This code sets up a root Certificate Authority (CA) using OpenSSL, configuring directories, files, and policies for issuing and managing digital certificates.

Run example

npm run import -- "create a trusted root CA"

create a trusted root CA

ROOT=/Users/briancullinan/jupytangular2/Utilities/ca

# prepare root CA
mkdir $ROOT

cd $ROOT
mkdir certs crl newcerts private
chmod 700 private
touch index.txt
echo 1000 > serial

echo "
# OpenSSL root CA configuration file.

[ ca ]
# man ca
default_ca = CA_default

[ CA_default ]
# Directory and file locations.
dir               = /Users/briancullinan/jupytangular2/Utilities/ca
certs             = \$dir/certs
crl_dir           = \$dir/crl
new_certs_dir     = \$dir/newcerts
database          = \$dir/index.txt
serial            = \$dir/serial
RANDFILE          = \$dir/private/.rand

# The root key and root certificate.
private_key       = \$dir/private/ca.key.pem
certificate       = \$dir/certs/ca.cert.pem

# For certificate revocation lists.
crlnumber         = \$dir/crlnumber
crl               = \$dir/crl/ca.crl.pem
crl_extensions    = crl_ext
default_crl_days  = 30

# SHA-1 is deprecated, so use SHA-2 instead.
default_md        = sha256

name_opt          = ca_default
cert_opt          = ca_default
default_days      = 375
preserve          = no
policy            = policy_strict

[ policy_strict ]
# The root CA should only sign intermediate certificates that match.
# See the POLICY FORMAT section of man ca.
countryName             = match
stateOrProvinceName     = match
organizationName        = match
organizationalUnitName  = optional
commonName              = supplied
emailAddress            = optional

[ policy_loose ]
# Allow the intermediate CA to sign a more diverse range of certificates.
# See the POLICY FORMAT section of the ca man page.
countryName             = optional
stateOrProvinceName     = optional
localityName            = optional
organizationName        = optional
organizationalUnitName  = optional
commonName              = supplied
emailAddress            = optional

[ req ]
# Options for the req tool
default_bits        = 2048
distinguished_name  = req_distinguished_name
string_mask         = utf8only

# SHA-1 is deprecated, so use SHA-2 instead.
default_md          = sha256

# Extension to add when the -x509 option is used.
x509_extensions     = v3_ca

[ req_distinguished_name ]
# See <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certificate_signing_request>.
countryName                     = Country Name (2 letter code)
stateOrProvinceName             = State or Province Name
localityName                    = Locality Name
0.organizationName              = Organization Name
organizationalUnitName          = Organizational Unit Name
commonName                      = Common Name
emailAddress                    = Email Address

# Optionally, specify some defaults.
countryName_default             = GB
stateOrProvinceName_default     = England
localityName_default            =
0.organizationName_default      = Alice Ltd
organizationalUnitName_default  =
emailAddress_default            =

[ v3_ca ]
# Extensions for a typical CA (man x509v3_config).
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid:always,issuer
basicConstraints = critical, CA:true
keyUsage = critical, digitalSignature, cRLSign, keyCertSign

[ v3_intermediate_ca ]
# Extensions for a typical intermediate CA (man x509v3_config).
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid:always,issuer
basicConstraints = critical, CA:true, pathlen:0
keyUsage = critical, digitalSignature, cRLSign, keyCertSign

[ usr_cert ]
# Extensions for client certificates (man x509v3_config).
basicConstraints = CA:FALSE
nsCertType = client, email
nsComment = \"OpenSSL Generated Client Certificate\"
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid,issuer
keyUsage = critical, nonRepudiation, digitalSignature, keyEncipherment
extendedKeyUsage = clientAuth, emailProtection

[ server_cert ]
# Extensions for server certificates (man x509v3_config).
basicConstraints = CA:FALSE
nsCertType = server
nsComment = \"OpenSSL Generated Server Certificate\"
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid,issuer
keyUsage = critical, digitalSignature, nonRepudiation, keyEncipherment, dataEncipherment
extendedKeyUsage = serverAuth
subjectAltName = @alt_names

