java - How do I list / export private keys from a keystore?

Question

How do I list and export a private key from a keystore?

Answer 1

You can extract a private key from a keystore with Java6 and OpenSSL. This all depends on the fact that both Java and OpenSSL support PKCS#12-formatted keystores. To do the extraction, you first use keytool to convert to the standard format. Make sure you use the same password for both files (private key password, not the keystore password) or you will get odd failures later on in the second step.

keytool -importkeystore -srckeystore keystore.jks 
    -destkeystore intermediate.p12 -deststoretype PKCS12

Next, use OpenSSL to do the extraction to PEM:

openssl pkcs12 -in intermediate.p12 -out extracted.pem -nodes

You should be able to handle that PEM file easily enough; it's plain text with an encoded unencrypted private key and certificate(s) inside it (in a pretty obvious format).

When you do this, take care to keep the files created secure. They contain secret credentials. Nothing will warn you if you fail to secure them correctly. The easiest method for securing them is to do all of this in a directory which doesn't have any access rights for anyone other than the user. And never put your password on the command line or in environment variables; it's too easy for other users to grab.