{ 2010 03 03 }

Convert a PFX file to a PEM file

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Purpose

The following steps allow you to convert a PFX certificate file in Windows Server to a PEM file. This is important since most Linux/Unix systems prefer a PEM format for certificate use, especially something like an Apache web server.

  1. Download and install the Win32 OpenSSL (v0.9.8i) package from http://www.slproweb.com/products/Win32OpenSSL.html
  2. Create the folder C:\certs and copy your exported PFX certificate file inot the C:\certs folder. The name yourcert.pfx is used in this example.
  3. Go to Start, then click Run and type in “cmd” and press enter. This should bring up a command prompt which you can use to change into the OpenSSL bin directory.
  4. cd %homedrive%\OpenSSL\bin
  5. openssl pkcs12 -in C:\certs\yourcert.pfx -out c:\certs\newcertname.pem -nodes
  6. This should convert the file from a PFX format to a PEM format, feel free to substitute your own name instead of “newcertname.pem”. Also be sure this command is entered as one line, regardless of how it appears on this site. When prompted, enter the password you used when exporting the PFX file from the Windows certificate store. You should then receive the message “MAC verified OK”.
  7. Open “newcertname.pem” in notepad, and cut out the private key into C:\OpenSSL\bin\private\privatekey.pem (or another path and name as you see fit).
  8. Also cut out the CA Certificate into C:\OpenSSL\bin\cacert.pem
  9. Modify c:\OpenSSL\bin\openssl.cfg configuration file and change the [alt_names] to whichever alternative names you wish.
  10. Create a new request, by typing the following commands.
  11. openssl req -new -nodes -keyout privatekey.pem -out cert-request.pem
  12. openssl ca -out issued-cert -in cert-request.pem
  13. This should have created a new request and signed it with the CA’s private key. Keep in mind the path to these certificate files are not included here so make sure you are in the proper directory (i.e. the same directory) for those files.
  14. If you get errors during this procedure, clear the index.txt and serial files within the OpenSSL directory to be sure it is working with a fresh batch. Below is the configuration file for OpenSSL and is to be used as reference. Not all of the configuration is the same, so be sure to double check names of certificates and paths.

#
# OpenSSL example configuration file.
# This is mostly being used for generation of certificate requests.
#

# This definition stops the following lines choking if HOME isn’t
# defined.
HOME            = .
RANDFILE        = $ENV::HOME/.rnd

# Extra OBJECT IDENTIFIER info:
#oid_file        = $ENV::HOME/.oid
oid_section        = new_oids

# To use this configuration file with the “-extfile” option of the
# “openssl x509″ utility, name here the section containing the
# X.509v3 extensions to use:
# extensions        =
# (Alternatively, use a configuration file that has only
# X.509v3 extensions in its main [= default] section.)

[ new_oids ]

# We can add new OIDs in here for use by ‘ca’ and ‘req’.
# Add a simple OID like this:
# testoid1=1.2.3.4
# Or use config file substitution like this:
# testoid2=${testoid1}.5.6

####################################################################
[ ca ]
default_ca    = CA_default        # The default ca section

####################################################################
[ CA_default ]

dir        = ./demoCA        # Where everything is kept
certs        = $dir/certs        # Where the issued certs are kept
crl_dir        = $dir/crl        # Where the issued crl are kept
database    = $dir/index.txt    # database index file.
#unique_subject    = no            # Set to ‘no’ to allow creation of
# several ctificates with same subject.
new_certs_dir    = $dir/newcerts        # default place for new certs.

certificate    = $dir/cacert.pem     # The CA certificate
serial        = $dir/serial         # The current serial number
crlnumber    = $dir/crlnumber    # the current crl number
# must be commented out to leave a V1 CRL
crl        = $dir/crl.pem         # The current CRL
private_key    = $dir/private/cakey.pem# The private key
RANDFILE    = $dir/private/.rand    # private random number file

x509_extensions    = usr_cert        # The extentions to add to the cert

# Comment out the following two lines for the “traditional”
# (and highly broken) format.
name_opt     = ca_default        # Subject Name options
cert_opt     = ca_default        # Certificate field options

