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  1. DZone
  2. Software Design and Architecture
  3. Security
  4. 19 Most Common OpenSSL Commands for 2023

19 Most Common OpenSSL Commands for 2023

Leverage the power of OpenSSL through our comprehensive list of the most common commands. Easily understand what each command does and why it is important.

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Janki Mehta user avatar
Janki Mehta
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Mar. 21, 23 · Tutorial
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What Is OpenSSL Command?

OpenSSL is an open-source-based implementation of the SSL protocol, with versions available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. It is a highly versatile tool used to create CSRs (Certificate Signing Requests) and Private Keys as well as compare an MD5 hash of different certificates or private keys; verify installed certificates on any website; and convert certificates into other formats. The most common OpenSSL commands are generating Certificate Signing Requests, verifying that a certificate is installed correctly on a website, comparing the MD5 hash of a certificate or private key with other versions, and converting certificates from one format to another.

The Most Common OpenSSL Commands

In this blog, we have mentioned some common OpenSSL commands used for different SSL management purposes. OpenSSL provides a wide range of options and parameters for each command, allowing users to manage their SSL infrastructure and fix their queries in no time.

Here’s an introduction to some common OpenSSL commands:

1. Generate a new private key and Certificate Signing Request

 
openssl req -out CSR.csr -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout privateKey.key


2. Generate a self-signed certificate using OpenSSL

 
openssl req -x509 -sha256 -nodes -days 365 -newkey rsa:2048 -keyout privateKey.key -out certificate.crt


3. Generate a certificate signing request (CSR) for an existing private key

 
openssl req -out CSR.csr -key privateKey.key -new


4. Generate a certificate signing request based on an existing certificate

 
openssl x509 -x509toreq -in certificate.crt -out CSR.csr -signkey privateKey.key


5. Remove a passphrase from a private key

 
openssl rsa -in privateKey.pem -out newPrivateKey.pem


Checking Using OpenSSL Commands

6. Check a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)

 
openssl req -text -noout -verify -in CSR.csr


7. Check a private key

 
openssl rsa -in privateKey.key -check


8. Check a certificate

 
openssl x509 -in certificate.crt -text -noout


9. Check a PKCS#12 file (.pfx or .p12)

 
openssl pkcs12 -info -in keyStore.p12


Debugging Using OpenSSL Commands

10. Verify an MD5 hash of the public key to make sure it matches with CSR or private key

 
openssl x509 -noout -modulus -in certificate.crt | openssl md5 
openssl rsa -noout -modulus -in privateKey.key | openssl md5 
openssl req -noout -modulus -in CSR.csr | openssl md5


11. Verify an SSL connection. All certificates (including Intermediates) must be shown.

 
openssl s_client -connect www.paypal.com:443


Converting Using OpenSSL Commands

OpenSSL Convert PEM

12. Convert PEM to DER:

 
openssl x509 -outform der -in certificate.pem -out certificate.der


13. Convert PEM to P7B:

 
openssl crl2pkcs7 -nocrl -certfile certificate.cer -out certificate.p7b -certfile CACert.cer


14. Convert PEM and Private Key to PFX/P12:

 
openssl pkcs12 -export -out certificate.pfx -inkey privateKey.key -in certificate.crt -certfile CACert.crt


OpenSSL Convert DER

15. Convert DER to PEM:

 
openssl x509 -inform der -in certificate.der -out certificate.pem


OpenSSL Convert P7B

16. Convert P7B to PEM:

 
openssl pkcs7 -print_certs -in certificate.p7b -out certificate.cer


17. Convert P7B to PFX:

 
openssl pkcs7 -print_certs -in certificate.p7b -out certificate.cer 
openssl pkcs12 -export -in certificate.cer -inkey privateKey.key -out certificate.pfx -certfile CACert.cer


OpenSSL Convert PFX

18. Convert PFX to PEM and Private Key

 
openssl pkcs12 -in certificate.pfx -out certificate.cer -nodes


19. Remove the Private key password

 
openssl rsa -in file.key -out file2.key


Conclusion on OpenSSL Commands

In conclusion, OpenSSL commands are a powerful set of tools for working with SSL/TLS certificates and cryptographic functions. These commands can be used for a wide range of tasks, including generating key pairs, creating and verifying digital signatures, encrypting and decrypting data, and managing SSL/TLS certificates. With its cross-platform compatibility and extensive documentation, OpenSSL is widely used by developers, system administrators, and security professionals around the world. Whether you're securing web applications, building secure communications protocols, or conducting forensic investigations, OpenSSL commands are an essential tool in the modern digital security toolkit.

Certificate signing request security Open source TLS

Opinions expressed by DZone contributors are their own.

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