open-vault/website/content/api-docs/secret/pki.mdx

---
layout: api
page_title: PKI - Secrets Engines - HTTP API
description: This is the API documentation for the Vault PKI secrets engine.
---

# PKI Secrets Engine (API)

This is the API documentation for the Vault PKI secrets engine. For general
information about the usage and operation of the PKI secrets engine, please see
the [PKI documentation](/docs/secrets/pki).

This documentation assumes the PKI secrets engine is enabled at the `/pki` path
in Vault. Since it is possible to enable secrets engines at any location, please
update your API calls accordingly.

## Table of Contents

- [Read CA Certificate](#read-ca-certificate)
- [Read CA Certificate Chain](#read-ca-certificate-chain)
- [Read Certificate](#read-certificate)
- [Read Raw Certificate](#read-raw-certificate)
- [List Certificates](#list-certificates)
- [Submit CA Information](#submit-ca-information)
- [Read CRL Configuration](#read-crl-configuration)
- [Set CRL Configuration](#set-crl-configuration)
- [Read URLs](#read-urls)
- [Set URLs](#set-urls)
- [Read CRL](#read-crl)
- [Rotate CRLs](#rotate-crls)
- [Generate Intermediate](#generate-intermediate)
- [Set Signed Intermediate](#set-signed-intermediate)
- [Generate Certificate](#generate-certificate)
- [Revoke Certificate](#revoke-certificate)
- [Create/Update Role](#create-update-role)
- [Read Role](#read-role)
- [List Roles](#list-roles)
- [Delete Role](#delete-role)
- [Generate Root](#generate-root)
- [Delete Root](#delete-root)
- [Sign Intermediate](#sign-intermediate)
- [Sign Self-Issued](#sign-self-issued)
- [Sign Certificate](#sign-certificate)
- [Sign Verbatim](#sign-verbatim)
- [Tidy](#tidy)
- [Tidy Status](#tidy-status)
- [Managed Key](#managed-keys) (Enterprise Only)

## Read CA Certificate

This endpoint retrieves the CA certificate _in raw DER-encoded form_. This is a
bare endpoint that does not return a standard Vault data structure and cannot
be read by the Vault CLI; use `/pki/cert` for that. If `/pem` is added to the
endpoint, the CA certificate is returned in PEM format.

This is an unauthenticated endpoint.

| Method | Path            |
| :----- | :-------------- |
| `GET`  | `/pki/ca(/pem)` |

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/ca/pem
```

### Sample Response

```text
<binary DER-encoded certificate>
```

## Read CA Certificate Chain

This endpoint retrieves the CA certificate chain, including the CA _in PEM
format_. This is a bare endpoint that does not return a standard Vault data
structure and cannot be read by the Vault CLI; use `/pki/cert` for that.
Additionally, note that this doesn't include the root authority and so may
return empty data depending on configuration; use `/pki/cert/ca_chain`'s
`ca_chain` JSON data field for the entire chain including issuing authority.

This is an unauthenticated endpoint.

| Method | Path            |
| :----- | :-------------- |
| `GET`  | `/pki/ca_chain` |

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/ca_chain
```

### Sample Response

```text
<PEM-encoded certificate chain>
```

## Read Certificate

This endpoint retrieves one of a selection of certificates. This endpoint returns the certificate in PEM formatting in the
`certificate` key of the JSON object, which is a standard Vault response that is readable by the Vault CLI.

This is an unauthenticated endpoint.

| Method | Path                |
| :----- | :------------------ |
| `GET`  | `/pki/cert/:serial` |

### Parameters

- `serial` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the serial of the key to read.
  This is part of the request URL. Valid values for `serial` are:

  - `<serial>` for the certificate with the given serial number
  - `ca` for the CA certificate
  - `crl` for the current CRL
  - `ca_chain` for the CA trust chain; intermediate certificates in the `certificate`
               field, full chain in the `ca_chain` field.

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/cert/crl
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "data": {
    "certificate": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIGmDCCBYCgAwIBAgIHBzEB3fTzhTANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQsFADCBjDELMAkGA1UE\n..."
  }
}
```

## Read Raw Certificate

This endpoint retrieves one of a selection of certificates _in raw DER-encoded
form_. This is a bare endpoint that does not return a standard Vault data
structure and cannot be read by the Vault CLI; use `/pki/cert/:serial` for that. If
`/pem` is added to the endpoint, the selected certificate is returned in PEM format.

This is an unauthenticated endpoint.

| Method | Path                          |
| :----- | :---------------------------- |
| `GET`  | `/pki/cert/:serial/raw(/pem)` |

### Parameters

- `serial` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the serial number of the
  certificate to select, in hyphen-separated or colon-separated octal.

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/cert/39:dd:2e.../raw
```

