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Delphi ActiveX

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.

Chilkat Delphi ActiveX Downloads

Delphi ActiveX
var
success: Integer;
pkcs11: TChilkatPkcs11;
pin: WideString;
userType: Integer;
jsonTemplate: TChilkatJsonObject;
privKeyHandle: Cardinal;
pubKeyHandle: Cardinal;
sshKey: TChilkatSshKey;
ssh: TChilkatSsh;
port: Integer;

begin
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 := TChilkatPkcs11.Create(Self);

//  Use the PKCS#11 driver (.dll, .so, or .dylib) for your particular HSM.
pkcs11.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) then
  begin
    Memo1.Lines.Add(pkcs11.LastErrorText);
    Exit;
  end;

//  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 := TChilkatJsonObject.Create(Self);
jsonTemplate.UpdateString('class','private_key');
jsonTemplate.UpdateString('key_type','rsa');
jsonTemplate.UpdateString('label','MySshKey');

privKeyHandle := pkcs11.FindObject(jsonTemplate.ControlInterface);
if (privKeyHandle = 0) then
  begin
    Memo1.Lines.Add(pkcs11.LastErrorText);
    Exit;
  end;

//  The handle is only valid for the duration of this PKCS#11 session.  To use the key in a
//  later session, find it again.
Memo1.Lines.Add('private key handle: ' + IntToStr(privKeyHandle));

//  Find the corresponding public key by changing the class in the same template.
jsonTemplate.UpdateString('class','public_key');

pubKeyHandle := pkcs11.FindObject(jsonTemplate.ControlInterface);
if (pubKeyHandle = 0) then
  begin
    Memo1.Lines.Add(pkcs11.LastErrorText);
    Exit;
  end;

Memo1.Lines.Add('public key handle: ' + IntToStr(pubKeyHandle));

//  Create an empty SSH key object and tell it to use the PKCS#11 handles, indicating the key type.
sshKey := TChilkatSshKey.Create(Self);
success := sshKey.UsePkcs11(pkcs11.ControlInterface,privKeyHandle,pubKeyHandle,'rsa');
if (success = 0) then
  begin
    Memo1.Lines.Add(sshKey.LastErrorText);
    Exit;
  end;

ssh := TChilkatSsh.Create(Self);

port := 22;
success := ssh.Connect('ssh.example.com',port);
if (success = 0) then
  begin
    Memo1.Lines.Add(ssh.LastErrorText);
    Exit;
  end;

//  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.ControlInterface);
if (success = 0) then
  begin
    Memo1.Lines.Add(ssh.LastErrorText);
    Exit;
  end;

Memo1.Lines.Add('Public-key authentication successful.');

//  ... use the authenticated SSH session ...

ssh.Disconnect();

pkcs11.Logout();
pkcs11.CloseSession();