[alt_names]
IP.1 = 127.0.0.1
DNS.1 = localhost

[ crl_ext ]
# Extension for CRLs (man x509v3_config).
authorityKeyIdentifier=keyid:always

[ ocsp ]
# Extension for OCSP signing certificates (man ocsp).
basicConstraints = CA:FALSE
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid,issuer
keyUsage = critical, digitalSignature
extendedKeyUsage = critical, OCSPSigning

" > $ROOT/openssl.cnf

# create root key
cd $ROOT
openssl genrsa -aes256 -passout pass:x -out private/ca.key.pem 4096
chmod 700 private/ca.key.pem
# generate root certificate
cd $ROOT
openssl req -config openssl.cnf \
      -passin pass:x \
      -key private/ca.key.pem \
      -new -x509 -days 7300 -sha256 -extensions v3_ca \
      -subj "/C=US/ST=Who/L=Is/O=John/OU=Galt/CN=localhost" \
      -out certs/ca.cert.pem
chmod 744 certs/ca.cert.pem
# verify root ca
openssl x509 -noout -text -in certs/ca.cert.pem

bash
#!/bin/bash

# Configuration
ROOT=/Users/briancullinan/jupytangular2/Utilities/ca
PASSWORD=x
CA_DAYS=7300
CA_BITS=4096
CA_DEFAULT_COUNTRY="US"
CA_DEFAULT_STATE="Who"
CA_DEFAULT_LOCALITY="Is"
CA_DEFAULT_ORGANIZATION="John"
CA_DEFAULT_ORGANIZATION_UNIT="Galt"
CA_DEFAULT_COMMON_NAME="localhost"
CA_DEFAULT_EMAIL="john@example.com"

# Prepare Root CA
mkdir -p "$ROOT"
cd "$ROOT"
mkdir -p certs crl newcerts private
chmod 700 private

# Create CA Configuration File
cat <<EOF > openssl.cnf
# OpenSSL root CA configuration file.

[ ca ]
# man ca
default_ca = CA_default

[ CA_default ]
# Directory and file locations.
dir               = $ROOT
certs             = \$dir/certs
crl_dir           = \$dir/crl
new_certs_dir     = \$dir/newcerts
database          = \$dir/index.txt
serial            = \$dir/serial
RANDFILE          = \$dir/private/.rand

# The root key and root certificate.
private_key       = \$dir/private/ca.key.pem
certificate       = \$dir/certs/ca.cert.pem

# For certificate revocation lists.
crlnumber         = \$dir/crlnumber
crl               = \$dir/crl/ca.crl.pem
crl_extensions    = crl_ext
default_crl_days  = 30

# SHA-256 is used by default.
default_md        = sha256

name_opt          = ca_default
cert_opt          = ca_default
default_days      = 375
preserve          = no
policy            = policy_strict

[ policy_strict ]
# The root CA should only sign intermediate certificates that match.
# See the POLICY FORMAT section of man ca.
countryName             = match
stateOrProvinceName     = match
organizationName        = match
organizationalUnitName  = optional
commonName              = supplied
emailAddress            = optional

[ policy_loose ]
# Allow the intermediate CA to sign a more diverse range of certificates.
# See the POLICY FORMAT section of the ca man page.
countryName             = optional
stateOrProvinceName     = optional
localityName            = optional
organizationName        = optional
organizationalUnitName  = optional
commonName              = supplied
emailAddress            = optional

[ req ]
# Options for the req tool
default_bits        = $CA_BITS
distinguished_name  = req_distinguished_name
string_mask         = utf8only

# SHA-256 is used by default.
default_md          = sha256

# Extension to add when the -x509 option is used.
x509_extensions     = v3_ca

[ req_distinguished_name ]
# See <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certificate_signing_request>.
countryName                     = Country Name (2 letter code)
stateOrProvinceName             = State or Province Name
localityName                    = Locality Name
0.organizationName              = Organization Name
organizationalUnitName          = Organizational Unit Name
commonName                      = Common Name
emailAddress                    = Email Address

