 007

# In how many days, counting from today, this certificate will expire.
# Use -1 if there is no expiration date.
expiration_days = 700

# Alternatively you may set concrete dates and time. The GNU date string 
# formats are accepted. See:
# https://www.gnu.org/software/tar/manual/html_node/Date-input-formats.html

#activation_date = "2004-02-29 16:21:42"
#expiration_date = "2025-02-29 16:24:41"

# X.509 v3 extensions

# A dnsname in case of a WWW server.
#dns_name = "www.none.org"
#dns_name = "www.morethanone.org"

# An othername defined by an OID and a hex encoded string
#other_name = "1.3.6.1.5.2.2 302ca00d1b0b56414e5245494e2e4f5247a11b3019a006020400000002a10f300d1b047269636b1b0561646d696e"
#other_name_utf8 = "1.2.4.5.6 A UTF8 string"
#other_name_octet = "1.2.4.5.6 A string that will be encoded as ASN.1 octet string"

# Allows writing an XmppAddr Identifier
#xmpp_name = juliet@im.example.com

# Names used in PKINIT
#krb5_principal = user@REALM.COM
#krb5_principal = HTTP/user@REALM.COM

# A subject alternative name URI
#uri = "https://www.example.com"

# An IP address in case of a server.
#ip_address = "192.168.1.1"

# An email in case of a person
email = "none@none.org"

# TLS feature (rfc7633) extension. That can is used to indicate mandatory TLS
# extension features to be provided by the server. In practice this is used
# to require the Status Request (extid: 5) extension from the server. That is,
# to require the server holding this certificate to provide a stapled OCSP response.
# You can have multiple lines for multiple TLS features.

# To ask for OCSP status request use:
#tls_feature = 5

# Challenge password used in certificate requests
challenge_password = 123456

# Password when encrypting a private key
#password = secret

# An URL that has CRLs (certificate revocation lists)
# available. Needed in CA certificates.
#crl_dist_points = "https://www.getcrl.crl/getcrl/"

# Whether this is a CA certificate or not
#ca

# Subject Unique ID (in hex)
#subject_unique_id = 00153224

# Issuer Unique ID (in hex)
#issuer_unique_id = 00153225

#### Key usage

# The following key usage flags are used by CAs and end certificates

# Whether this certificate will be used to sign data (needed
# in TLS DHE ciphersuites). This is the digitalSignature flag
# in RFC5280 terminology.
signing_key

# Whether this certificate will be used to encrypt data (needed
# in TLS RSA ciphersuites). Note that it is preferred to use different
# keys for encryption and signing. This is the keyEncipherment flag
# in RFC5280 terminology.
encryption_key

# Whether this key will be used to sign other certificates. The
# keyCertSign flag in RFC5280 terminology.
#cert_signing_key

# Whether this key will be used to sign CRLs. The
# cRLSign flag in RFC5280 terminology.
#crl_signing_key

# The keyAgreement flag of RFC5280. Its purpose is loosely
# defined. Not use it unless required by a protocol.
#key_agreement

# The dataEncipherment flag of RFC5280. Its purpose is loosely
# defined. Not use it unless required by a protocol.
#data_encipherment

# The nonRepudiation flag of RFC5280. Its purpose is loosely
# defined. Not use it unless required by a protocol.
#non_repudiation

#### Extended key usage (key purposes)

# The following extensions are used in an end certificate
# to clarify its purpose. Some CAs also use it to indicate
# the types of certificates they are purposed to sign.