# Extension copying option: use with caution.
copy_extensions = copy

# Extensions to add to a CRL. Note: Netscape communicator chokes on V2 CRLs
# so this is commented out by default to leave a V1 CRL.
# crlnumber must also be commented out to leave a V1 CRL.
# crl_extensions    = crl_ext

default_days    = 3650            # how long to certify for
default_crl_days= 30            # how long before next CRL
default_md    = sha1            # which md to use.
preserve    = no            # keep passed DN ordering

# A few difference way of specifying how similar the request should look
# For type CA, the listed attributes must be the same, and the optional
# and supplied fields are just that :-)
policy        = policy_match

# For the CA policy
[ policy_match ]
countryName        = optional
stateOrProvinceName    = optional
localityName        = optional
organizationName    = optional
organizationalUnitName    = optional
commonName        = supplied
emailAddress        = optional
subjectAltName        = optional

#countryName        = match
#stateOrProvinceName    = match
#organizationName    = match
#organizationalUnitName    = optional
#commonName        = supplied
#emailAddress        = optional

# For the ‘anything’ policy
# At this point in time, you must list all acceptable ‘object’
# types.
[ policy_anything ]
countryName        = optional
stateOrProvinceName    = optional
localityName        = optional
organizationName    = optional
organizationalUnitName    = optional
commonName        = supplied
emailAddress        = optional

####################################################################
[ req ]
default_bits        = 1024
default_keyfile     = privkey.pem
distinguished_name    = req_distinguished_name
attributes        = req_attributes
x509_extensions    = v3_ca    # The extentions to add to the self signed cert

# Passwords for private keys if not present they will be prompted for
# input_password = secret
# output_password = secret

# This sets a mask for permitted string types. There are several options.
# default: PrintableString, T61String, BMPString.
# pkix     : PrintableString, BMPString.
# utf8only: only UTF8Strings.
# nombstr : PrintableString, T61String (no BMPStrings or UTF8Strings).
# MASK:XXXX a literal mask value.
# WARNING: current versions of Netscape crash on BMPStrings or UTF8Strings
# so use this option with caution!
string_mask = nombstr

req_extensions = v3_req # The extensions to add to a certificate request

[ req_distinguished_name ]
countryName            = Country Name (2 letter code)
countryName_default        = AU
countryName_min            = 2
countryName_max            = 2

stateOrProvinceName        = State or Province Name (full name)
stateOrProvinceName_default    = Some-State

localityName            = Locality Name (eg, city)

0.organizationName        = Organization Name (eg, company)
0.organizationName_default    = Internet Widgits Pty Ltd

# we can do this but it is not needed normally :-)
#1.organizationName        = Second Organization Name (eg, company)
#1.organizationName_default    = World Wide Web Pty Ltd

organizationalUnitName        = Organizational Unit Name (eg, section)
#organizationalUnitName_default    =

commonName            = Common Name (eg, YOUR name)
commonName_max            = 64

emailAddress            = Email Address
emailAddress_max        = 64

# SET-ex3            = SET extension number 3

[ req_attributes ]
challengePassword        = A challenge password
challengePassword_min        = 4
challengePassword_max        = 20

unstructuredName        = An optional company name

[ usr_cert ]

# These extensions are added when ‘ca’ signs a request.

# This goes against PKIX guidelines but some CAs do it and some software
# requires this to avoid interpreting an end user certificate as a CA.

basicConstraints=CA:FALSE

# Here are some examples of the usage of nsCertType. If it is omitted
# the certificate can be used for anything *except* object signing.

