How do I view the details of a digital certificate .cer file?

Question

I am using Windows and have been given a .cer file. How can I view the details of it?

Helvick · Answer 1 · 2010-12-23 10:30:14Z

up vote 4 down vote accepted

OpenSSL will allow you to look at it if its installed on your system.

openssl x509 -in cerfile.cer -noout -text

The format of the .CER file might require that you specify a different encoding format to be explicitly called out.

openssl x509 -inform pem -in cerfile.cer -noout -text

or

openssl x509 -inform der -in cerfile.cer -noout -text

On Windows systems you can right click the .cer file and select Open. That will then let you view most of the meta data.

answered Dec 23 '10 at 9:38

Helvick
11.8k11129

	I get "4726:error:0906D06C:PEM routines:PEM_read_bio:no start line:pem_lib.c:632:Expecting: TRUSTED CERTIFICATE" when I do this in Linux – Zubair Dec 23 '10 at 9:51
	What you mentioned about Windows works though, but is very hard to read the certificate details in the little window that is displayed – Zubair Dec 23 '10 at 9:54
	I've added some clarifications on some OpenSSL options to specify different encoding formats - given your error specifying DER format looks like it would work. – Helvick Dec 23 '10 at 10:31
	Thanks, "openssl x509 -inform der -in cerfile.cer -noout -text" worked! – Zubair Dec 23 '10 at 12:25

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Paul · Answer 2 · 2010-12-23 10:14:34Z

up vote 1 down vote

If none is working, than must be the openssl installation or the cer file.

HTH

answered Dec 23 '10 at 10:14

Paul
1,082138

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2 Answers