.NET Core C#

SSH Authenticate using Smart Card Private Key

See more SSH Examples

Demonstrates how to use a private key stored on an HSM (smartcard or token) for SSH public-key authentication. (Public-key authentication means the client, which is your application, uses the private key, while the corresponding public key is installed on the server under your SSH account.)

Note: This example requires Chilkat v9.5.0.96 or later.

.NET Core C#

bool success = false;

// This example requires the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
// See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

// Note: Chilkat's PKCS11 implementation runs on Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and other supported operating systems.

Chilkat.Pkcs11 pkcs11 = new Chilkat.Pkcs11();

// Use the PKCS11 driver (.dll, .so, .dylib) for your particular HSM.
// For example:
pkcs11.SharedLibPath = "C:/Program Files (x86)/Gemalto/IDGo 800 PKCS#11/IDPrimePKCS11.dll";

// Use your HSM's PIN.
string pin = "0000";

// Normal user = 1
int userType = 1;

// Establish a logged-on user session with the HSM.
success = pkcs11.QuickSession(userType,pin);
if (success == false) {
    Debug.WriteLine(pkcs11.LastErrorText);
    return;
}

// Provide a template to find a PKCS11 object.
Chilkat.JsonObject jsonTemplate = new Chilkat.JsonObject();

// Find an RSA private key with the label "MySshKey".
// Here's an example of how the key was originally imported: 
// PKCS11 Import SSH Key
jsonTemplate.UpdateString("class","private_key");
jsonTemplate.UpdateString("key_type","rsa");
jsonTemplate.UpdateString("label","MySshKey");

uint privKeyHandle = pkcs11.FindObject(jsonTemplate);
if (privKeyHandle == 0) {
    Debug.WriteLine(pkcs11.LastErrorText);
    return;
}

// The private key handle is only valid during the PKCS11 session.
// If you wish to use the private key in another PKCS11 session,
// you'll first need to find it.  See:  
Debug.WriteLine("private key handle: " + Convert.ToString(privKeyHandle));

// We'll also need the PKCS11 public key handle
// Modify the template by updating the "class" to "public_key"
jsonTemplate.UpdateString("class","public_key");

uint pubKeyHandle = pkcs11.FindObject(jsonTemplate);
if (pubKeyHandle == 0) {
    Debug.WriteLine(pkcs11.LastErrorText);
    return;
}

Debug.WriteLine("public key handle: " + Convert.ToString(pubKeyHandle));

// Create an empty SSH key object, and tell it to use the PKCS11 handles.
// We also need to indicate the key type.
Chilkat.SshKey sshKey = new Chilkat.SshKey();
success = sshKey.UsePkcs11(pkcs11,privKeyHandle,pubKeyHandle,"rsa");
if (success == false) {
    Debug.WriteLine(sshKey.LastErrorText);
    return;
}

// Create an SSH object and authenticate using the SSH key, which will utilize the existing PKCS11 session.
Chilkat.Ssh ssh = new Chilkat.Ssh();

success = ssh.Connect("my-ssh-server.com",22);
if (success == false) {
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText);
    return;
}

// This is where the PKCS11 private key on the smart card is used.
success = ssh.AuthenticatePk("your_ssh_username",sshKey);
if (success == false) {
    Debug.WriteLine(ssh.LastErrorText);
    return;
}

// Do whatever it is your app needs to do using the authenticated SSH session....
// ...
// ...

ssh.Disconnect();

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