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Tutorial - Use EJBCA with cert-manager

Learn how to set up EJBCA to issue certificates with the cert-manager using the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer.

cert-manager is an open-source tool for issuing certificates in Kubernetes, integrating with various Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) providers. EJBCA integrates with cert-manager as an external certificate authority, enabling native integration to seamlessly request certificates through cert-manager, issued from EJBCA.

This tutorial is intended for users who wish to issue certificates in Kubernetes that has cert-manager deployed and wants to use a world-class PKI for the certificate issuance. Whether you have standardized on EJBCA as the corporate PKI, need a PKI that runs in a container, or just want to try something new, this integration is for you.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to: 

  • Create keys and certificate signing request (CSR) to request certificates from EJBCA for the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer​

  • Configure a new Registration Authority (RA) role in EJBCA for the cert-manager integration

  • Deploy cert-manager using a Helm chart

  • Deploy the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer using a Helm chart

  • Create an issuer and cluster issuer

  • Issue certificates with the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you need:

  • SSH Access to the Kubernetes host.

  • Internet access to download the cert-manager components, EJBCA cert-manager external issuer container, and helm charts​.

  • An environment configured following the tutorial videos EJBCA - Getting started with Kubernetes.​ 

Step 1 - Configure EJBCA for the cert-manager integration

The cert-manager RA role will allow the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer credential to connect to EJBCA using the REST API to issue and revoke certificates. Follow these steps to create a new role for the cert-manager RA:

  1. Go to the EJBCA Administration user interface using a web browser.

  2. In the EJBCA Admin UI, under System Functions, click Roles and Access Rules.

  3. Next to the list of available roles, click Add.

  4. For Role name, specify RA-cert-manager and click Add.
    The Roles Management page now lists the RA-cert-manager role.

  5. To update the access rules for the role, click Access Rules for the RA-cert-manager role.

  6. On the Edit Access Rules page, edit the following:

    • For Role Template, select RA Administrators.

    • For Authorized CAs, select My PKISubCA-G1.

    • For End Entity Profiles, select TLS Client Profile and TLS Server Profile.

  7. Click Save to store the updated access rules for the role.

  8. At the top right of the Edit Access Rules page, click Members.

  9. Members are defined by an attribute from the certificate DN and the serial number:

    • Match with: Select X509:CN, Common name.

    • CA: Verify that Management CA is selected for the CA to match on.

    • Match Value: Specify the name value from the certificate, in this example: "cert-manager-ra-01". Note that this is a case-sensitive matching.

  10. Click Add to add the user to the role.

You have now created a role for the cert-manager RA and can continue preparing to deploy the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer and cert-manager.

Step 2 - Create Key, Certificate Signing Request (CSR), and get the certificate for the RA credential

The EJBCA cert-manager external issuer requires a RA credential to connect to EJBCA for issuing and revoking certificates using the REST API. Follow these steps to create the RA credential:

Create the Key and CSR

  1. SSH to the MicroK8s test host that has EJBCA deployed and configured.

  2. In your terminal, enter the following to create a directory to organize all the files for this tutorial:

    BASH 
    $ mkdir cert-manager

  3. Change to the cert-manager directory:

    BASH 
    $ cd cert-manager

  4. Create an OpenSSL configuration file for the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer RA certificate:

    BASH 
    $ cat > cert-manager-ra-01.conf <<EOF
[req]
default_bits = 2048
prompt = no
encrypt_key = yes
distinguished_name = kubelet_serving
req_extensions = v3_req
[ kubelet_serving ]
C = SE
O = Keyfactor Community
CN = cert-manager-ra-01
[ v3_req ]
keyUsage = digitalSignature
extendedKeyUsage = clientAuth

EOF

  5. Generate the private key and create the CSR using the OpenSSL configuration file:

    BASH 
    $ openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes \
-keyout cert-manager-ra-01-key.pem -sha256 \
-out cert-manager-ra-01.csr -config cert-manager-ra-01.conf

  6. Output the contents of the cert-manager-ra-01.csr to use with an upcoming step:

    BASH 
    $ cat cert-manager-ra-01.csr

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----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-----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----

Submit the CSR to EJBCA to get the certificate

  1. Go to the EJBCA RA Web user interface using a web browser.

  2. Click Make New Request and update the following:

    • Select RA-Administrator for the Certificate Type.

    • Select Provided by user for Key-pair generation.

    • Paste the contents of the cert-manager-ra-01.csr from the terminal window into the CSR text field  (the PEM output in the terminal window), such as:

      CODE 
      -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----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-----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----

    • Click Upload CSR.

    • Enter cert-manager-ra-01 for the Username.

    • Click Download PEM full chain.

