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Zorluk: OrtaPublic Key Infrastructure and Certificate Management

An enterprise security policy requires software developers to digitally sign compiled binaries using a dedicated Hardware Security Module (HSM) USB token. Which of the following represents the correct sequential order of steps required to obtain and prepare the code signing certificate on the hardware token, from first to last?

  1. 1Generate an asymmetric key pair directly on the HSM USB token, ensuring the private key is marked as non-exportable.
  2. 2Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) on the workstation using the public key from the HSM and subject identity details.
  3. 3Submit the CSR to the organization's trusted Certificate Authority (CA) for identity verification and digital signing.
  4. 4Import the signed public key certificate issued by the CA back onto the HSM token to bind it with the corresponding private key.

Cevap

The correct sequence begins with generating the asymmetric key pair on the HSM token, followed by generating the Certificate Signing Request (CSR), submitting the CSR to the Certificate Authority (CA) for signing, and finally importing the signed certificate onto the HSM token to bind it with the stored private key.
The standard PKI enrollment workflow follows a logical sequence. First, the asymmetric key pair must be generated directly on the target device (HSM) so the private key remains secure. Second, a CSR is built using the generated public key and subject metadata. Third, the CSR is submitted to the CA for verification and digital signature issuance. Finally, the resulting signed certificate is installed back onto the HSM to bind with the private key.

Adım Adım Çözüm

1
Generate the asymmetric key pair inside the secure boundary of the HSM USB token.
A public key is exposed for request generation, while the private key is retained in non-exportable hardware storage.
For high-assurance security like code signing, private key generation must occur locally on the cryptoprocessor to prevent key exposure.
2
Construct a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) incorporating the public key and organizational subject attributes.
A standardized PKCS#10 CSR file is created.
The Certificate Authority requires a formal CSR containing the public key and identity data to construct the certificate.
3
Submit the CSR to the internal or commercial Certificate Authority (CA).
The CA validates the identity, signs the public key using its private key, and issues an X.509 certificate.
The CA serves as the trusted third party that validates the identity and digitally signs the certificate.
4
Import the issued X.509 certificate back into the HSM token container.
The certificate is bound to the matching private key stored on the hardware token.
Binding the signed public certificate with the private key on the HSM completes the PKI enrollment lifecycle and enables signing tools to operate.

Anahtar Kavram

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Certificate Signing Request (CSR) and Hardware-Based Key Lifecycle
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