Pkcs11 Unicode C Reference Documentation
Pkcs11
Current Version: 10.0.0
A wrapper around the Cryptographic Token Interface (Cryptoki API) for thePKCS11 architecture of smart cards and tokens. This class provides functions for accessing, adding, deleting, and performing operations on data, certificates, and keys. It integrates with other Chilkat classes to allow for smartcards and tokens to be used in various protocols (TLS, SSH, PDF, etc.), across different operating systems and programming languages.
This class is introduced in Chilkat v9.5.0.88.
Create/Dispose
HCkPkcs11W instance = CkPkcs11W_Create(); // ... CkPkcs11W_Dispose(instance);
Creates an instance of the HCkPkcs11W object and returns a handle ("void *" pointer). The handle is passed in the 1st argument for the functions listed on this page.
Objects created by calling CkPkcs11W_Create must be freed by calling this method. A memory leak occurs if a handle is not disposed by calling this function. Also, any handle returned by a Chilkat "C" function must also be freed by the application by calling the appropriate Dispose method, such as CkPkcs11W_Dispose.
Properties
DebugLogFilePath
void CkPkcs11W_putDebugLogFilePath(HCkPkcs11W cHandle, const wchar_t *newVal);
const wchar_t *CkPkcs11W_debugLogFilePath(HCkPkcs11W cHandle);
If set to a file path, causes each Chilkat method or property call to automatically append it's LastErrorText to the specified log file. The information is appended such that if a hang or crash occurs, it is possible to see the context in which the problem occurred, as well as a history of all Chilkat calls up to the point of the problem. The VerboseLogging property can be set to provide more detailed information.
This property is typically used for debugging the rare cases where a Chilkat method call hangs or generates an exception that halts program execution (i.e. crashes). A hang or crash should generally never happen. The typical causes of a hang are:
- a timeout related property was set to 0 to explicitly indicate that an infinite timeout is desired,
- the hang is actually a hang within an event callback (i.e. it is a hang within the application code), or
- there is an internal problem (bug) in the Chilkat code that causes the hang.
LastErrorHtml
const wchar_t *CkPkcs11W_lastErrorHtml(HCkPkcs11W cHandle);
Provides information in HTML format about the last method/property called. If a method call returns a value indicating failure, or behaves unexpectedly, examine this property to get more information.
topLastErrorText
const wchar_t *CkPkcs11W_lastErrorText(HCkPkcs11W cHandle);
Provides information in plain-text format about the last method/property called. If a method call returns a value indicating failure, or behaves unexpectedly, examine this property to get more information.
LastErrorXml
const wchar_t *CkPkcs11W_lastErrorXml(HCkPkcs11W cHandle);
Provides information in XML format about the last method/property called. If a method call returns a value indicating failure, or behaves unexpectedly, examine this property to get more information.
topLastMethodSuccess
void CkPkcs11W_putLastMethodSuccess(HCkPkcs11W cHandle, BOOL newVal);
Indicate whether the last method call succeeded or failed. A value of TRUE indicates success, a value of FALSE indicates failure. This property is automatically set for method calls. It is not modified by property accesses. The property is automatically set to indicate success for the following types of method calls:
- Any method that returns a string.
- Any method returning a Chilkat object, binary bytes, or a date/time.
- Any method returning a standard boolean status value where success = TRUE and failure = FALSE.
- Any method returning an integer where failure is defined by a return value less than zero.
Note: Methods that do not fit the above requirements will always set this property equal to TRUE. For example, a method that returns no value (such as a "void" in C++) will technically always succeed.
topNumCerts
The number of certificates contained on the smart card or USB token. This property is set when FindAllCerts is called.
topSharedLibPath
void CkPkcs11W_putSharedLibPath(HCkPkcs11W cHandle, const wchar_t *newVal);
const wchar_t *CkPkcs11W_sharedLibPath(HCkPkcs11W cHandle);
On Windows systems, then should be set to the name of the DLL file (if the DLL is located in C:\Windows\System32), or it can be the full path to the DLL.
On Linux, MacOSX, or other non-Windows systems, this can also be either the full path to the .so or .dylib, or just the .so or .dylib filename. On these systems, Chilkat calls the dlopen system function to load the shared library. If just the filename is passed in, the directories searched are those indicated in the dlopen function description at https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man3/dlopen.3.html
SigContextPin
void CkPkcs11W_putSigContextPin(HCkPkcs11W cHandle, const wchar_t *newVal);
const wchar_t *CkPkcs11W_sigContextPin(HCkPkcs11W cHandle);
If the smart card or token requires a signature context login within the signing operation, then set this property to the context-specific signature PIN. Most smart cards do not need this. Don't set this property unless you know for sure your smart card needs it.