  3. Return to the terminal window and open a new tab or terminal window.

  4. In your terminal, enter the following to upload the cert-manager-ra-01.pem to the MicroK8s VM:

    BASH 
    $ scp cert-manager-ra-01.pem user@172.16.170.187:~/cert-manager/cert-manager-ra-01.crt

The certificate.pem file is renamed to .crt when uploaded to the K8’s host

  1. Return to the original terminal window opened for connecting to the Kubernetes server.

  2. Output the contents of the cert-manager-ra-01.crt file with the cat command to copy the ManagementCA cert PEM blob:

    BASH 
    $ cat cert-manager-ra-01.crt

    • The output is similar to the following:

      CODE 
      Subject: CN=cert-manager-ra-01,O=Keyfactor Community,C=SE
Issuer: CN=ManagementCA,O=Keyfactor Community,C=SE
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----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-----END CERTIFICATE-----
Subject: CN=ManagementCA,O=Keyfactor Community,C=SE
Issuer: CN=ManagementCA,O=Keyfactor Community,C=SE
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----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-----END CERTIFICATE-----

  3. Select the PEM blob for the ManagementCA and copy it:

    BASH 
    Subject: CN=ManagementCA,O=Keyfactor Community,C=SE
Issuer: CN=ManagementCA,O=Keyfactor Community,C=SE
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----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-----END CERTIFICATE-----

  4. Create the ManagementCA.crt file:

    BASH 
    $ vim ManagementCA.crt

  5. Enter the letter i to insert text.

  6. Paste the ManagementCA PEM blob into the file:

    BASH 
    Subject: CN=ManagementCA,O=Keyfactor Community,C=SE
Issuer: CN=ManagementCA,O=Keyfactor Community,C=SE
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----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-----END CERTIFICATE-----

  7. Enter :wq to save and close the file.

The EJBCA cert-manager external issuer RA credential has been created and uploaded to the K8’s server. Continue to the next step to deploy cert-manager and the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer.

Step 3 - Deploy cert-manager

To issue certificates using EJBCA and cert-manager, the cert-manager must be deployed. Using Helm and applying the Kubernetes Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) gets cert-manager up and running quickly.

To deploy cert-manager, follow these steps:

  1. Continue from the terminal window of the previous step.

  2. Add the cert-manager helm repository:

    BASH 
    $ helm repo add jetstack https://charts.jetstack.io

    • The output is similar to the following:

      CODE 
      "jetstack" has been added to your repositories

  3. Update the helm repository cache:

    BASH 
    $ helm repo update

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      Hang tight while we grab the latest from your chart repositories...
...Successfully got an update from the "hashicorp" chart repository
...Successfully got an update from the "jetstack" chart repository
Update Complete. ⎈Happy Helming!⎈

  4. Install the cert-manager Custom Resource Definitions:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl apply -f https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/v1.13.3/cert-manager.crds.yaml

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      customresourcedefinition.apiextensions.k8s.io/certificaterequests.cert-manager.io configured
customresourcedefinition.apiextensions.k8s.io/certificates.cert-manager.io configured
customresourcedefinition.apiextensions.k8s.io/challenges.acme.cert-manager.io configured
customresourcedefinition.apiextensions.k8s.io/clusterissuers.cert-manager.io configured
customresourcedefinition.apiextensions.k8s.io/issuers.cert-manager.io configured
customresourcedefinition.apiextensions.k8s.io/orders.acme.cert-manager.io configured

  5. Deploy cert-manager using helm:

    BASH 
    $ helm install \
  cert-manager jetstack/cert-manager \
  --namespace cert-manager \
  --create-namespace \
  --version v1.13.3

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      NAME: cert-manager
LAST DEPLOYED: Thu Jan 25 10:52:05 2024
NAMESPACE: cert-manager
STATUS: deployed
REVISION: 1
TEST SUITE: None
NOTES:
cert-manager v1.13.3 has been deployed successfully!

In order to begin issuing certificates, you will need to set up a ClusterIssuer
or Issuer resource (for example, by creating a 'letsencrypt-staging' issuer).

More information on the different types of issuers and how to configure them
can be found in our documentation:

https://cert-manager.io/docs/configuration/

For information on how to configure cert-manager to automatically provision
Certificates for Ingress resources, take a look at the `ingress-shim`
documentation:

https://cert-manager.io/docs/usage/ingress/

Deployment of cert-manager is now completed, you can continue to the next step to deploy the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer.

Step 4 - Deploy EJBCA cert-manager external issuer

To complete the integration, the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer container is deployed using Helm. This container is an external issuer for cert-manager which uses the EJBCA REST API to submit certificate requests and revoke certificates.

To deploy the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer, follow these steps:

  1. Continue from the terminal window of the previous step.

  2. Create the name space for the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl create namespace ejbca-cert-manager

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      namespace/ejbca-cert-manager created

  3. Create the secret for the cert-manager-ra-01 credential:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n ejbca-cert-manager create secret tls ejbca-secret --cert=cert-manager-ra-01.crt --key=cert-manager-ra-01-key.pem

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      secret/ejbca-secret created

  4. Create the secret for the EJBCA TLS chain:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n ejbca-cert-manager create secret generic ejbca-ca-secret --from-file=ca.crt=ManagementCA.crt

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      secret/ejbca-ca-secret created

  5. Add the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer helm repository:

    BASH 
    $ helm repo add ejbca-issuer https://keyfactor.github.io/ejbca-cert-manager-issuer

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      "ejbca-issuer" has been added to your repositories

  6. Update the helm repository cache:

    CODE 
    $ helm repo update

    • The output is similar to the following:

      CODE 
      Hang tight while we grab the latest from your chart repositories...
...Successfully got an update from the "ejbca-issuer" chart repository
...Successfully got an update from the "hashicorp" chart repository
...Successfully got an update from the "jetstack" chart repository
Update Complete. ⎈Happy Helming!⎈

  7. Deploy the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer:

    BASH 
    $ helm install ejbca-cert-manager-issuer ejbca-issuer/ejbca-cert-manager-issuer --namespace ejbca-cert-manager --set image.tag="1.3.2"

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      NAME: ejbca-cert-manager-issuer
LAST DEPLOYED: Thu Jan 25 08:52:16 2024
NAMESPACE: ejbca-cert-manager
STATUS: deployed
REVISION: 1
TEST SUITE: None

