RE: Changing the expiry date of a cert

2007-10-22 Thread David Schwartz

Mark H. Wood wrote:

> Further, it won't be a trust root until it's distributed and the
> recipients are satisfied that it is legitimate.  And I think that's
> the real question:
>
>   When my CA's certificate expires, can I update it without having to
>   deliver copies securely to everyone who is supposed to trust my CA?
>
> The answer to *that* question had better be "NO".  It truly doesn't
> matter whether you made a new certificate or updated the old one,
> because in either case you must distribute it again in a trustworthy
> manner or nobody will trust it.

There should be a way to issue an updated root certificate signed by the
original root (while it is still valid) such that browsers provide a very
simple prompt that strongly encourages you to "update" the certificate. If a
root is compromised inside its validity period, you're screwed anyway.
Unfortunately, as far as I know, there is no such thing.

DS


__
OpenSSL Project http://www.openssl.org
User Support Mailing Listopenssl-users@openssl.org
Automated List Manager   [EMAIL PROTECTED]


Re: Changing the expiry date of a cert

2007-10-19 Thread Mark H. Wood
On Wed, Oct 17, 2007 at 08:34:56PM -0700, Jim Fox wrote:
>
> This was a certificate authority certificate.  As such, the renewal has to 
> have
> the same key and DN as the original in order to continue being a CA
> for previously signed certificates.

Further, it won't be a trust root until it's distributed and the
recipients are satisfied that it is legitimate.  And I think that's
the real question:

  When my CA's certificate expires, can I update it without having to
  deliver copies securely to everyone who is supposed to trust my CA?

The answer to *that* question had better be "NO".  It truly doesn't
matter whether you made a new certificate or updated the old one,
because in either case you must distribute it again in a trustworthy
manner or nobody will trust it.

-- 
Mark H. Wood, Lead System Programmer   [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Typically when a software vendor says that a product is "intuitive" he
means the exact opposite.



pgpBe6yBeomvJ.pgp
Description: PGP signature


Re: [openssl-users] Re: Changing the expiry date of a cert

2007-10-18 Thread Erwann ABALEA
Hodie XVI Kal. Nov. MMVII est, Jim Fox scripsit:
>
> This was a certificate authority certificate.  As such, the renewal has to 
> have
> the same key and DN as the original in order to continue being a CA
> for previously signed certificates.

You don't have to keep the same key, you just have to keep the same
DN.

-- 
Erwann ABALEA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
-
If you never try anything new, you'll miss out on many of life's great
disappointments.
  Demotivators, 2002 calendar
__
OpenSSL Project http://www.openssl.org
User Support Mailing Listopenssl-users@openssl.org
Automated List Manager   [EMAIL PROTECTED]


RE: Changing the expiry date of a cert

2007-10-17 Thread Mouse
> > "Is it possible to extend the expiry of this certificate
> > without changing any other fields in the certificate?"
> >
> > to which it seems that the answer is
> >
> > "Yes",
> 
> How could the answer be anything other than yes?

All too easily. Because as you ourself point out, such a change would
invalidate the signature. And if a new signature is acquired - for all
practical purposes it is a new certificate, regardless of how much in common
it happens to have with the old one.

> Could there 
> be some mysterious force that compels you to change other fields?

I never heard that there was a "minimal change" that was allowed without
invalidating the cert. :-)

> Or you can argue that the answer is "no", since you have to 
> at least change the signature and you pretty much have to 
> change the serial number.

Exactly!

> And the OP replies:
> 
> > Yes. Thats what I was trying to ask. So, how can
> > I change the expiry date of an existing certificate
> > without changing any other field ? Is 
> > there any openssl command that I may use ?
> 
> Did you not read or understand my answer? There is no 
> difference between changing the date on the old certificate 
> and issuing a new certificate.

If one wants to preserve the old serial number and old signatures - the
answer is "no-how, no way". If one wants to have the same cert with a new
expiration date - then just get a new cert with that one change (like David
described).

