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rsa(1ssl)

NAME

rsa - RSA key processing tool

SYNOPSIS

openssl rsa [-inform PEM | NET | DER] [-outform PEM | NET | DER] [-in filename] [-passin arg] [-out filename] [-passoutarg] [-sgckey] [-des] [-des3] [-idea] [-text] [-noout] [-modulus] [-check] [-pubin] [-pubout]

OPTIONS

-informDER|NET|PEM Specifies the input format. The DER option uses an ASN1 DER encoded form compatible with the PKCS#1 RSAPrivateKey or SubjectPublicKeyInfo format. The PEM form is the default format. It consists of the DER format base64 encoded with additional header and footer lines. On input PKCS#8 format private keys are also accepted. The NET form is described in the Notes section. -outformDER|NET|PEM Specifies the output format. The options have the same meaning as the -inform option. -infilename Specifies the input filename to read a key from or standard input if this option is not specified. If the key is encrypted, there will be a prompt for a pass phrase. -passinarg Input file password source. For more information about the format of arg, see the Pass Phrase Arguments section in openssl(1ssl). -outfilename Specifies the output filename to write a key to or standard output if this option is not specified. If any encryption options are set, there will bea prompt for a pass phrase. The output filename should not be the same as the input filename. -passoutpassword Output file password source. For more information about the format of arg, see the Pass Phrase Arguments section in openssl(1ssl). -sgckey Uses the modified NET algorithm used with some versions of Microsoft IIS and SGC keys. -des|-des3|-idea These options encrypt the private key with the DES, triple DES, or the IDEA ciphers respectively before outputting it. There is a prompt for a pass phrase. If none of these options is specified the key is written in plain text. This means that using the rsa utility to read in an encrypted key with no encryption option can be used to remove the pass phrase from a key, or by setting the encryption options it can be used to add or change the pass phrase. These options can only be used with PEM format output files. -text Prints out the various public or private key components in plain text in addition to the encoded version. -noout Prevents output of the encoded version of the key. -modulus Prints out the value of the modulus of the key. -check Checks the consistency of an RSA private key. -pubin By default a private key is read from the input file. With this option a public key is read instead. -pubout By default a private key is output. With this option a public key will be output instead. This option is automatically set if the input is a public key.

DESCRIPTION

The rsa command processes RSA keys. They can be converted between various forms and their components printed out. This command uses the traditional SSLeay compatible format for private key encryption. Newer applications should use the more secure PKCS#8 format using the pkcs8 command.

NOTES

The PEM private key format uses the following header and footer lines: -----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY----- -----END RSA PRIVATE KEY----- The PEM public key format uses the following header and footer lines: -----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY----- -----END PUBLIC KEY----- The NET form is a format compatible with older Netscape servers and Microsoft IIS .key files. It uses unsalted RC4 for its encryption. It is not very secure and should only be used when necessary. Some newer version of IIS have additional data in the exported .key files. To use these with the utility, view the file with a binary editor and look for the string private-key, then trace back to the byte sequence 0x30, 0x82. (This is an ASN1 sequence.) Copy all the data from this point onwards to another file and use that as the input to the rsa utility with the -inform NET option. If you get an error after entering the password try the -sgckey option.

RESTRICTIONS

The command line password arguments do not work with the NET format. There should be an option that automatically handles .key files, without having to manually edit them.

EXAMPLES

Remove the pass phrase on an RSA private key: openssl rsa -in key.pem -out keyout.pem Encrypt a private key using triple DES: openssl rsa -in key.pem -des3 -out keyout.pem Convert a private key from PEM to DER format: openssl rsa -in key.pem -outform DER -out keyout.der Print the components of a private key to standard output: openssl rsa -in key.pem -text -noout Output the public part of a private key: openssl rsa -in key.pem -pubout -out pubkey.pem

SEE ALSO

Commands: pkcs8(1ssl), dsa(1ssl), genrsa(1ssl), gendsa(1ssl)

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