  8. Create a namespace for issuing certificates with the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl create namespace pkirules

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      namespace/pkirules created

  9. Create the issuer.yaml file:

    BASH 
    cat > issuer.yaml <<EOF 
apiVersion: ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com/v1alpha1
kind: Issuer
metadata:
  namespace: pkirules
  labels:
    # Customize to to your deployment, but these are optional
    app.kubernetes.io/name: issuer
    app.kubernetes.io/instance: pkirules-tls
    app.kubernetes.io/part-of: ejbca-issuer
    app.kubernetes.io/created-by: ejbca-issuer
  name: pkirules-tls
spec:
  hostname: "ejbca-internal.ejbca-k8s"
  ejbcaSecretName: "ejbca-secret"
  certificateAuthorityName: "MyPKISubCA-G1"
  certificateProfileName: "TLS Server Profile"
  endEntityProfileName: "TLS Server Profile"
  caBundleSecretName: ejbca-ca-secret 
EOF

  10. Apply the issuer.yaml file to create an issuer in the pkirules namespace:

    CODE 
    $ kubectl apply -f issuer.yaml

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      issuer.ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com/pkirules-tls created

  11. Create the clusterissuer.yaml file:

    BASH 
    $ cat > clusterissuer.yaml <<EOF
apiVersion: ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com/v1alpha1
kind: ClusterIssuer
metadata:
  namespace: pkirules 
  labels:
    # Customize to to your deployment, but these are optional
    app.kubernetes.io/name: clusterissuer
    app.kubernetes.io/instance: clusterissuer-pkirules
    app.kubernetes.io/part-of: ejbca-issuer
    app.kubernetes.io/created-by: ejbca-issuer
  name: clusterissuer-pkirules
spec:
  hostname: "ejbca-internal.ejbca-k8s"
  ejbcaSecretName: "ejbca-secret"
  certificateAuthorityName: "MyPKISubCA-G1"
  certificateProfileName: "TLS Server Profile"
  endEntityProfileName: "TLS Server Profile"
  caBundleSecretName: ejbca-ca-secret
EOF

  12. Apply the clusterissuer.yaml to create an issuer that uses EJBCA fro the Kubernetes cluster:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl apply -f clusterissuer.yaml

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      clusterissuer.ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com/clusterissuer-pkirules created

  13. Get the issuers.ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n pkirules get issuers.ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      NAME           AGE
pkirules-tls   1m

  14. Describe the issuers.ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n pkirules describe issuers.ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      Name:         pkirules-tls
Namespace:    pkirules
Labels:       app.kubernetes.io/created-by=ejbca-issuer
              app.kubernetes.io/instance=pkirules-tls
              app.kubernetes.io/name=issuer
              app.kubernetes.io/part-of=ejbca-issuer
Annotations:  <none>
API Version:  ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com/v1alpha1
Kind:         Issuer
Metadata:
  Creation Timestamp:  2024-01-25T14:02:01Z
  Generation:          1
  Managed Fields:
    API Version:  ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com/v1alpha1
    Fields Type:  FieldsV1
    fieldsV1:
      f:metadata:
        f:annotations:
          .:
          f:kubectl.kubernetes.io/last-applied-configuration:
        f:labels:
          .:
          f:app.kubernetes.io/created-by:
          f:app.kubernetes.io/instance:
          f:app.kubernetes.io/name:
          f:app.kubernetes.io/part-of:
      f:spec:
        .:
        f:caBundleSecretName:
        f:certificateAuthorityName:
        f:certificateProfileName:
        f:ejbcaSecretName:
        f:endEntityProfileName:
        f:hostname:
    Manager:      kubectl-client-side-apply
    Operation:    Update
    Time:         2024-01-25T14:02:01Z
    API Version:  ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com/v1alpha1
    Fields Type:  FieldsV1
    fieldsV1:
      f:status:
        .:
        f:conditions:
    Manager:         manager
    Operation:       Update
    Subresource:     status
    Time:            2024-01-25T14:02:01Z
  Resource Version:  601159
  UID:               2f35a08b-c2f7-4612-b5be-bafd6bfaa2ad
Spec:
  Ca Bundle Secret Name:       ejbca-ca-secret
  Certificate Authority Name:  MyPKISubCA-G1
  Certificate Profile Name:    TLS Server Profile
  Ejbca Secret Name:           ejbca-secret
  End Entity Profile Name:     TLS Server Profile
  Hostname:                    ejbca-internal.ejbca-k8s
Status:
  Conditions:
    Last Transition Time:  2024-01-25T14:02:01Z
    Message:               Success
    Reason:                ejbca-issuer.IssuerController.Reconcile
    Status:                True
    Type:                  Ready
Events:                    <none>

You now have deployed the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer and can continue with issuing certificates.

Step 5 - Issue certificates with the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer

Now that cert-manager and the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer are deployed and configured, you can issue some certificates. Lets explore issuing a certificate manually, using a certificate object, and deploying a simple deployment that will request a certificate for an ingress.

