Online Certificate Status Protocol
The Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) was created as an alternative tocertificate revocation lists (CRLs). Similar to CRLs, OCSP enables a requesting party (eg, a web browser) to determine the revocation state of a certificate.
When a CA signs a certificate, they will typically include an OCSP server address (eg, http://ocsp.example.com) in the certificate. This is similar in function to crlDistributionPoints used for CRLs.
As an example, when a web browser is presented with a server certificate, it will send a query to the OCSP server address specified in the certificate. At this address, an OCSP responder listens to queries and responds with the revocation status of the certificate.
Note
It’s recommended to use OCSP instead where possible, though realistically you will tend to only need OCSP for website certificates. Some web browsers have deprecated or removed support for CRLs.
Prepare the configuration file
To use OCSP, the CA must encode the OCSP server location into the certificates that it signs. Use the authorityInfoAccess option in the appropriate sections, which in our case means the [ server_cert ] section.
[ server_cert ]
# ... snipped ...
authorityInfoAccess = OCSP;URI:http://ocsp.example.com
Create the OCSP pair
The OCSP responder requires a cryptographic pair for signing the response that it sends to the requesting party. The OCSP cryptographic pair must be signed by the same CA that signed the certificate being checked.
Create a private key and encrypt it with AES-256 encryption.
# cd /root/ca
# openssl genrsa -aes256 \
-out intermediate/private/ocsp.example.com.key.pem 4096
Create a certificate signing request (CSR). The details should generally match those of the signing CA. The Common Name, however, must be a fully qualified domain name.
# cd /root/ca
# openssl req -config intermediate/openssl.cnf -new -sha256 \
-key intermediate/private/ocsp.example.com.key.pem \
-out intermediate/csr/ocsp.example.com.csr.pem
Enter pass phrase for intermediate.key.pem: secretpassword
You are about to be asked to enter information that will be incorporated
into your certificate request.
-----
Country Name (2 letter code) [XX]:GB
State or Province Name []:England
Locality Name []:
Organization Name []:Alice Ltd
Organizational Unit Name []:Alice Ltd Certificate Authority
Common Name []:ocsp.example.com
Email Address []:
Sign the CSR with the intermediate CA.
# openssl ca -config intermediate/openssl.cnf \
-extensions ocsp -days 375 -notext -md sha256 \
-in intermediate/csr/ocsp.example.com.csr.pem \
-out intermediate/certs/ocsp.example.com.cert.pem
Verify that the certificate has the correct X509v3 extensions.
# openssl x509 -noout -text \
-in intermediate/certs/ocsp.example.com.cert.pem
X509v3 Key Usage: critical
Digital Signature
X509v3 Extended Key Usage: critical
OCSP Signing
Revoke a certificate
The OpenSSL ocsp tool can act as an OCSP responder, but it’s only intended for testing. Production ready OCSP responders exist, but those are beyond the scope of this guide.
Create a server certificate to test.
# cd /root/ca
# openssl genrsa -out intermediate/private/test.example.com.key.pem 2048
# openssl req -config intermediate/openssl.cnf \
-key intermediate/private/test.example.com.key.pem \
-new -sha256 -out intermediate/csr/test.example.com.csr.pem
# openssl ca -config intermediate/openssl.cnf \
-extensions server_cert -days 375 -notext -md sha256 \
-in intermediate/csr/test.example.com.csr.pem \
-out intermediate/certs/test.example.com.cert.pem
Run the OCSP responder on localhost. Rather than storing revocation status in a separate CRL file, the OCSP responder reads index.txt directly. The response is signed with the OCSP cryptographic pair (using the -rkey and -rsigner options).
# openssl ocsp -port 127.0.0.1:2560 -text -sha256 \
-index intermediate/index.txt \
-CA intermediate/certs/ca-chain.cert.pem \
-rkey intermediate/private/ocsp.example.com.key.pem \
-rsigner intermediate/certs/ocsp.example.com.cert.pem \
-nrequest 1
Enter pass phrase for ocsp.example.com.key.pem: secretpassword
In another terminal, send a query to the OCSP responder. The -cert option specifies the certificate to query.
# openssl ocsp -CAfile intermediate/certs/ca-chain.cert.pem \
-url http://127.0.0.1:2560 -resp_text \
-issuer intermediate/certs/intermediate.cert.pem \
-cert intermediate/certs/test.example.com.cert.pem
The start of the output shows:
- whether a successful response was received (
OCSP Response Status) - the identity of the responder (
Responder Id) - the revocation status of the certificate (
Cert Status)
OCSP Response Data:
OCSP Response Status: successful (0x0)
Response Type: Basic OCSP Response
Version: 1 (0x0)
Responder Id: ... CN = ocsp.example.com
Produced At: Apr 11 12:59:51 2015 GMT
Responses:
Certificate ID:
Hash Algorithm: sha1
Issuer Name Hash: E35979B6D0A973EBE8AEDED75D8C27D67D2A0334
Issuer Key Hash: 69E8EC547F252360E5B6E77261F1D4B921D445E9
Serial Number: 1003
Cert Status: good
This Update: Apr 11 12:59:51 2015 GMT
Revoke the certificate.
# openssl ca -config intermediate/openssl.cnf \
-revoke intermediate/certs/test.example.com.cert.pem
Enter pass phrase for intermediate.key.pem: secretpassword
Revoking Certificate 1003.
Data Base Updated
As before, run the OCSP responder and on another terminal send a query. This time, the output shows Cert Status: revoked and a Revocation Time.
OCSP Response Data:
OCSP Response Status: successful (0x0)
Response Type: Basic OCSP Response
Version: 1 (0x0)
Responder Id: ... CN = ocsp.example.com
Produced At: Apr 11 13:03:00 2015 GMT
Responses:
Certificate ID:
Hash Algorithm: sha1
Issuer Name Hash: E35979B6D0A973EBE8AEDED75D8C27D67D2A0334
Issuer Key Hash: 69E8EC547F252360E5B6E77261F1D4B921D445E9
Serial Number: 1003
Cert Status: revoked
Revocation Time: Apr 11 13:01:09 2015 GMT
This Update: Apr 11 13:03:00 2015 GMT
Reference
https://jamielinux.com/docs/openssl-certificate-authority/
Root CA configuration file:
# OpenSSL root CA configuration file. # Copy to `/root/ca/openssl.cnf`. [ ca ] # `man ca` default_ca = CA_default [ CA_default ] # Directory and file locations. dir = /root/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 (`man req`). 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:always keyUsage = critical, digitalSignature, keyEncipherment extendedKeyUsage = serverAuth [ 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
Intermediate CA configuration file:
# OpenSSL intermediate CA configuration file. # Copy to `/root/ca/intermediate/openssl.cnf`. [ ca ] # `man ca` default_ca = CA_default [ CA_default ] # Directory and file locations. dir = /root/ca/intermediate 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/intermediate.key.pem certificate = $dir/certs/intermediate.cert.pem # For certificate revocation lists. crlnumber = $dir/crlnumber crl = $dir/crl/intermediate.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_loose [ 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 (`man req`). 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:always keyUsage = critical, digitalSignature, keyEncipherment extendedKeyUsage = serverAuth [ 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