UncommonOptions
void CkPkcs11W_putUncommonOptions(HCkPkcs11W cHandle, const wchar_t *newVal);
const wchar_t *CkPkcs11W_uncommonOptions(HCkPkcs11W cHandle);
This is a catch-all property to be used for uncommon needs. This property defaults to the empty string. It can be set to a list of one or more of the following comma separated keywords:
- Pkcs11DiscoverSkipTokenInfo - Introduced in v9.5.0.99. Applies to the Discover method. If this keyword is present, then Discover will only return the slot information and will not make potentially time-consuming calls to get TokenInfo or information about supported mechanisms.
- Pkcs11DiscoverSkipMechanisms - Introduced in v9.5.0.99. Applies to the Discover method. If this keyword is present, then Discover will get slot and token info, but will not make potentially time-consuming calls to get information about supported mechanisms.
VerboseLogging
void CkPkcs11W_putVerboseLogging(HCkPkcs11W cHandle, BOOL newVal);
If set to TRUE, then the contents of LastErrorText (or LastErrorXml, or LastErrorHtml) may contain more verbose information. The default value is FALSE. Verbose logging should only be used for debugging. The potentially large quantity of logged information may adversely affect peformance.
topVersion
const wchar_t *CkPkcs11W_version(HCkPkcs11W cHandle);
Methods
CloseSession
Closes the session on the token (i.e. smart card).
Note: Memory leaks can occur if the session is not properly closed.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
CreatePkcs11Object
Creates an object and returns the handle. The attrs specifies the attributes that define the object to be created. See the linked examples below for more information.
DestroyObject
Destroys an object (deletes it from the HSM). hObject is the object's handle.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
topDiscover
Discovers the readers, smart cards, and USB tokens accessible via PKCS11 on the computer (using the DLL/shared lib specified by SharedLibPath). The onlyTokensPresent specifies if only slots (readers) with tokens (smart cards) present should be returned. The information is written to the json. (For details, see the example below.)
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
ExportPublicKey
Export a public key given a public or private key handle. The pubKey is loaded with the exported public key.
See the example linked below for more details.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
FindAllCerts
Finds all certificates contained on the smart card (or USB token). This sets the NumCerts property. Each certificate can be obtained by calling GetCert(index) where the 1st cert is at index 0.
Important: Private keys will not be seen unless the PKCS11 session is authenticated. To authenticate, your application must call Login after calling OpenSession.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
FindAllKeys
Finds all keys contained on the smart card (or USB token). The keyClass indicates the kind of keys to return, and can be one of the following:
- public
- private
- secret
- otp
Information about the keys is returned in json.
Important: Private keys will not be seen unless the PKCS11 session is authenticated. To authenticate, your application must call Login after calling OpenSession.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
FindCert
Finds the certificate where the given certPart equals the partValue. Possible values for certPart are: "privateKey", "subjectDN", "subjectDN_withTags", "subjectCN", "serial", or "serial:issuerCN". If certPart equals "privateKey", then pass an empty string in partValue. Specifying "privateKey" means to return the first certificate having a private key.
The cert is loaded with the certificate if successful.
Important: Private keys will not be seen unless the PKCS11 session is authenticated. To authenticate, your application must call Login after calling OpenSession.
Note: If successful, the cert will be linked internally with this PKCS11 session such that certificate can be used for signing on the smart card when used in other Chilkat classes such as XmlDSigGen, Pdf, Crypt2, Mime, MailMan, etc.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
FindObject
General function for finding an object such as a private key. Returns the handle of the first matching object, or 0 if not found.
GenEcKey
Generate an EC key pair suitable for signing data and verifying signatures. The private key is created on the HSM (smart card or token), and the public key is returned in pubKey. The publicAttrs and privateAttrs contain attributes for the public and private keys respectively. The PKCS11 public and private key handles are returned in jsonOut. Handles are used to reference a PKCS11 object, such as a public or private key, and are valid during the PKCS11 session. To use the key in future PKCS11 sessions, your application would need to find the object to get a new handle.
See the example linked below for more details.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
GenRsaKey
Generate an RSA key pair suitable for signing data and verifying signatures. The private key is created on the HSM (smart card or token), and the public key is returned in pubKey. The publicAttrs and privateAttrs contain attributes for the public and private keys respectively. The PKCS11 public and private key handles are returned in jsonOut. Handles are used to reference a PKCS11 object, such as a public or private key, and are valid during the PKCS11 session. To use the key in future PKCS11 sessions, your application would need to find the object to get a new handle.
See the example linked below for more details.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
GenSecretKey
Generates a symmetric encryption key. The keyType is the key type, which can be one of the following values:
- AES
- AES XTS
- Blowfish
- Twofish
- ChaCha20
The jsonTemplate is a template that specifies attributes about the key to be generated. See the example at the link below.
The handle to the generated key is returned. A value of 0 is returned on failure.