Manual Issuance

  1. Continue from the terminal window of the previous step.

  2. Create an OpenSSL configuration file to generate TLS certificate CSR:

    CODE 
    $ cat > test-cm-01.pkirules.conf <<EOF
[ req ]
distinguished_name = req_distinguished_name
req_extensions = req_ext
prompt = no

[ req_distinguished_name ]
countryName = SE
organizationName = Keyfactor Community
commonName = test-cm-01.pkirules
 
[ req_ext ]
subjectAltName = @alt_names
 
[alt_names]
DNS.1 = test-cm.pkirules

EOF

  3. Generate an EC P-256 key using OpenSSL:

    BASH 
    $ openssl ecparam -name prime256v1 -genkey -noout -out test-cm-01.pkirules.key

  4. Generate a CSR with the EC Key and OpenSSL configuration file:

    BASH 
    $ openssl req -new -sha256 -key test-cm-01.pkirules.key -out test-cm-01.pkirules.csr -config test-cm-01.pkirules.conf

  5. Use base64 to encode the CSR and export it to a variable:

    BASH 
    $ CSR64ECODE="$(base64 test-cm-01.pkirules.csr | tr -d \\n)"

  6. Create a certificate request YAML file that is used to manually request a certificate with cert-manager:

    BASH 
    $ cat > test-cm-01.pkirules.yaml <<EOF
apiVersion: cert-manager.io/v1
kind: CertificateRequest
metadata:
  name: test-cm-01.pkirules
  namespace: pkirules
spec:
  request: $CSR64ECODE
  issuerRef:
    name: pkirules-tls
    group: ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com
    kind: Issuer
EOF

  7. Apply the test-cm-01.pkirules.yaml file which creates the certificate request with cert-manager:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl apply -f test-cm-01.pkirules.yaml

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      certificaterequest.cert-manager.io/test-cm-01.pkirules created

  8. List the certificate requests in the pkirules namespace:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n pkirules get CertificateRequest

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      NAME                  APPROVED   DENIED   READY   ISSUER         REQUESTOR   AGE
test-cm-01.pkirules   True                True    pkirules-tls   admin       2m18s

  9. Describe the test-cm-01.pkirules certificate request to review the details:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n pkirules describe CertificateRequest/test-cm-01.pkirules

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      Name:         test-cm-01.pkirules
Namespace:    pkirules
Labels:       <none>
Annotations:  <none>
API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
Kind:         CertificateRequest
Metadata:
  Creation Timestamp:  2024-01-26T10:29:46Z
  Generation:          1
  Managed Fields:
    API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
    Fields Type:  FieldsV1
    fieldsV1:
      f:status:
        f:conditions:
          .:
          k:{"type":"Approved"}:
            .:
            f:lastTransitionTime:
            f:message:
            f:reason:
            f:status:
            f:type:
    Manager:      cert-manager-certificaterequests-approver
    Operation:    Update
    Subresource:  status
    Time:         2024-01-26T10:29:46Z
    API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
    Fields Type:  FieldsV1
    fieldsV1:
      f:metadata:
        f:annotations:
          .:
          f:kubectl.kubernetes.io/last-applied-configuration:
      f:spec:
        .:
        f:issuerRef:
          .:
          f:group:
          f:kind:
          f:name:
        f:request:
    Manager:      kubectl-client-side-apply
    Operation:    Update
    Time:         2024-01-26T10:29:46Z
    API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
    Fields Type:  FieldsV1
    fieldsV1:
      f:status:
        .:
        f:ca:
        f:certificate:
        f:conditions:
          k:{"type":"Ready"}:
            .:
            f:lastTransitionTime:
            f:message:
            f:reason:
            f:status:
            f:type:
    Manager:         manager
    Operation:       Update
    Subresource:     status
    Time:            2024-01-26T10:29:46Z
  Resource Version:  649945
  UID:               3d8fffb0-6876-4541-8df2-c8a8ab17ed19
Spec:
  Groups:
    system:masters
    system:authenticated
  Issuer Ref:
    Group:   ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com
    Kind:    Issuer
    Name:    pkirules-tls
  Request:   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
  UID:       admin
  Username:  admin
Status:
  Ca:           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
  Certificate:  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
  Conditions:
    Last Transition Time:  2024-01-26T10:29:46Z
    Message:               Certificate request has been approved by cert-manager.io
    Reason:                cert-manager.io
    Status:                True
    Type:                  Approved
    Last Transition Time:  2024-01-26T10:29:46Z
    Message:               Signed
    Reason:                Issued
    Status:                True
    Type:                  Ready
Events:
  Type    Reason           Age    From                                       Message
  ----    ------           ----   ----                                       -------
  Normal  cert-manager.io  3m57s  cert-manager-certificaterequests-approver  Certificate request has been approved by cert-manager.io

  10. The certificate can be obtained from the output and decoded with base64 to view:

    BASH 
    $ echo "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" | base64 -d

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----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==
-----END CERTIFICATE-----

  11. The certificate is ready to use from the manual request.

Certificate Kind Object Request

  1. Create the test-cm-02.pkirules.yaml file to create a certificate with the certificate kind object:

    BASH 
    $ cat > test-cm-02.pkirules.yaml <<EOF
apiVersion: cert-manager.io/v1
kind: Certificate
metadata:
  name: test-cm-02.pkirules
  namespace: pkirules
spec:
  subject:
    countries:
      - SE
    organizations:
      - Keyfactor Community
  commonName: test-cm-02.pkirules
  #dnsNames:
    #- test-cm-02.pkirules
  privateKey:
    algorithm: ECDSA
    size: 256
  secretName: test-cm-02
  issuerRef:
    name: pkirules-tls
    group: ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com
    kind: Issuer
EOF

  2. Apply the test-cm-02.pkirules.yaml file which enrolls for a certificate with cert-manager and creates a secret for the private key:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl apply -f test-cm-02.pkirules.yaml