### Sample Response

```text
<binary DER-encoded certificate>
```

## List Certificates

This endpoint returns a list of the current certificates by serial number only.

| Method | Path         |
| :----- | :----------- |
| `LIST` | `/pki/certs` |

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request LIST \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/certs
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "lease_id": "",
  "renewable": false,
  "lease_duration": 0,
  "data": {
    "keys": [
      "17:67:16:b0:b9:45:58:c0:3a:29:e3:cb:d6:98:33:7a:a6:3b:66:c1",
      "26:0f:76:93:73:cb:3f:a0:7a:ff:97:85:42:48:3a:aa:e5:96:03:21"
    ]
  },
  "wrap_info": null,
  "warnings": null,
  "auth": null
}
```

## Submit CA Information

This endpoint allows submitting the CA information for the backend via a PEM
file containing the CA certificate and its private key, concatenated.

May optionally append additional CA certificates. Useful when creating an
intermediate CA to ensure a full chain is returned when signing or generating
certificates.

Not needed if you are generating a self-signed root certificate, and not used
if you have a signed intermediate CA certificate with a generated key (use the
`/pki/intermediate/set-signed` endpoint for that). _If you have already set a
certificate and key, they will be overridden._

| Method | Path             |
| :----- | :--------------- |
| `POST` | `/pki/config/ca` |

### Parameters

- `pem_bundle` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the unencrypted private key
  and certificate, concatenated in PEM format.

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request POST \
    --data "@payload.json" \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/config/ca
```

Note that if you provide the data through the HTTP API it must be
JSON-formatted, with newlines replaced with `\n`, like so:

```json
{
  "pem_bundle": "-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----\n...\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----"
}
```

## Read CRL Configuration

This endpoint allows getting the duration for which the generated CRL should be
marked valid.

| Method | Path              |
| :----- | :---------------- |
| `GET`  | `/pki/config/crl` |

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/config/crl
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "lease_id": "",
  "renewable": false,
  "lease_duration": 0,
  "data": {
    "disable": false,
    "expiry": "72h"
  },
  "auth": null
}
```

## Set CRL Configuration

This endpoint allows setting the duration for which the generated CRL should be
marked valid. If the CRL is disabled, it will return a signed but zero-length
CRL for any request. If enabled, it will re-build the CRL.

~> Note: Disabling the CRL does not affect whether revoked certificates are
stored internally. Certificates that have been revoked when a role's
certificate storage is enabled will continue to be marked and stored as
revoked until `tidy` has been run with the desired safety buffer. Re-enabling
CRL generation will then result in all such certificates becoming a part of
the CRL.

| Method | Path              |
| :----- | :---------------- |
| `POST` | `/pki/config/crl` |

### Parameters

- `expiry` `(string: "72h")` – The amount of time the generated CRL should be valid.
- `disable` `(bool: false)` – Disables or enables CRL building.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "expiry": "48h"
}
```

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request POST \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/config/crl
```

## Read URLs

This endpoint fetches the URLs to be encoded in generated certificates.

| Method | Path               |
| :----- | :----------------- |
| `GET`  | `/pki/config/urls` |

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/config/urls
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "lease_id": "",
  "renewable": false,
  "lease_duration": 0,
  "data": {
    "issuing_certificates": ["<url1>", "<url2>"],
    "crl_distribution_points": ["<url1>", "<url2>"],
    "ocsp_servers": ["<url1>", "<url2>"]
  },
  "auth": null
}
```

## Set URLs

This endpoint allows setting the issuing certificate endpoints, CRL distribution
points, and OCSP server endpoints that will be encoded into issued certificates.
You can update any of the values at any time without affecting the other
existing values. To remove the values, simply use a blank string as the
parameter.

| Method | Path               |
| :----- | :----------------- |
| `POST` | `/pki/config/urls` |

### Parameters

- `issuing_certificates` `(array<string>: nil)` – Specifies the URL values for
  the Issuing Certificate field. This can be an array or a comma-separated
  string list. See also [RFC 5280 Section 4.2.2.1](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5280#section-4.2.2.1)
  for information about about the Authority Information Access field.

- `crl_distribution_points` `(array<string>: nil)` – Specifies the URL values
  for the CRL Distribution Points field. This can be an array or a
  comma-separated string list. See also [RFC 5280 Section 4.2.1.13](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5280#section-4.2.1.13)
  for information about the CRL Distribution Points field.