> Just issue a new certificate the same way you issued the 
> original one, changing only the expiration date (and the 
> signature, if you want). Tell everyone you changed the 
> expiration date on the original, they won't be able to tell 
> that you're lying.

Yes! :-)
And how can the signature not be changed? It's a different stream of bits
(from the original cert), so it necessarily requires a new (different)
signature.

 
> Sorry if this sounds like insane ranting. I'm really
> trying to be helpful, but it seems like it didn't sink
> in the first time.

:-) Let's see how the 2nd iteration goes. :-)

__
OpenSSL Project http://www.openssl.org
User Support Mailing Listopenssl-users@openssl.org
Automated List Manager   [EMAIL PROTECTED]


Re: Changing the expiry date of a cert

2007-10-17 Thread Jim Fox


This was a certificate authority certificate.  As such, the renewal  
has to have

the same key and DN as the original in order to continue being a CA
for previously signed certificates.

Jim

On Oct 17, 2007, at 5:54 PM, David Schwartz wrote:




It seems to me that the OP is indeed asking something else entirely
different from the question which you yourself seem to have posed and
then immediately failed to answer.  He's asking

"Is it possible to extend the expiry of this certificate without
changing any other fields in the certificate?"

to which it seems that the answer is

"Yes",


How could the answer be anything other than yes? Could there be some
mysterious force that compels you to change other fields?

Or you can argue that the answer is "no", since you have to at  
least change

the signature and you pretty much have to change the serial number.

And the OP replies:


Yes. Thats what I was trying to ask. So, how can I change the
expiry date of an existing certificate without changing any
other field ? Is there any openssl command that I may use ?


Did you not read or understand my answer? There is no difference  
between
changing the date on the old certificate and issuing a new  
certificate. If
you know how to issue a new certificate, you know how to change the  
date on
an existing one because THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO  
THINGS

other than philsophical differences.

If you issue a new certificate that is the same as the old except  
for the
serial number, how will anyone know you didn't just change the  
serial number

on the old one? Will they somehow be the same bits and not new bits?

IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. The question, as asked, is purely  
philosophical.


Just issue a new certificate the same way you issued the original one,
changing only the expiration date (and the signature, if you want).  
Tell
everyone you changed the expiration date on the original, they  
won't be able

to tell that you're lying.

If you don't know how to or can't issue a new certificate with a new
expiration date, then you can't change the expiration date on the  
old one
either. Why? BECAUSE THEY'RE THE SAME THING. They're just two  
different ways

of saying the same thing.

If your driver's license expires, you can change the expiration  
date on the
license and reprint it. Or you can get a new license with a new  
expiration
date. The difference is -- wait for it -- nothing at all. It's the  
same
thing. The same procedure to "issue a new license with a new  
expiration
date" can be said to "reissue the original license with a new  
expiration
date". The only thing that makes it "new" or "reissued" is the  
difference

between the two licenses which is just the expiration date!

Sorry if this sounds like insane ranting. I'm really trying to be  
helpful,

but it seems like it didn't sink in the first time.

DS


__
OpenSSL Project http://www.openssl.org
User Support Mailing Listopenssl-users@openssl.org
Automated List Manager   [EMAIL PROTECTED]


__
OpenSSL Project http://www.openssl.org
User Support Mailing Listopenssl-users@openssl.org
Automated List Manager   [EMAIL PROTECTED]


RE: Changing the expiry date of a cert

2007-10-17 Thread David Schwartz

> It seems to me that the OP is indeed asking something else entirely
> different from the question which you yourself seem to have posed and
> then immediately failed to answer.  He's asking
>
> "Is it possible to extend the expiry of this certificate without
> changing any other fields in the certificate?"
>
> to which it seems that the answer is
>
> "Yes",

How could the answer be anything other than yes? Could there be some
mysterious force that compels you to change other fields?

Or you can argue that the answer is "no", since you have to at least change
the signature and you pretty much have to change the serial number.