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      certificate.cert-manager.io/test-cm-02.pkirules created

  3. List the certificate requests:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n pkirules get CertificateRequest

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      NAME                    APPROVED   DENIED   READY   ISSUER         REQUESTOR                                         AGE
test-cm-01.pkirules     True                True    pkirules-tls   admin                                             68m
test-cm-02.pkirules-1   True                True    pkirules-tls   system:serviceaccount:cert-manager:cert-manager   4m36s

  4. Describe the test-cm-02.pkirules-1 certificate request:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n pkirules describe CertificateRequest test-cm-02.pkirules-1

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      Name:         test-cm-02.pkirules-1
Namespace:    pkirules
Labels:       <none>
Annotations:  cert-manager.io/certificate-name: test-cm-02.pkirules
              cert-manager.io/certificate-revision: 1
              cert-manager.io/private-key-secret-name: test-cm-02.pkirules-qkncz
API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
Kind:         CertificateRequest
Metadata:
  Creation Timestamp:  2024-01-26T11:33:44Z
  Generation:          1
  Managed Fields:
    API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
    Fields Type:  FieldsV1
    fieldsV1:
      f:status:
        f:conditions:
          .:
          k:{"type":"Approved"}:
            .:
            f:lastTransitionTime:
            f:message:
            f:reason:
            f:status:
            f:type:
    Manager:      cert-manager-certificaterequests-approver
    Operation:    Update
    Subresource:  status
    Time:         2024-01-26T11:33:44Z
    API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
    Fields Type:  FieldsV1
    fieldsV1:
      f:metadata:
        f:annotations:
          .:
          f:cert-manager.io/certificate-name:
          f:cert-manager.io/certificate-revision:
          f:cert-manager.io/private-key-secret-name:
        f:ownerReferences:
          .:
          k:{"uid":"9298479a-3cc1-4370-9146-a1c361007c4a"}:
      f:spec:
        .:
        f:issuerRef:
          .:
          f:group:
          f:kind:
          f:name:
        f:request:
    Manager:      cert-manager-certificates-request-manager
    Operation:    Update
    Time:         2024-01-26T11:33:44Z
    API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
    Fields Type:  FieldsV1
    fieldsV1:
      f:status:
        .:
        f:ca:
        f:certificate:
        f:conditions:
          k:{"type":"Ready"}:
            .:
            f:lastTransitionTime:
            f:message:
            f:reason:
            f:status:
            f:type:
    Manager:      manager
    Operation:    Update
    Subresource:  status
    Time:         2024-01-26T11:33:44Z
  Owner References:
    API Version:           cert-manager.io/v1
    Block Owner Deletion:  true
    Controller:            true
    Kind:                  Certificate
    Name:                  test-cm-02.pkirules
    UID:                   9298479a-3cc1-4370-9146-a1c361007c4a
  Resource Version:        662225
  UID:                     8e9a8b60-07fa-4573-b1fe-23f3e67e2c39
Spec:
  Extra:
    authentication.kubernetes.io/pod-name:
      cert-manager-55cf8685cb-tztzk
    authentication.kubernetes.io/pod-uid:
      6c69ccc4-46d3-45fd-a942-ec0df90a7ecc
  Groups:
    system:serviceaccounts
    system:serviceaccounts:cert-manager
    system:authenticated
  Issuer Ref:
    Group:   ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com
    Kind:    Issuer
    Name:    pkirules-tls
  Request:   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
  UID:       9ec1c31a-f7af-486c-b881-92d55dd4da1f
  Username:  system:serviceaccount:cert-manager:cert-manager
Status:
  Ca:           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
  Certificate:  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
  Conditions:
    Last Transition Time:  2024-01-26T11:33:44Z
    Message:               Certificate request has been approved by cert-manager.io
    Reason:                cert-manager.io
    Status:                True
    Type:                  Approved
    Last Transition Time:  2024-01-26T11:33:44Z
    Message:               Signed
    Reason:                Issued
    Status:                True
    Type:                  Ready
Events:                    <none>

  5. List the certificates created:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n pkirules get certificate

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      NAME                  READY   SECRET       AGE
test-cm-02.pkirules   True    test-cm-02   9m51s

  6. Describe the test-cm-02.pkirules certificate:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n pkirules describe certificate test-cm-02.pkirules