- `ocsp_servers` `(array<string>: nil)` – Specifies the URL values for the OCSP
  Servers field. This can be an array or a comma-separated string list. See also
  [RFC 5280 Section 4.2.2.1](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5280#section-4.2.2.1)
  for information about about the Authority Information Access field.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "ocsp_servers": ["https://..."]
}
```

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request POST \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/config/urls
```

## Read CRL

This endpoint retrieves the current CRL **in raw DER-encoded form**. This
endpoint is suitable for usage in the CRL Distribution Points extension in a CA
certificate. This is a bare endpoint that does not return a standard Vault data
structure and cannot be parsed by the Vault CLI; use `/pki/cert/crl` in that case.
If `/pem` is added to the endpoint, the CRL is returned in PEM format.

This is an unauthenticated endpoint.

| Method | Path             |
| :----- | :--------------- |
| `GET`  | `/pki/crl(/pem)` |

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/crl/pem
```

### Sample Response

```
<binary DER-encoded CRL>
```

## Rotate CRLs

This endpoint forces a rotation of the CRL. This can be used by administrators
to cut the size of the CRL if it contains a number of certificates
that have now expired, but has not been rotated due to no further
certificates being revoked.

| Method | Path              |
| :----- | :---------------- |
| `GET`  | `/pki/crl/rotate` |

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/crl/rotate
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "data": {
    "success": true
  }
}
```

## Generate Intermediate

This endpoint generates a new private key and a CSR for signing. If using Vault
as a root, and for many other CAs, the various parameters on the final
certificate are set at signing time and may or may not honor the parameters set
here. _This will overwrite any previously existing CA private key._

Note that this API supports [Managed Keys](/docs/enterprise/managed-keys),
additional details are available [below](#managed-keys) in a dedicated section.

This is mostly meant as a helper function, and not all possible parameters that
can be set in a CSR are supported.

| Method | Path                               |
| :----- | :--------------------------------- |
| `POST` | `/pki/intermediate/generate/:type` |

### Parameters

- `type` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the type of the intermediate to
  create. If `exported`, the private key will be returned in the response; if
  `internal` the private key will not be returned and _cannot be retrieved
  later_. `kms` is also supported [see below](#managed-keys). This is part of the request URL.

- `common_name` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the requested CN for the
  certificate. If more than one `common_name` is desired, specify the
  alternative names in the `alt_names` list.

- `alt_names` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested Subject Alternative
  Names, in a comma-delimited list. These can be host names or email addresses;
  they will be parsed into their respective fields.

- `ip_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested IP Subject Alternative
  Names, in a comma-delimited list.

- `uri_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested URI Subject Alternative
  Names, in a comma-delimited list.

- `other_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies custom OID/UTF8-string SANs. These
  must match values specified on the role in `allowed_other_sans` (see role
  creation for allowed_other_sans globbing rules).
  The format is the same as OpenSSL: `<oid>;<type>:<value>` where the
  only current valid type is `UTF8`. This can be a comma-delimited list or a
  JSON string slice.

- `format` `(string: "pem")` – Specifies the format for returned data. This can be
  `pem`, `der`, or `pem_bundle`; defaults to `pem`. If `der`, the output is
  base64 encoded. If `pem_bundle`, the `csr` field will contain the private key
  (if exported) and CSR, concatenated.

- `private_key_format` `(string: "der")` – Specifies the format for marshaling the
  private key. Defaults to `der` which will return either base64-encoded DER or
  PEM-encoded DER, depending on the value of `format`. The other option is
  `pkcs8` which will return the key marshalled as PEM-encoded PKCS8.

- `key_type` `(string: "rsa")` – Specifies the desired key type; must be `rsa`, `ed25519`
  or `ec`.

- `key_bits` `(int: 2048)` – Specifies the number of bits to use. This must be
  changed to a valid value if the `key_type` is `ec`, e.g., 224, 256, 384 or 521.

- `exclude_cn_from_sans` `(bool: false)` – If true, the given `common_name` will
  not be included in DNS or Email Subject Alternate Names (as appropriate).
  Useful if the CN is not a hostname or email address, but is instead some
  human-readable identifier.

- `ou` `(string: "")` – Specifies the OU (OrganizationalUnit) values in the
  subject field of the resulting CSR. This is a comma-separated string
  or JSON array.

- `organization` `(string: "")` – Specifies the O (Organization) values in the
  subject field of the resulting CSR. This is a comma-separated string
  or JSON array.

- `country` `(string: "")` – Specifies the C (Country) values in the subject
  field of the resulting CSR. This is a comma-separated string or JSON
  array.

- `locality` `(string: "")` – Specifies the L (Locality) values in the subject
  field of the resulting CSR. This is a comma-separated string or JSON
  array.

- `province` `(string: "")` – Specifies the ST (Province) values in the subject
  field of the resulting CSR. This is a comma-separated string or JSON
  array.

- `street_address` `(string: "")` – Specifies the Street Address values in the
  subject field of the resulting CSR. This is a comma-separated string
  or JSON array.