GetCert
Loads cert with the Nth certificate indicated by index. The 1st certificate is at index 0. The FindAllCerts method must be called beforehand to load the certs from the smart card into this object. After calling FindAllCerts, the NumCerts property is set and each certificate can be retrieved by calling GetCert.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
ImportPrivateKey
Imports a private key onto the HSM. Returns the handle of the unwrapped key, or 0 if failed. See the linked example below for more details.
ImportSshKey
Imports an SSH private key onto the HSM. Returns the handle of the unwrapped key, or 0 if failed.
Initialize
Initializes the PKCS#11 library. Should be called after specifying the SharedLibPath. The DLL (or .so/.dylib) is dynamically loaded and the PKCS#11 lib is initialized.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
InitPin
Initializes the normal user's PIN. This must be called from the security officer's (SO) logged-in session.
Note: To unblock a smart card, login to the SO (Security Officer) session using the PUK, and then call this with the new user PIN.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
InitToken
Initializes a token. slotId is the slot ID of the token's slot.
If the token has not been initialized (i.e. new from the factory), then the pPin parameter becomes the initial value of the SO (Security Officer) PIN. If the token is being reinitialized, the pin parameter is checked against the existing SO PIN to authorize the initialization operation.
When a token is initialized, all objects that can be destroyed are destroyed (i.e., all except for “indestructible” objects such as keys built into the token). Also, access by the normal user is disabled until the SO sets the normal user’s PIN. Depending on the token, some “default” objects may be created, and attributes of some objects may be set to default values.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
topLogin
Authenticates a session with a PIN. The userType can be one of the following integer values:
- Security Officer (0)
- Normal User (1)
- Context Specific (2)
Except for special circumstances, you'll always login as the Normal User.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
Logout
Logs out from a token (smart card).
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
OpenSession
Opens a session on the token (i.e. smart card). The slotId is the ID of the slot (not the index). Set slotId equal to -1 to choose the first available non-empty slot. The readWrite indicates whether the session should be read-only or read-write.
The PKCS11 terminology is confusing:
- A "slot" corresponds to a connected smart card reader or USB hardware token, such as a Feitian ePass3003Auto token.
- A "token" corresponds to the smart card inserted into the reader. If we have a USB hardware token, such as the epass3003Auto (or many others), then technically there is always a "smart card" inserted, because the USB hardware token is effectively both the reader and smart card wrapped in one inseparable device.
- The PKCS11 DLL (or .so shared lib, or .dylib) is the vendor supplied PKCS11 implementation (driver) that provides the low-level "C" PKCS11 functions (called by Chilkat internally).
- Generally, the number of slots will equal the number of connected smart cards or tokens belonging to the vendor of the DLL, or compatible with the DLL. In most cases you'll have your single reader with a single smart card inserted, and therefore only one slot exists.
- Some PKCS11 DLLs are provided by a 3rd party and support many smart cards.
For example, A.E.T. Europe B.V.'s "SafeSign Identity Client Standard Version 3.5" DLL is "aetpkss1.dll". It supports the following tokens:
- Defensiepas
- Defensiepas 2
- G&D Convego Join 4.01 40k/80k
- G&D SkySIM Hercules
- G&D SkySIM Scorpius
- G&D Sm@rtCafé Expert 3.2
- G&D Sm@rtCafé Expert 4.0
- G&D Sm@rtCafé Expert 5.0
- G&D Sm@rtCafé Expert 6.0
- G&D Sm@rtCafé Expert 7.0
- G&D Sm@rtCafé Expert 64
- Gemalto Desineo ICP D72 FXR1 Java
- Gemalto IDCore 30
- Gemalto MultiApp ID v2.1
- Gemalto Optelio D72 FR1
- Gemalto TOP DL v2
- Infineon Oracle JCOS Ed.1
- JCOP21 v2.3
- Morpho IDealCitiz v2.1
- Morpho JMV ProCL V3.0
- NXP J2A080 / J2A081 (JCOP 2.4.1 R3)
- NXP JD081 (JCOP 2.4.1 R3)
- NXP J3A080 (JCOP 2.4.1 R3)
- NXP JCOP 2.4.2 R3
- NXP JCOP 3 SecID P60
- Oberthur IDOne Cosmo v7.0
- RDW ABR kaart
- Rijkspas
- Rijkspas 2
- Sagem YpsID s2
- Sagem YpsID s3
- StarSign Crypto USB Token S
- Swissbit PS-100u SE
- UZI-pas
- UZI-pas 2
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
QuickSession
Quickly establishes a session on the 1st unempty slot, with or without login. If the pin is the empty string, then no login will take place. The userType can be one of the following integer values:
- Security Officer (0)
- Normal User (1)
- Context Specific (2)
Except for special circumstances, you should always select Normal User. If pin is the empty string, then no login takes place and userType is ignored.
Calling this method takes the place of making separate calls to Initialize, OpenSession, and Login.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
SetPin
Modifies the PIN of the user that is currently logged in, or the Normal User PIN if the session is not logged in.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.