And the OP replies:

> Yes. Thats what I was trying to ask. So, how can I change the
> expiry date of an existing certificate without changing any
> other field ? Is there any openssl command that I may use ?

Did you not read or understand my answer? There is no difference between
changing the date on the old certificate and issuing a new certificate. If
you know how to issue a new certificate, you know how to change the date on
an existing one because THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO THINGS
other than philsophical differences.

If you issue a new certificate that is the same as the old except for the
serial number, how will anyone know you didn't just change the serial number
on the old one? Will they somehow be the same bits and not new bits?

IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. The question, as asked, is purely philosophical.

Just issue a new certificate the same way you issued the original one,
changing only the expiration date (and the signature, if you want). Tell
everyone you changed the expiration date on the original, they won't be able
to tell that you're lying.

If you don't know how to or can't issue a new certificate with a new
expiration date, then you can't change the expiration date on the old one
either. Why? BECAUSE THEY'RE THE SAME THING. They're just two different ways
of saying the same thing.

If your driver's license expires, you can change the expiration date on the
license and reprint it. Or you can get a new license with a new expiration
date. The difference is -- wait for it -- nothing at all. It's the same
thing. The same procedure to "issue a new license with a new expiration
date" can be said to "reissue the original license with a new expiration
date". The only thing that makes it "new" or "reissued" is the difference
between the two licenses which is just the expiration date!

Sorry if this sounds like insane ranting. I'm really trying to be helpful,
but it seems like it didn't sink in the first time.

DS


__
OpenSSL Project http://www.openssl.org
User Support Mailing Listopenssl-users@openssl.org
Automated List Manager   [EMAIL PROTECTED]


Re: Changing the expiry date of a cert

2007-10-17 Thread Victor Duchovni
On Wed, Oct 17, 2007 at 09:49:15PM +0100, G.W. Haywood wrote:

> "Is it possible to extend the expiry of this certificate without
> changing any other fields in the certificate?"
> 
> to which it seems that the answer is
> 
> "Yes",

Actually it is "no", because the certificate needs a new signature block.
But the more interesting question is what verifiers will make of the
new cert, and the answe is that they won't trust it unless reconfigured
to do so.

> although one might add that the resulting certificate could be viewed
> by some as a different certificate.  In that case, the next question
> would be "Is it valid?", to which the answer would also presumably be
> 
> "Yes".

If the signature block is not updated (new cert generated with nearly
identical fields), the cert is invalid. If a new valid cert is generated,
it is untrusted.

-- 
Viktor.
__
OpenSSL Project http://www.openssl.org
User Support Mailing Listopenssl-users@openssl.org
Automated List Manager   [EMAIL PROTECTED]


Re: Changing the expiry date of a cert

2007-10-17 Thread PS
Yes. Thats what I was trying to ask. So, how can I change the expiry date of
an existing certificate without changing any other field ? Is there any
openssl command that I may use ?

On 10/17/07, G.W. Haywood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Hi there,
>
> On Wed, 17 Oct 2007, David Schwartz wrote:
>
> > The OP wrote:
> >
> > > I have a private CA certificate created using openssl command line.
> > > The issue is that the certificate expires on 19th Oct, 2007.
> > > The question is that "Is it possible to extend the expiry of this
> > > certificate without changing any other fields in the certificate?"
> > > Basically, I want to continue using this CA Cert to sign end-user
> > > certs for a longer time.
> > > Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.
> >
> > This question comes up a lot and I still have no idea what anyone is
> asking.
>
> It seems fairly clear to me.
>
> > It seems like it's largely a philosophical question, like am I the same
> > person I was ten years ago even though only 1% of the molecules are the
> > same.
>
> I don't think the OP asked anything like that.
>
> > Some might consider the resulting certificate to be the original
> certificate
> > with a later expiry date. Some might consider it to be a brand new
> > certificate that just happens to share some common values with the
> previous
> > certificate.
>
> I don't think the OP asked whether it would still be the old certificate
> or
> if it would be a new certificate.  He just asked if he can change the
> date,
> and only the date, on his existing certificate.
>
> > What possible difference does it make whether you consider the resulting
> > certificate a "new certificate" or "the original certificate with a
> later
> > expiration date"?
>
> I don't think, in this thread, that anyone else considered that
> difference.
>
> > Or are you asking something else entirely? And if so, what?
>
> It seems to me that the OP is indeed asking something else entirely
> different from the question which you yourself seem to have posed and
> then immediately failed to answer.  He's asking
>
> "Is it possible to extend the expiry of this certificate without
> changing any other fields in the certificate?"
>
> to which it seems that the answer is
>
> "Yes",
>
> although one might add that the resulting certificate could be viewed
> by some as a different certificate.  In that case, the next question
> would be "Is it valid?", to which the answer would also presumably be
>
> "Yes".
>
> Have I understood?
>
> --
>
> 73,
> Ged.
> __
> OpenSSL Project http://www.openssl.org
> User Support Mailing Listopenssl-users@openssl.org
> Automated List Manager   [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>