- `postal_code` `(string: "")` – Specifies the Postal Code values in the
  subject field of the resulting CSR. This is a comma-separated string
  or JSON array.

- `serial_number` `(string: "")` – Specifies the Serial Number, if any.
  Otherwise Vault will generate a random serial for you. If you want more than
  one, specify alternative names in the alt_names map using OID 2.5.4.5.

### Managed Keys Parameters
See [Managed Keys](#managed-keys) for additional details on this feature, if
`type` was set to `kms`. One of the following parameters must be set

- `managed_key_name` `(string: "")` – The managed key's configured name.

- `managed_key_id` `(string: "")` – The managed key's UUID.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "common_name": "www.example.com"
}
```

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request POST \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/intermediate/generate/exported
```

```json
{
  "lease_id": "",
  "renewable": false,
  "lease_duration": 21600,
  "data": {
    "csr": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----\nMIIDzDCCAragAwIBAgIUOd0ukLcjH43TfTHFG9qE0FtlMVgwCwYJKoZIhvcNAQEL\n...\numkqeYeO30g1uYvDuWLXVA==\n-----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----\n",
    "private_key": "-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----\\nMIIEpAIBAAKCAQEAwsANtGz9gS3o5SwTSlOG1l-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----",
    "private_key_type": "rsa"
  },
  "warnings": null,
  "auth": null
}
```

## Set Signed Intermediate

This endpoint allows submitting the signed CA certificate corresponding to a
private key generated via `/pki/intermediate/generate`. The certificate should
be submitted in PEM format; see the documentation for
[/pki/config/ca](/api/secret/pki#submit-ca-information) for some
hints on submitting.

| Method | Path                           |
| :----- | :----------------------------- |
| `POST` | `/pki/intermediate/set-signed` |

## Parameters

- `certificate` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the certificate in PEM
  format. May optionally append additional CA certificates to populate the
  whole chain, which will then enable returning the full chain from issue and
  sign operations.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "certificate": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE..."
}
```

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request POST \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/intermediate/set-signed
```

## Generate Certificate

This endpoint generates a new set of credentials (private key and certificate)
based on the role named in the endpoint. The issuing CA certificate is returned
as well, so that only the root CA need be in a client's trust store.

**The private key is _not_ stored. If you do not save the private key, you will
need to request a new certificate.**

| Method | Path               |
| :----- | :----------------- |
| `POST` | `/pki/issue/:name` |

### Parameters

- `name` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the name of the role to create the
  certificate against. This is part of the request URL.

- `common_name` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the requested CN for the
  certificate. If the CN is allowed by role policy, it will be issued. If more
  than one `common_name` is desired, specify the alternative names in the
  `alt_names` list.

- `alt_names` `(string: "")` – Specifies requested Subject Alternative Names, in
  a comma-delimited list. These can be host names or email addresses; they will
  be parsed into their respective fields. If any requested names do not match
  role policy, the entire request will be denied.

- `ip_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies requested IP Subject Alternative Names,
  in a comma-delimited list. Only valid if the role allows IP SANs (which is the
  default).

- `uri_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested URI Subject Alternative
  Names, in a comma-delimited list. If any requested URIs do not match role policy,
  the entire request will be denied.

- `other_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies custom OID/UTF8-string SANs. These
  must match values specified on the role in `allowed_other_sans` (see role
  creation for allowed_other_sans globbing rules).
  The format is the same as OpenSSL: `<oid>;<type>:<value>` where the
  only current valid type is `UTF8`. This can be a comma-delimited list or a
  JSON string slice.

- `ttl` `(string: "")` – Specifies requested Time To Live. Cannot be greater
  than the role's `max_ttl` value. If not provided, the role's `ttl` value will
  be used. Note that the role values default to system values if not explicitly
  set. See `not_after` as an alternative for setting an absolute end date
  (rather than a relative one).

- `format` `(string: "pem")` – Specifies the format for returned data. Can be
  `pem`, `der`, or `pem_bundle`; defaults to `pem`. If `der`, the output is
  base64 encoded. If `pem_bundle`, the `certificate` field will contain the
  private key and certificate, concatenated; if the issuing CA is not a
  Vault-derived self-signed root, this will be included as well.

- `private_key_format` `(string: "der")` – Specifies the format for marshaling the
  private key. Defaults to `der` which will return either base64-encoded DER or
  PEM-encoded DER, depending on the value of `format`. The other option is
  `pkcs8` which will return the key marshalled as PEM-encoded PKCS8.

- `exclude_cn_from_sans` `(bool: false)` – If true, the given `common_name` will
  not be included in DNS or Email Subject Alternate Names (as appropriate).
  Useful if the CN is not a hostname or email address, but is instead some
  human-readable identifier.