# This is OK for an SSL server.
# nsCertType            = server

# For an object signing certificate this would be used.
# nsCertType = objsign

# For normal client use this is typical
# nsCertType = client, email

# and for everything including object signing:
# nsCertType = client, email, objsign

# This is typical in keyUsage for a client certificate.
# keyUsage = nonRepudiation, digitalSignature, keyEncipherment

# This will be displayed in Netscape’s comment listbox.
nsComment            = “OpenSSL Generated Certificate”

# PKIX recommendations harmless if included in all certificates.
subjectKeyIdentifier=hash
authorityKeyIdentifier=keyid,issuer

# This stuff is for subjectAltName and issuerAltname.
# Import the email address.
# subjectAltName=email:copy
# An alternative to produce certificates that aren’t
# deprecated according to PKIX.
# subjectAltName=email:move

# Copy subject details
# issuerAltName=issuer:copy

#nsCaRevocationUrl        = http://www.domain.dom/ca-crl.pem
#nsBaseUrl
#nsRevocationUrl
#nsRenewalUrl
#nsCaPolicyUrl
#nsSslServerName

[ v3_req ]

# Extensions to add to a certificate request

basicConstraints = CA:FALSE
keyUsage = nonRepudiation, digitalSignature, keyEncipherment

subjectAltName          = @alt_names

[alt_names]
DNS.1   = 192.168.3.67
DNS.2   = merap-11.home.lcl
DNS.3   = merap-11

[ v3_ca ]

# Extensions for a typical CA

# PKIX recommendation.

subjectKeyIdentifier=hash

authorityKeyIdentifier=keyid:always,issuer:always

# This is what PKIX recommends but some broken software chokes on critical
# extensions.
#basicConstraints = critical,CA:true
# So we do this instead.
basicConstraints = CA:true

# Key usage: this is typical for a CA certificate. However since it will
# prevent it being used as an test self-signed certificate it is best
# left out by default.
# keyUsage = cRLSign, keyCertSign

# Some might want this also
# nsCertType = sslCA, emailCA

# Include email address in subject alt name: another PKIX recommendation
# subjectAltName=email:copy
# Copy issuer details
# issuerAltName=issuer:copy

# DER hex encoding of an extension: beware experts only!
# obj=DER:02:03
# Where ‘obj’ is a standard or added object
# You can even override a supported extension:
# basicConstraints= critical, DER:30:03:01:01:FF

[ crl_ext ]

# CRL extensions.
# Only issuerAltName and authorityKeyIdentifier make any sense in a CRL.

# issuerAltName=issuer:copy
authorityKeyIdentifier=keyid:always,issuer:always

[ proxy_cert_ext ]
# These extensions should be added when creating a proxy certificate

# This goes against PKIX guidelines but some CAs do it and some software
# requires this to avoid interpreting an end user certificate as a CA.

basicConstraints=CA:FALSE

# Here are some examples of the usage of nsCertType. If it is omitted
# the certificate can be used for anything *except* object signing.

# This is OK for an SSL server.
# nsCertType            = server

# For an object signing certificate this would be used.
# nsCertType = objsign

# For normal client use this is typical
# nsCertType = client, email

# and for everything including object signing:
# nsCertType = client, email, objsign

# This is typical in keyUsage for a client certificate.
# keyUsage = nonRepudiation, digitalSignature, keyEncipherment

# This will be displayed in Netscape’s comment listbox.
nsComment            = “OpenSSL Generated Certificate”

# PKIX recommendations harmless if included in all certificates.
subjectKeyIdentifier=hash
authorityKeyIdentifier=keyid,issuer:always

# This stuff is for subjectAltName and issuerAltname.
# Import the email address.
# subjectAltName=email:copy
# An alternative to produce certificates that aren’t
# deprecated according to PKIX.
# subjectAltName=email:move

# Copy subject details
# issuerAltName=issuer:copy

#nsCaRevocationUrl        = http://www.domain.dom/ca-crl.pem
#nsBaseUrl
#nsRevocationUrl
#nsRenewalUrl
#nsCaPolicyUrl
#nsSslServerName

# This really needs to be in place for it to be a proxy certificate.
proxyCertInfo=critical,language:id-ppl-anyLanguage,pathlen:3,policy:foo

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Posted by Andrew on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010, at 3:42 pm, and filed under General, HowTos, Linux, Windows.

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