RE: Changing the expiry date of a cert

2007-10-17 Thread G.W. Haywood
Hi there,

On Wed, 17 Oct 2007, David Schwartz wrote:

> The OP wrote:
>
> > I have a private CA certificate created using openssl command line.
> > The issue is that the certificate expires on 19th Oct, 2007.
> > The question is that "Is it possible to extend the expiry of this
> > certificate without changing any other fields in the certificate?"
> > Basically, I want to continue using this CA Cert to sign end-user
> > certs for a longer time.
> > Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.
>
> This question comes up a lot and I still have no idea what anyone is asking.

It seems fairly clear to me.

> It seems like it's largely a philosophical question, like am I the same
> person I was ten years ago even though only 1% of the molecules are the
> same.

I don't think the OP asked anything like that.

> Some might consider the resulting certificate to be the original certificate
> with a later expiry date. Some might consider it to be a brand new
> certificate that just happens to share some common values with the previous
> certificate.

I don't think the OP asked whether it would still be the old certificate or
if it would be a new certificate.  He just asked if he can change the date,
and only the date, on his existing certificate.

> What possible difference does it make whether you consider the resulting
> certificate a "new certificate" or "the original certificate with a later
> expiration date"?

I don't think, in this thread, that anyone else considered that difference.

> Or are you asking something else entirely? And if so, what?

It seems to me that the OP is indeed asking something else entirely
different from the question which you yourself seem to have posed and
then immediately failed to answer.  He's asking

"Is it possible to extend the expiry of this certificate without
changing any other fields in the certificate?"

to which it seems that the answer is

"Yes",

although one might add that the resulting certificate could be viewed
by some as a different certificate.  In that case, the next question
would be "Is it valid?", to which the answer would also presumably be

"Yes".

Have I understood?

--

73,
Ged.
__
OpenSSL Project http://www.openssl.org
User Support Mailing Listopenssl-users@openssl.org
Automated List Manager   [EMAIL PROTECTED]


RE: Changing the expiry date of a cert

2007-10-17 Thread David Schwartz

> I have a private CA certificate created using openssl command line.
> The issue is that the certificate expires on 19th Oct, 2007.
> The question is that "Is it possible to extend the expiry of this
> certificate without changing any other fields in the certificate?"
> Basically, I want to continue using this CA Cert to sign end-user
> certs for a longer time.
> Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

This question comes up a lot and I still have no idea what anyone is asking.

It seems like it's largely a philosophical question, like am I the same
person I was ten years ago even though only 1% of the molecules are the
same.

Some might consider the resulting certificate to be the original certificate
with a later expiry date. Some might consider it to be a brand new
certificate that just happens to share some common values with the previous
certificate.

What possible difference does it make whether you consider the resulting
certificate a "new certificate" or "the original certificate with a later
expiration date"?

Or are you asking something else entirely? And if so, what?

DS


__
OpenSSL Project http://www.openssl.org
User Support Mailing Listopenssl-users@openssl.org
Automated List Manager   [EMAIL PROTECTED]