- `not_after` `(string)` – Set the Not After field of the certificate with
  specified date value. The value format should be given in UTC format
  `YYYY-MM-ddTHH:MM:SSZ`. Supports the Y10K end date for IEEE 802.1AR-2018
  standard devices, `9999-12-31T23:59:59Z`.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "common_name": "www.example.com"
}
```

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request POST \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/issue/my-role
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "lease_id": "pki/issue/test/7ad6cfa5-f04f-c62a-d477-f33210475d05",
  "renewable": false,
  "lease_duration": 21600,
  "data": {
    "certificate": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDzDCCAragAwIBAgIUOd0ukLcjH43TfTHFG9qE0FtlMVgwCwYJKoZIhvcNAQEL\n...\numkqeYeO30g1uYvDuWLXVA==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n",
    "issuing_ca": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDUTCCAjmgAwIBAgIJAKM+z4MSfw2mMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBCwUAMBsxGTAXBgNV\n...\nG/7g4koczXLoUM3OQXd5Aq2cs4SS1vODrYmgbioFsQ3eDHd1fg==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n",
    "ca_chain": [
      "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDUTCCAjmgAwIBAgIJAKM+z4MSfw2mMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBCwUAMBsxGTAXBgNV\n...\nG/7g4koczXLoUM3OQXd5Aq2cs4SS1vODrYmgbioFsQ3eDHd1fg==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n"
    ],
    "private_key": "-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----\nMIIEowIBAAKCAQEAnVHfwoKsUG1GDVyWB1AFroaKl2ImMBO8EnvGLRrmobIkQvh+\n...\nQN351pgTphi6nlCkGPzkDuwvtxSxiCWXQcaxrHAL7MiJpPzkIBq1\n-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----\n",
    "private_key_type": "rsa",
    "serial_number": "39:dd:2e:90:b7:23:1f:8d:d3:7d:31:c5:1b:da:84:d0:5b:65:31:58"
  },
  "warnings": "",
  "auth": null
}
```

## Revoke Certificate

This endpoint revokes a certificate using its serial number. This is an
alternative option to the standard method of revoking using Vault lease IDs. A
successful revocation will rotate the CRL.

| Method | Path          |
| :----- | :------------ |
| `POST` | `/pki/revoke` |

### Parameters

- `serial_number` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the serial number of the
  certificate to revoke, in hyphen-separated or colon-separated octal.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "serial_number": "39:dd:2e..."
}
```

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request POST \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/revoke
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "data": {
    "revocation_time": 1433269787
  }
}
```

## Create/Update Role

This endpoint creates or updates the role definition. Note that the
`allowed_domains`, `allow_subdomains`, `allow_glob_domains`, and
`allow_any_name` attributes are additive; between them nearly and across
multiple roles nearly any issuing policy can be accommodated. `server_flag`,
`client_flag`, and `code_signing_flag` are additive as well. If a client
requests a certificate that is not allowed by the CN policy in the role, the
request is denied.

| Method | Path               |
| :----- | :----------------- |
| `POST` | `/pki/roles/:name` |

### Parameters

- `name` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the name of the role to create. This
  is part of the request URL.

- `ttl` `(string: "")` – Specifies the Time To Live value to be used for the
  validity period of the requested certificate, provided as a string duration
  with time suffix. Hour is the largest suffix. If not set, uses the system
  default value or the value of `max_ttl`, whichever is shorter. See
  `not_after` as an alternative for setting an absolute end date (rather
  than a relative one).

- `max_ttl` `(string: "")` – Specifies the maximum Time To Live provided as a
  string duration with time suffix. Hour is the largest suffix. If not set,
  defaults to the system maximum lease TTL.

- `allow_localhost` `(bool: true)` – Specifies if clients can request
  certificates for `localhost` as one of the requested common names. This is
  useful for testing and to allow clients on a single host to talk securely.

~> **Note**: This strictly applies to `localhost` and `localdomain` when this
   option is enabled. Additionally, even if this option is disabled, if either
   name is included in `allowed_domains`, the match rules for that option
   could permit issuance of a certificate for `localhost`.

- `allowed_domains` `(list: [])` – Specifies the domains this role is allowed
  to issue certificates for. This is used with the `allow_bare_domains`,
  `allow_subdomains`, and `allow_glob_domains` options to determine the type
  of matching between these domains and the values of common name, DNS-typed
  SAN entries, and Email-typed SAN entries. When `allow_any_name` is used,
  this attribute has no effect.

