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Convert PFX Certificate to JKS, P12, CRT

Learn how to convert a PFX certificate for client authentication to a Java keystore (JKS).

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Nayden Gochev user avatar
Nayden Gochev
·
May. 17, 19 · Tutorial
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I recently had to use a PFX certificate for client authentication, and for that reason, I had to convert it to a Java keystore (JKS). In this post, we will learn how to create both a truststore and a keystore, because based on your needs, you might need one or the other. 

The difference between truststore and keystore, if you are not aware is, according to the JSSE ref guide:

TrustManager: Determines whether the remote authentication credentials (and thus the connection) should be trusted.
KeyManager: Determines which authentication credentials to send to the remote host.

Next, all you need is OpenSSL and Java 7+!

First, let's generate a key from the PFX file; this key is later used for p12 keystore.

openssl pkcs12 -in example.pfx -nocerts -out example.key  

Enter Import Password:

MAC verified OK

Enter PEM pass phrase:

Verifying - Enter PEM pass phrase:


As shown here, you will be asked for the password of the PFX file. Later, you will be asked to enter a PEM passphase. Let's, for example, use 123456 for everything here.

The second command is almost the same, but it is about nokey and a crt this time:

openssl pkcs12 -in example.pfx -clcerts -nokeys -out example.crt  

Enter Import Password:

MAC verified OK


Now, we have a key and and a crt file. The next step is to create a truststore, like so:

keytool -import -file example.crt -alias exampleCA -keystore truststore.jks

Enter keystore password:

Re-enter new password:

Owner: CN=.....

.......

Trust this certificate? [no]:  yes

Certificate was added to keystore


As you can see here, you just import this crt file into a JKS truststore and set the password. For the question: "Do you trust this certificate?" answer "yes," so it is then added in the truststore.

If you only need a truststore, you can stop here.

The last step is to create a keystore, like so:

openssl pkcs12 -export -in example.crt -inkey example.key -certfile example.crt -name "examplecert" -out keystore.p12

Enter pass phrase for example.key:

Enter Export Password:

Verifying - Enter Export Password:


This p12 keystore is enough in many cases. However, if you still need a JKS keystore, you need one additional command:

keytool -importkeystore -srckeystore keystore.p12 -srcstoretype pkcs12 -destkeystore keystore.jks -deststoretype JKS

Importing keystore keystore.p12 to keystore.jks...

Enter destination keystore password:

Re-enter new password:

Enter source keystore password:

Entry for alias examplecert successfully imported.

Import command completed:  1 entries successfully imported, 0 entries failed or cancelled

Warning:

The JKS keystore uses a proprietary format. It is recommended to migrate to PKCS12 which is an industry standard format using "keytool -importkeystore -srckeystore keystore.jks -destkeystore keystore.jks -deststoretype pkcs12".


That is all folks! Hope this helps, and please feel free to leave any questions or comments.

ls                                                                        

example.pfx  example.key            keystore.p12

example.crt  keystore.jks           truststore.jks


Convert (command)

Published at DZone with permission of Nayden Gochev. See the original article here.

Opinions expressed by DZone contributors are their own.

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