# Whether this certificate will be used for a TLS client;
# this sets the id-kp-clientAuth (1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.2) of
# extended key usage.
#tls_www_client

# Whether this certificate will be used for a TLS server;
# this sets the id-kp-serverAuth (1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.1) of
# extended key usage.
#tls_www_server

# Whether this key will be used to sign code. This sets the
# id-kp-codeSigning (1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.3) of extended key usage
# extension.
#code_signing_key

# Whether this key will be used to sign OCSP data. This sets the
# id-kp-OCSPSigning (1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.9) of extended key usage extension.
#ocsp_signing_key

# Whether this key will be used for time stamping. This sets the
# id-kp-timeStamping (1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.8) of extended key usage extension.
#time_stamping_key

# Whether this key will be used for email protection. This sets the
# id-kp-emailProtection (1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.4) of extended key usage extension.
#email_protection_key

# Whether this key will be used for IPsec IKE operations (1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.17).
#ipsec_ike_key

## adding custom key purpose OIDs

# for microsoft smart card logon
# key_purpose_oid = 1.3.6.1.4.1.311.20.2.2

# for email protection
# key_purpose_oid = 1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.4

# for any purpose (must not be used in intermediate CA certificates)
# key_purpose_oid = 2.5.29.37.0

### end of key purpose OIDs

### Adding arbitrary extensions
# This requires to provide the extension OIDs, as well as the extension data in
# hex format. The following two options are available since GnuTLS 3.5.3.
#add_extension = "1.2.3.4 0x0AAB01ACFE"

# As above but encode the data as an octet string
#add_extension = "1.2.3.4 octet_string(0x0AAB01ACFE)"

# For portability critical extensions shouldn't be set to certificates.
#add_critical_extension = "5.6.7.8 0x1AAB01ACFE"

# When generating a certificate from a certificate
# request, then honor the extensions stored in the request
# and store them in the real certificate.
#honor_crq_extensions

# Alternatively only specific extensions can be copied.
#honor_crq_ext = 2.5.29.17
#honor_crq_ext = 2.5.29.15

# Path length constraint. Sets the maximum number of
# certificates that can be used to certify this certificate.
# (i.e. the certificate chain length)
#path_len = -1
#path_len = 2

# OCSP URI
# ocsp_uri = https://my.ocsp.server/ocsp

# CA issuers URI
# ca_issuers_uri = https://my.ca.issuer

# Certificate policies
#policy1 = 1.3.6.1.4.1.5484.1.10.99.1.0
#policy1_txt = "This is a long policy to summarize"
#policy1_url = https://www.example.com/a-policy-to-read

#policy2 = 1.3.6.1.4.1.5484.1.10.99.1.1
#policy2_txt = "This is a short policy"
#policy2_url = https://www.example.com/another-policy-to-read

# The number of additional certificates that may appear in a
# path before the anyPolicy is no longer acceptable.
#inhibit_anypolicy_skip_certs 1

# Name constraints

# DNS
#nc_permit_dns = example.com
#nc_exclude_dns = test.example.com

# EMAIL
#nc_permit_email = "nmav@ex.net"

# Exclude subdomains of example.com
#nc_exclude_email = .example.com

# Exclude all e-mail addresses of example.com
#nc_exclude_email = example.com

# IP
#nc_permit_ip = 192.168.0.0/16
#nc_exclude_ip = 192.168.5.0/24
#nc_permit_ip = fc0a:eef2:e7e7:a56e::/64


# Options for proxy certificates
#proxy_policy_language = 1.3.6.1.5.5.7.21.1


# Options for generating a CRL

# The number of days the next CRL update will be due.
# next CRL update will be in 43 days
#crl_next_update = 43

# this is the 5th CRL by this CA
# The value is in decimal (i.e. 1963) or hex (i.e. 0x07ab).
# Comment the field for a time-based number.
# Time-based CRL numbers generated in GnuTLS 3.6.3 and later
# are significantly larger than those generated in previous
# versions. Since CRL numbers need to be monotonic, you need
# to specify the CRL number here manually if you intend to
# downgrade to an earlier version than 3.6.3 after publishing
# the CRL as it is not possible to specify CRL numbers greater
# than 2**63-2 using hex notation in those versions.
#crl_number = 5

# Specify the update dates more precisely.
#crl_this_update_date = "2004-02-29 16:21:42"
#crl_next_update_date = "2025-02-29 16:24:41"

# The date that the certificates will be made seen as
# being revoked.
#crl_revocation_date = "2025-02-29 16:24:41"

Generating private keys
To create an RSA private key, run:

$ certtool --generate-privkey --outfile key.pem --rsa

To create a DSA or elliptic curves (ECDSA) private key use the above command combined with 'dsa' or 'ecc' options.