~> **Note**: The three options `allow_bare_domains`, `allow_subdomains`, and
   `allow_glob_domains` are each independent of each other. That is, at least
   one type of allowed matching must describe the relationship between the
   `allowed_domains` list and the names on the issued certificate. For example,
   given `allowed_domain=foo.*.example.com` and `allow_subdomains=true` and
   `allow_glob_domains=true`, a request for `bar.foo.baz.example.com` won't
   be permitted, even though it `foo.baz.example.com` matches the glob
   `foo.*.example.com` and `bar` is a subdomain of that.

- `allowed_domains_template` `(bool: false)` – When set, `allowed_domains`
  may contain templates, as with [ACL Path Templating](/docs/concepts/policies).
  Non-templated domains are also still permitted.

- `allow_bare_domains` `(bool: false)` – Specifies if clients can request
  certificates matching the value of the actual domains themselves; e.g. if a
  configured domain set with `allowed_domains` is `example.com`, this allows
  clients to actually request a certificate containing the name `example.com` as
  one of the DNS values on the final certificate. In some scenarios, this can be
  considered a security risk. Note that when an `allowed_domain` field contains
  a potential wildcard character (for example, `allowed_domains=*.example.com`)
  and `allow_bare_domains` and `allow_wildcard_certificates` are both enabled,
  issuance of a wildcard certificate for `*.example.com` will be permitted.

- `allow_subdomains` `(bool: false)` – Specifies if clients can request
  certificates with CNs that are subdomains of the CNs allowed by the other role
  options. _This includes wildcard subdomains._ For example, an
  `allowed_domains` value of `example.com` with this option set to true will
  allow `foo.example.com` and `bar.example.com` as well as `*.example.com`. To
  restrict issuance of wildcards by this option, see `allow_wildcard_certificates`
  below. This option is redundant when using the `allow_any_name` option.

- `allow_glob_domains` `(bool: false)` - Allows names specified in
  `allowed_domains` to contain glob patterns (e.g. `ftp*.example.com`). Clients
  will be allowed to request certificates with names matching the glob
  patterns.

~> **Note**: These globs behave like shell-style globs and can match
  across multiple domain parts. For example, `allowed_domains=*.example.com`
  with `allow_glob_domains` enabled will match not only `foo.example.com` but
  also `baz.bar.foo.example.com`.

~> **Warning**: Glob patterns will match wildcard domains and permit their
   issuance unless otherwise restricted by `allow_wildcard_certificates`. For
   instance, with `allowed_domains=*.*.example.com` and both `allow_glob_domains`
   and `allow_wildcard_certificates` enabled, we will permit the issuance of
   a wildcard certificate for `*.foo.example.com`.

- `allow_wildcard_certificates` `(bool: true)` - Allows the issuance of
  certificates with [RFC 6125](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6125) wildcards
  in the CN field. When set to `false`, this prevents wildcards from being
  issued even if they would've been allowed by an option above. We support
  the following four wildcard types:

  - `*.example.com`, a single wildcard as the entire left-most label,
  - `foo*.example.com`, a single suffixed wildcard in the left-most label,
  - `*foo.example.com`, a single prefixed wildcard in the left-most label, and
  - `f*o.example.com`, a single interior wildcard in the left-most label.

- `allow_any_name` `(bool: false)` – Specifies if clients can request any CN.
  Useful in some circumstances, but make sure you understand whether it is
  appropriate for your installation before enabling it. Note that both
  `enforce_hostnames` and `allow_wildcard_certificates` are still checked,
  which may introduce limitations on issuance with this option.

- `enforce_hostnames` `(bool: true)` – Specifies if only valid host names are
  allowed for CNs, DNS SANs, and the host part of email addresses.

- `allow_ip_sans` `(bool: true)` – Specifies if clients can request IP Subject
  Alternative Names. No authorization checking is performed except to verify
  that the given values are valid IP addresses.

- `allowed_uri_sans` `(string: "")` - Defines allowed URI Subject
  Alternative Names. No authorization checking is performed except to verify
  that the given values are valid URIs. This can be a comma-delimited list or
  a JSON string slice. Values can contain glob patterns (e.g.
  `spiffe://hostname/*`).

- `allowed_uri_sans_template` `()bool: false)` – When set, `allowed_uri_sans`
  may contain templates, as with [ACL Path Templating](/docs/concepts/policies).
  Non-templated domains are also still permitted.

- `allowed_other_sans` `(string: "")` – Defines allowed custom OID/UTF8-string
  SANs. This can be a comma-delimited list or a JSON string slice, where
  each element has the same format as OpenSSL: `<oid>;<type>:<value>`, but
  the only valid type is `UTF8` or `UTF-8`. The `value` part of an element
  may be a `*` to allow any value with that OID.
  Alternatively, specifying a single `*` will allow any `other_sans` input.

- `allowed_serial_numbers` `(string: "")` - If set, an array of allowed serial
  numbers to be requested during certificate issuance. These values support
  shell-style globbing. When empty, custom-specified serial numbers will be
  forbidden. It is strongly recommended to allow Vault to generate random
  serial numbers instead.