# Optionally, specify some defaults.
countryName_default             = $CA_DEFAULT_COUNTRY
stateOrProvinceName_default     = $CA_DEFAULT_STATE
localityName_default            = $CA_DEFAULT_LOCALITY
0.organizationName_default      = $CA_DEFAULT_ORGANIZATION
organizationalUnitName_default  = $CA_DEFAULT_ORGANIZATION_UNIT
commonName_default              = $CA_DEFAULT_COMMON_NAME
emailAddress_default            = $CA_DEFAULT_EMAIL

[ v3_ca ]
# Extensions for a typical CA (man x509v3_config).
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid:always,issuer
basicConstraints = critical, CA:true
keyUsage = critical, digitalSignature, cRLSign, keyCertSign

[ v3_intermediate_ca ]
# Extensions for a typical intermediate CA (man x509v3_config).
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid:always,issuer
basicConstraints = critical, CA:true, pathlen:0
keyUsage = critical, digitalSignature, cRLSign, keyCertSign

[ usr_cert ]
# Extensions for client certificates (man x509v3_config).
basicConstraints = CA:FALSE
nsCertType = client, email
nsComment = \"OpenSSL Generated Client Certificate\"
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid,issuer
keyUsage = critical, nonRepudiation, digitalSignature, keyEncipherment
extendedKeyUsage = clientAuth, emailProtection

[ server_cert ]
# Extensions for server certificates (man x509v3_config).
basicConstraints = CA:FALSE
nsCertType = server
nsComment = \"OpenSSL Generated Server Certificate\"
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid,issuer
keyUsage = critical, digitalSignature, nonRepudiation, keyEncipherment, dataEncipherment
extendedKeyUsage = serverAuth
subjectAltName = @alt_names

[alt_names]
IP.1 = 127.0.0.1
DNS.1 = localhost

[ crl_ext ]
# Extension for CRLs (man x509v3_config).
authorityKeyIdentifier=keyid:always

[ ocsp ]
# Extension for OCSP signing certificates (man ocsp).
basicConstraints = CA:FALSE
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid,issuer
keyUsage = critical, digitalSignature
extendedKeyUsage = critical, OCSPSigning

EOF

chmod 644 openssl.cnf

# Create Root Key
openssl genrsa -aes256 -passout pass:$PASSWORD -out private/ca.key.pem $CA_BITS
chmod 700 private/ca.key.pem

# Generate Root Certificate
openssl req -config openssl.cnf -passin pass:$PASSWORD \
      -key private/ca.key.pem \
      -new -x509 -days $CA_DAYS -sha256 -extensions v3_ca \
      -subj "/C=$CA_DEFAULT_COUNTRY/ST=$CA_DEFAULT_STATE/L=$CA_DEFAULT_LOCALITY/O=$CA_DEFAULT_ORGANIZATION/OU=$CA_DEFAULT_ORGANIZATION_UNIT/CN=$CA_DEFAULT_COMMON_NAME" \
      -out certs/ca.cert.pem
chmod 744 certs/ca.cert.pem

# Verify Root CA
openssl x509 -noout -text -in certs/ca.cert.pem

This code snippet sets up a root Certificate Authority (CA) using OpenSSL.

Here's a breakdown:

1. Environment Setup:

   • Defines the ROOT variable to specify the directory where the CA files will be stored.
   • Creates the necessary directories (certs, crl, newcerts, private) within the ROOT directory.
   • Sets permissions on the private directory to restrict access.
   • Creates an index.txt file to store the serial number for issued certificates.
   • Initializes a serial file with the starting serial number (1000).

2. CA Configuration:

   • Defines a configuration file (ca.conf) for OpenSSL's CA tool.
   • Specifies the directory structure, file locations, and other parameters for the CA.
   • Sets the default signing algorithm to SHA-256.
   • Defines two policy sections:
     • policy_strict: Restricts certificate signing to intermediate certificates that match specific criteria (country, state, organization, etc.).
     • policy_loose: Allows more flexibility in certificate signing.

3. Certificate Request (req) Options:

   • Configures options for the req tool used to generate certificate signing requests (CSRs).
   • Sets the default key size to 2048 bits.

Purpose:

This code sets up a basic root CA infrastructure using OpenSSL, allowing for the generation of self-signed certificates and potentially issuing certificates to other entities within a controlled environment.