Generating certificate requests
To create a certificate request (needed when the certificate is  issued  by another party), run:

certtool --generate-request --load-privkey key.pem    --outfile request.pem

If the private key is stored in a smart card you can generate a request by specifying the private key object URL.

$ ./certtool --generate-request --load-privkey "pkcs11:..."   --load-pubkey "pkcs11:..." --outfile request.pem

Generating a self-signed certificate
To create a self signed certificate, use the command:

$ certtool --generate-privkey --outfile ca-key.pem
$ certtool --generate-self-signed --load-privkey ca-key.pem    --outfile ca-cert.pem

Note that a self-signed certificate usually belongs to a certificate authority, that signs other certificates.

Generating a certificate
To generate a certificate using the previous request, use the command:

$ certtool --generate-certificate --load-request request.pem    --outfile cert.pem --load-ca-certificate ca-cert.pem    --load-ca-privkey ca-key.pem

To generate a certificate using the private key only, use the command:

$ certtool --generate-certificate --load-privkey key.pem    --outfile cert.pem --load-ca-certificate ca-cert.pem    --load-ca-privkey ca-key.pem

Certificate information
To view the certificate information, use:

$ certtool --certificate-info --infile cert.pem

Changing the certificate format
To convert the certificate from PEM to DER format, use:

$ certtool --certificate-info --infile cert.pem --outder --outfile cert.der

PKCS #12 structure generation
To generate a PKCS #12 structure using the previous key and certificate, use the command:

$ certtool --load-certificate cert.pem --load-privkey key.pem    --to-p12 --outder --outfile key.p12

Some tools (reportedly web browsers) have problems with that file because it does not contain the CA certificate for the certificate. To work around that problem in the tool, you can use the --load-ca-certificate parameter as follows:

$ certtool --load-ca-certificate ca.pem   --load-certificate cert.pem --load-privkey key.pem   --to-p12 --outder --outfile key.p12

Obtaining Diffie-Hellman parameters
To obtain the RFC7919 parameters for Diffie-Hellman key exchange, use the command:

$ certtool --get-dh-params --outfile dh.pem --sec-param medium

Verifying a certificate
To verify a certificate in a file against the system's CA trust store use the following command:

$ certtool --verify --infile cert.pem

It is also possible to simulate hostname verification with the following options:

$ certtool --verify --verify-hostname www.example.com --infile cert.pem

Proxy certificate generation
Proxy certificate can be used to delegate your credential to a temporary, typically short-lived, certificate.  To create one from the previously created certificate, first create a temporary key and then generate a proxy certificate for it, using the commands:

$ certtool --generate-privkey > proxy-key.pem
$ certtool --generate-proxy --load-ca-privkey key.pem   --load-privkey proxy-key.pem --load-certificate cert.pem   --outfile proxy-cert.pem

Certificate revocation list generation
To create an empty Certificate Revocation List (CRL) do:

$ certtool --generate-crl --load-ca-privkey x509-ca-key.pem            --load-ca-certificate x509-ca.pem

To create a CRL that contains some revoked certificates, place the certificates in a file and use --load-certificate as follows:

$ certtool --generate-crl --load-ca-privkey x509-ca-key.pem   --load-ca-certificate x509-ca.pem --load-certificate revoked-certs.pem

To verify a Certificate Revocation List (CRL) do:

$ certtool --verify-crl --load-ca-certificate x509-ca.pem < crl.pem

One of the following exit values will be returned:

0  (EXIT_SUCCESS)

Successful program execution.

1  (EXIT_FAILURE)

The operation failed or the command syntax was not valid.

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