- `server_flag` `(bool: true)` – Specifies if certificates are flagged for
  server authentication use. See [RFC 5280 Section 4.2.1.12](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5280#section-4.2.1.12)
  for information about the Extended Key Usage field.

- `client_flag` `(bool: true)` – Specifies if certificates are flagged for
  client authentication use. See [RFC 5280 Section 4.2.1.12](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5280#section-4.2.1.12)
  for information about the Extended Key Usage field.

- `code_signing_flag` `(bool: false)` – Specifies if certificates are flagged
  for code signing use. See [RFC 5280 Section 4.2.1.12](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5280#section-4.2.1.12)
  for information about the Extended Key Usage field.

- `email_protection_flag` `(bool: false)` – Specifies if certificates are
  flagged for email protection use. See [RFC 5280 Section 4.2.1.12](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5280#section-4.2.1.12)
  for information about the Extended Key Usage field.

- `key_type` `(string: "rsa")` – Specifies the type of key to generate for
  generated private keys and the type of key expected for submitted CSRs.
  Currently, `rsa`, `ec`, and `ed25519` are supported, or when signing
  existing CSRs, `any` can be specified to allow keys of either type
  and with any bit size (subject to >1024 bits for RSA keys).

- `key_bits` `(int: 2048)` – Specifies the number of bits to use for the
  generated keys. Allowed values are 0 (universal default); with
  `key_type=rsa`, allowed values are: 2048 (default), 3072, or
  4096; with `key_type=ec`, allowed values are: 224, 256 (default),
  384, or 521; ignored with `key_type=ed25519`.

- `signature_bits` `(int: 0)` - Specifies the number of bits to use in
  the signature algorithm; accepts 256 for SHA-2-256, 384 for SHA-2-384,
  and 512 for SHA-2-512. Defaults to 0 to automatically detect based
  on key length (SHA-2-256 for RSA keys, and matching the curve size
  for NIST P-Curves).

- `key_usage` `(list: ["DigitalSignature", "KeyAgreement", "KeyEncipherment"])` –
  Specifies the allowed key usage constraint on issued certificates. Valid
  values can be found at https://golang.org/pkg/crypto/x509/#KeyUsage - simply
  drop the `KeyUsage` part of the value. Values are not case-sensitive. To
  specify no key usage constraints, set this to an empty list. See
  [RFC 5280 Section 4.2.1.3](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5280#section-4.2.1.3)
  for more information about the Key Usage field.

- `ext_key_usage` `(list: [])` –
  Specifies the allowed extended key usage constraint on issued certificates. Valid
  values can be found at https://golang.org/pkg/crypto/x509/#ExtKeyUsage - simply
  drop the `ExtKeyUsage` part of the value. Values are not case-sensitive. To
  specify no key usage constraints, set this to an empty list. See
  [RFC 5280 Section 4.2.1.12](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5280#section-4.2.1.12)
  for information about the Extended Key Usage field.

- `ext_key_usage_oids` `(string: "")` - A comma-separated string or list of extended
  key usage oids. Useful for adding EKUs not supported by the Go standard library.

- `use_csr_common_name` `(bool: true)` – When used with the CSR signing
  endpoint, the common name in the CSR will be used instead of taken from the
  JSON data. This does not include any requested SANs in the CSR; use
  `use_csr_sans` for that.

- `use_csr_sans` `(bool: true)` – When used with the CSR signing endpoint, the
  subject alternate names in the CSR will be used instead of taken from the JSON
  data. This does not include the common name in the CSR; use
  `use_csr_common_name` for that.

- `ou` `(string: "")` – Specifies the OU (OrganizationalUnit) values in the
  subject field of issued certificates. This is a comma-separated string or
  JSON array.

- `organization` `(string: "")` – Specifies the O (Organization) values in the
  subject field of issued certificates. This is a comma-separated string or
  JSON array.

- `country` `(string: "")` – Specifies the C (Country) values in the
  subject field of issued certificates. This is a comma-separated string or
  JSON array.

- `locality` `(string: "")` – Specifies the L (Locality) values in the
  subject field of issued certificates. This is a comma-separated string or
  JSON array.

- `province` `(string: "")` – Specifies the ST (Province) values in the
  subject field of issued certificates. This is a comma-separated string or
  JSON array.

- `street_address` `(string: "")` – Specifies the Street Address values in the
  subject field of issued certificates. This is a comma-separated string or
  JSON array.

- `postal_code` `(string: "")` – Specifies the Postal Code values in the
  subject field of issued certificates. This is a comma-separated string or
  JSON array.