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      Name:         test-cm-02.pkirules
Namespace:    pkirules
Labels:       <none>
Annotations:  <none>
API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
Kind:         Certificate
Metadata:
  Creation Timestamp:  2024-01-26T11:33:44Z
  Generation:          1
  Managed Fields:
    API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
    Fields Type:  FieldsV1
    fieldsV1:
      f:status:
        f:revision:
    Manager:      cert-manager-certificates-issuing
    Operation:    Update
    Subresource:  status
    Time:         2024-01-26T11:33:44Z
    API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
    Fields Type:  FieldsV1
    fieldsV1:
      f:status:
        .:
        f:conditions:
          .:
          k:{"type":"Ready"}:
            .:
            f:lastTransitionTime:
            f:message:
            f:observedGeneration:
            f:reason:
            f:status:
            f:type:
        f:notAfter:
        f:notBefore:
        f:renewalTime:
    Manager:      cert-manager-certificates-readiness
    Operation:    Update
    Subresource:  status
    Time:         2024-01-26T11:33:44Z
    API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
    Fields Type:  FieldsV1
    fieldsV1:
      f:metadata:
        f:annotations:
          .:
          f:kubectl.kubernetes.io/last-applied-configuration:
      f:spec:
        .:
        f:commonName:
        f:issuerRef:
          .:
          f:group:
          f:kind:
          f:name:
        f:privateKey:
          .:
          f:algorithm:
          f:size:
        f:secretName:
        f:subject:
          .:
          f:countries:
          f:organizations:
    Manager:         kubectl-client-side-apply
    Operation:       Update
    Time:            2024-01-26T11:33:44Z
  Resource Version:  662231
  UID:               9298479a-3cc1-4370-9146-a1c361007c4a
Spec:
  Common Name:  test-cm-02.pkirules
  Issuer Ref:
    Group:  ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com
    Kind:   Issuer
    Name:   pkirules-tls
  Private Key:
    Algorithm:  ECDSA
    Size:       256
  Secret Name:  test-cm-02
  Subject:
    Countries:
      SE
    Organizations:
      Keyfactor Community
Status:
  Conditions:
    Last Transition Time:  2024-01-26T11:33:44Z
    Message:               Certificate is up to date and has not expired
    Observed Generation:   1
    Reason:                Ready
    Status:                True
    Type:                  Ready
  Not After:               2025-01-23T11:23:43Z
  Not Before:              2024-01-26T11:23:44Z
  Renewal Time:            2024-09-24T11:23:43Z
  Revision:                1
Events:                    <none>

  7. List the secrets:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n pkirules get secrets

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      NAME         TYPE                DATA   AGE
test-cm-02   kubernetes.io/tls   3      13m

  8. Describe the test-cm-02 secret:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n pkirules describe secrets test-cm-02

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      Name:         test-cm-02
Namespace:    pkirules
Labels:       controller.cert-manager.io/fao=true
Annotations:  cert-manager.io/alt-names: test-cm-02.pkirules
              cert-manager.io/certificate-name: test-cm-02.pkirules
              cert-manager.io/common-name: test-cm-02.pkirules
              cert-manager.io/ip-sans:
              cert-manager.io/issuer-group: ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com
              cert-manager.io/issuer-kind: Issuer
              cert-manager.io/issuer-name: pkirules-tls
              cert-manager.io/subject-countries: SE
              cert-manager.io/subject-organizations: Keyfactor Community
              cert-manager.io/uri-sans:

Type:  kubernetes.io/tls

Data
====
ca.crt:   1660 bytes
tls.crt:  1005 bytes
tls.key:  227 bytes

  9. The certificate can now be used, for example by mounting the secret into a container

Request Certificate for Ingress Using a Simple Deployment

  1. Create the simple deployment YAML file to deploy a container and issue a certificate to ingress:

    BASH 
    $ cat > ejbca-cm-issuer-hello-world.yaml <<EOF
---
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: ejbca-cm-issuer-helloworld-one
  namespace: pkirules
spec:
  replicas: 1
  selector:
    matchLabels:
      app: ejbca-cm-issuer-helloworld-one
  template:
    metadata:
      labels:
        app: ejbca-cm-issuer-helloworld-one
    spec:
      containers:
      - name: ejbca-cm-issuer-helloworld-one
        image: hashicorp/http-echo:latest
        ports:
        - containerPort: 80
---
apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
  name: helloworld
  namespace: pkirules
spec:
  #type: ClusterIP
  ports:
  - port: 80
    targetPort: 80
    protocol: TCP
  selector:
    app: ejbca-cm-issuer-helloworld-one

apiVersion: networking.k8s.io/v1
kind: Ingress
metadata:
  name: hellowworld-ingress
  namespace: pkirules
  annotations:
    cert-manager.io/issuer: "pkirules-tls"
    cert-manager.io/issuer-kind: "Issuer"
    cert-manager.io/issuer-group: "ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com"
    cert-manager.io/common-name: "test-cm-03.pkirules"
    cert-manager.io/subject-organizations: "Keyfactor Community"
    cert-manager.io/subject-countries: "SE"
    cert-manager.io/private-key-algorithm: "ECDSA"
    cert-manager.io/private-key-size: "256"
spec:
  ingressClassName: public
  tls:
  - hosts:
    - test-cm-03.pkirules
    secretName: test-cm-03.pkirules
  rules:
  - host: test-cm-03.pkirules
    http:
      paths:
      - path: /
        pathType: Prefix
        backend:
          service:
            name: helloworld
            port:
              number: 80
EOF

  2. Apply ejbca-cm-issuer-hello-world.yaml file which starts the deployment and requests a certificate for Ingress using cert-manager:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl apply -f ejbca-cm-issuer-hello-world.yaml

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      deployment.apps/ejbca-cm-issuer-helloworld-one created
ingress.networking.k8s.io/hellowworld-ingress created

  3. List the certificate requests:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n pkirules get CertificateRequest

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      NAME                    APPROVED   DENIED   READY   ISSUER         REQUESTOR                                         AGE
test-cm-01.pkirules     True                True    pkirules-tls   admin                                             177m
test-cm-02.pkirules-1   True                True    pkirules-tls   system:serviceaccount:cert-manager:cert-manager   113m
test-cm-03.pkirules-1   True                True    pkirules-tls   system:serviceaccount:cert-manager:cert-manager   65s

  4. Describe the test-cm-03.pkirules-1 certificate request:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n pkirules describe CertificateRequest test-cm-03.pkirules-1

    • The output is similar to the following:

      BASH 
      Name:         test-cm-03.pkirules-1
Namespace:    pkirules
Labels:       <none>
Annotations:  cert-manager.io/certificate-name: test-cm-03.pkirules
              cert-manager.io/certificate-revision: 1
              cert-manager.io/private-key-secret-name: test-cm-03.pkirules-fkdg8
API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
Kind:         CertificateRequest
Metadata:
  Creation Timestamp:  2024-01-26T13:26:35Z
  Generation:          1
  Managed Fields:
    API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
    Fields Type:  FieldsV1
    fieldsV1:
      f:status:
        f:conditions:
          .:
          k:{"type":"Approved"}:
            .:
            f:lastTransitionTime:
            f:message:
            f:reason:
            f:status:
            f:type:
    Manager:      cert-manager-certificaterequests-approver
    Operation:    Update
    Subresource:  status
    Time:         2024-01-26T13:26:35Z
    API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
    Fields Type:  FieldsV1
    fieldsV1:
      f:metadata:
        f:annotations:
          .:
          f:cert-manager.io/certificate-name:
          f:cert-manager.io/certificate-revision:
          f:cert-manager.io/private-key-secret-name:
        f:ownerReferences:
          .:
          k:{"uid":"9ec95bfc-a645-417c-9634-8e727bdeacf3"}:
      f:spec:
        .:
        f:issuerRef:
          .:
          f:group:
          f:kind:
          f:name:
        f:request:
        f:usages:
    Manager:      cert-manager-certificates-request-manager
    Operation:    Update
    Time:         2024-01-26T13:26:35Z
    API Version:  cert-manager.io/v1
    Fields Type:  FieldsV1
    fieldsV1:
      f:status:
        .:
        f:ca:
        f:certificate:
        f:conditions:
          k:{"type":"Ready"}:
            .:
            f:lastTransitionTime:
            f:message:
            f:reason:
            f:status:
            f:type:
    Manager:      manager
    Operation:    Update
    Subresource:  status
    Time:         2024-01-26T13:26:35Z
  Owner References:
    API Version:           cert-manager.io/v1
    Block Owner Deletion:  true
    Controller:            true
    Kind:                  Certificate
    Name:                  test-cm-03.pkirules
    UID:                   9ec95bfc-a645-417c-9634-8e727bdeacf3
  Resource Version:        683881
  UID:                     347ccb7b-fb8c-4e26-97da-d22739a565cc
Spec:
  Extra:
    authentication.kubernetes.io/pod-name:
      cert-manager-55cf8685cb-tztzk
    authentication.kubernetes.io/pod-uid:
      6c69ccc4-46d3-45fd-a942-ec0df90a7ecc
  Groups:
    system:serviceaccounts
    system:serviceaccounts:cert-manager
    system:authenticated
  Issuer Ref:
    Group:  ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com
    Kind:   Issuer
    Name:   pkirules-tls
  Request:  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
  UID:      9ec1c31a-f7af-486c-b881-92d55dd4da1f
  Usages:
    digital signature
    key encipherment
  Username:  system:serviceaccount:cert-manager:cert-manager
Status:
  Ca:           LS0tLS1CRUdJTiBDRVJUSUZJQ0FURS0tLS0tCk1JSUNtVENDQWorZ0F3SUJBZ0lVSjBlTDlJbmxubWNDRWpxT3pPTmZOdFZ2QVRFd0NnWUlLb1pJemowRUF3UXcKU1RFTE1Ba0dBMVVFQmhNQ1UwVXhIREFhQmdOVkJBb01FMHRsZVdaaFkzUnZjaUJEYjIxdGRXNXBkSGt4SERBYQpCZ05WQkFNTUUwMTVJRkJMU1NCU2IyOTBJRU5CSUMwZ1J6RXdIaGNOTWpNd01USXpNVFl5TkRRMVdoY05Nemd3Ck1URTVNVFl5TkRRMFdqQklNUXN3Q1FZRFZRUUdFd0pUUlRFY01Cb0dBMVVFQ2d3VFMyVjVabUZqZEc5eUlFTnYKYlcxMWJtbDBlVEViTUJrR0ExVUVBd3dTVFhrZ1VFdEpJRk4xWWlCRFFTQXRJRWN4TUZrd0V3WUhLb1pJemowQwpBUVlJS29aSXpqMERBUWNEUWdBRTZqUVhWWk9ha2JQNjFtdG5WVXcvVVl2RzNmQXhRdERBTjZqY0l6bzJLVXpqCmNaSzJkQ3BZUWhpZWdzQ0NLa20xYUhKYXlRNVFTb3hDcVFhUjUyYjZWYU9DQVFRd2dnRUFNQklHQTFVZEV3RUIKL3dRSU1BWUJBZjhDQVFBd0h3WURWUjBqQkJnd0ZvQVUxYzZkYUpDOWlJUzhQNzVlUTZybzB5UjRCNVV3WWdZSQpLd1lCQlFVSEFRRUVWakJVTURJR0NDc0dBUVVGQnpBQ2hpWm9kSFJ3T2k4dmJYa3VjR3RwTDJObGNuUnpMMDE1ClVFdEpVbTl2ZEVOQkxVY3hMbU55ZERBZUJnZ3JCZ0VGQlFjd0FZWVNhSFIwY0RvdkwyMTVMbkJyYVM5dlkzTncKTURZR0ExVWRId1F2TUMwd0s2QXBvQ2VHSldoMGRIQTZMeTl0ZVM1d2Eya3ZZM0pzY3k5TmVWQkxTVkp2YjNSRApRUzFITVM1amNtd3dIUVlEVlIwT0JCWUVGTERsZjNaMDRpcTR1UGhZWlRQZ1lxSEtwRlB0TUE0R0ExVWREd0VCCi93UUVBd0lCaGpBS0JnZ3Foa2pPUFFRREJBTklBREJGQWlBWGN5VjdOdW1PU0RCMDVmeFBqMnRlR3RSWm1vMi8KMklIb0duY3MrNStyaVFJaEFPUEpyZEpTdTYzbFFxRXJwdks2cm1adkxobnE4ZXFHYkF6ekx0WVVseXVWCi0tLS0tRU5EIENFUlRJRklDQVRFLS0tLS0KLS0tLS1CRUdJTiBDRVJUSUZJQ0FURS0tLS0tCk1JSUIyRENDQVg2Z0F3SUJBZ0lVQXV1TDFjL0FvRndzZnhnVXJPdmFSWGxkT1drd0NnWUlLb1pJemowRUF3UXcKU1RFTE1Ba0dBMVVFQmhNQ1UwVXhIREFhQmdOVkJBb01FMHRsZVdaaFkzUnZjaUJEYjIxdGRXNXBkSGt4SERBYQpCZ05WQkFNTUUwMTVJRkJMU1NCU2IyOTBJRU5CSUMwZ1J6RXdJQmNOTWpNd01USXpNVFl4T0RVNFdoZ1BNakExCk16QXhNVFV4TmpFNE5UZGFNRWt4Q3pBSkJnTlZCQVlUQWxORk1Sd3dHZ1lEVlFRS0RCTkxaWGxtWVdOMGIzSWcKUTI5dGJYVnVhWFI1TVJ3d0dnWURWUVFEREJOTmVTQlFTMGtnVW05dmRDQkRRU0F0SUVjeE1Ga3dFd1lIS29aSQp6ajBDQVFZSUtvWkl6ajBEQVFjRFFnQUVJTUw3a05LR0NqaktmeHd5Qi9zNHF0cEZnMi9hT1ZDZUFCeUVlRE1XCmR6SFlMTU9pZDQ5MDFaUFA1ak1HZ2hxODQreXp6TDV2Q1VYVEtCNDR6SmxVOXFOQ01FQXdEd1lEVlIwVEFRSC8KQkFVd0F3RUIvekFkQmdOVkhRNEVGZ1FVMWM2ZGFKQzlpSVM4UDc1ZVE2cm8weVI0QjVVd0RnWURWUjBQQVFILwpCQVFEQWdHR01Bb0dDQ3FHU000OUJBTUVBMGdBTUVVQ0lRQ2lGTi9vKytaK0FYa1ZVbk0yTTQydm1WVitLUGZMCnZka1JhT0g3RklJTEV3SWdFejBST1BQcFpBMlhGU2ExZG9ma0FZMWg1aUFid2c2Vk9hSTNLZm9hYlZBPQotLS0tLUVORCBDRVJUSUZJQ0FURS0tLS0tCg==
  Certificate:  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
  Conditions:
    Last Transition Time:  2024-01-26T13:26:35Z
    Message:               Certificate request has been approved by cert-manager.io
    Reason:                cert-manager.io
    Status:                True
    Type:                  Approved
    Last Transition Time:  2024-01-26T13:26:35Z
    Message:               Signed
    Reason:                Issued
    Status:                True
    Type:                  Ready
Events:
  Type    Reason           Age    From                                       Message
  ----    ------           ----   ----                                       -------
  Normal  cert-manager.io  2m20s  cert-manager-certificaterequests-approver  Certificate request has been approved by cert-manager.io

  5. Describe the ingress to see that a certificate was created:

    BASH 
    $ kubectl -n pkirules describe ingress/hellowworld-ingress

    • The output is similar to the following:

      CODE 
      Name:             hellowworld-ingress
Labels:           <none>
Namespace:        pkirules
Address:          127.0.0.1
Ingress Class:    public
Default backend:  <default>
TLS:
  test-cm-03.pkirules terminates test-cm-03.pkirules
Rules:
  Host                 Path  Backends
  ----                 ----  --------
  test-cm-03.pkirules
                       /   helloworld:80 (<error: endpoints "helloworld" not found>)
Annotations:           cert-manager.io/common-name: test-cm-03.pkirules
                       cert-manager.io/issuer: pkirules-tls
                       cert-manager.io/issuer-group: ejbca-issuer.keyfactor.com
                       cert-manager.io/issuer-kind: Issuer
                       cert-manager.io/private-key-algorithm: ECDSA
                       cert-manager.io/private-key-size: 256
                       cert-manager.io/subject-countries: SE
                       cert-manager.io/subject-organizations: Keyfactor Community
Events:
  Type    Reason             Age                    From                       Message
  ----    ------             ----                   ----                       -------
  Normal  CreateCertificate  3m17s                  cert-manager-ingress-shim  Successfully created Certificate "test-cm-03.pkirules"
  Normal  Sync               2m19s (x2 over 3m17s)  nginx-ingress-controller   Scheduled for sync
[user@microk8-01 cert-manager]$

You now have deployed certificates three different ways using the EJBCA cert-manager external issuer integration.

Next steps

In this tutorial, you learned how to configure EJBCA for the cert-manager integration and issue certificates from EJBCA natively through cert-manager. Three different issuance methods were demonstrated for this integration.

Here are some next steps we recommend:

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