- `generate_lease` `(bool: false)` – Specifies if certificates issued/signed
  against this role will have Vault leases attached to them. Certificates can be
  added to the CRL by `vault revoke <lease_id>` when certificates are associated
  with leases. It can also be done using the `pki/revoke` endpoint. However,
  when lease generation is disabled, invoking `pki/revoke` would be the only way
  to add the certificates to the CRL. When large number of certificates are
  generated with long lifetimes, it is recommended that lease generation be
  disabled, as large amount of leases adversely affect the startup time of Vault.

- `no_store` `(bool: false)` – If set, certificates issued/signed against this
  role will not be stored in the storage backend. This can improve performance
  when issuing large numbers of certificates. However, certificates issued in
  this way cannot be enumerated or revoked, so this option is recommended only
  for certificates that are non-sensitive, or extremely short-lived. This
  option implies a value of `false` for `generate_lease`.

- `require_cn` `(bool: true)` - If set to false, makes the `common_name` field
  optional while generating a certificate.

- `policy_identifiers` `(list: [])` – A comma-separated string or list of policy
  OIDs.

- `basic_constraints_valid_for_non_ca` `(bool: false)` - Mark Basic Constraints
  valid when issuing non-CA certificates.

- `not_before_duration` `(duration: "30s")` – Specifies the duration by which to backdate the NotBefore property.

- `not_after` `(string)` – Set the Not After field of the certificate with
  specified date value. The value format should be given in UTC format
  `YYYY-MM-ddTHH:MM:SSZ`. Supports the Y10K end date for IEEE 802.1AR-2018
  standard devices, `9999-12-31T23:59:59Z`.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "allowed_domains": ["example.com"],
  "allow_subdomains": true
}
```

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request POST \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/roles/my-role
```

## Read Role

This endpoint queries the role definition.

| Method | Path               |
| :----- | :----------------- |
| `GET`  | `/pki/roles/:name` |

### Parameters

- `name` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the name of the role to read. This
  is part of the request URL.

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/roles/my-role
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "data": {
    "allow_any_name": false,
    "allow_ip_sans": true,
    "allow_localhost": true,
    "allow_subdomains": false,
    "allowed_domains": ["example.com", "foobar.com"],
    "allowed_uri_sans": ["example.com", "spiffe://*"],
    "allowed_other_sans": [
      "1.3.6.1.4.1.311.20.2.3;utf8:devops@example.com",
      "1.3.6.1.4.1.311.20.2.4;UTF-8:*"
    ],
    "client_flag": true,
    "code_signing_flag": false,
    "key_bits": 2048,
    "key_type": "rsa",
    "ttl": "6h",
    "max_ttl": "12h",
    "server_flag": true
  }
}
```

## List Roles

This endpoint returns a list of available roles. Only the role names are
returned, not any values.

| Method | Path         |
| :----- | :----------- |
| `LIST` | `/pki/roles` |

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request LIST \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/roles
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "auth": null,
  "data": {
    "keys": ["dev", "prod"]
  },
  "lease_duration": 2764800,
  "lease_id": "",
  "renewable": false
}
```

## Delete Role

This endpoint deletes the role definition. Deleting a role **does not**
revoke certificates previously issued under this role.

| Method   | Path               |
| :------- | :----------------- |
| `DELETE` | `/pki/roles/:name` |

### Parameters

- `name` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the name of the role to delete. This
  is part of the request URL.

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request DELETE \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/roles/my-role
```

## Generate Root

This endpoint generates a new self-signed CA certificate and private key. If
the path ends with `exported`, the private key will be returned in the
response; if it is `internal` the private key will not be returned and _cannot
be retrieved later_. Distribution points use the values set via `config/urls`.

As with other issued certificates, Vault will automatically revoke the
generated root at the end of its lease period; the CA certificate will sign its
own CRL.

Note that this API supports [Managed Keys](/docs/enterprise/managed-keys),
additional details are available [below](#managed-keys) in a dedicated section.

As of Vault 0.8.1, if a CA cert/key already exists, this function will not
overwrite it; it must be deleted first. Previous versions of Vault would
overwrite the existing cert/key with new values.

| Method | Path                       |
| :----- | :------------------------- |
| `POST` | `/pki/root/generate/:type` |

### Parameters

- `type` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the type of the root to
  create. If `exported`, the private key will be returned in the response; if
  `internal` the private key will not be returned and _cannot be retrieved
  later_. `kms` is also supported [see below](#managed-keys). This is part of the
  request URL.

- `common_name` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the requested CN for the
  certificate. If more than one `common_name` is desired, specify the
  alternative names in the `alt_names` list.

- `alt_names` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested Subject Alternative
  Names, in a comma-delimited list. These can be host names or email addresses;
  they will be parsed into their respective fields.

- `ip_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested IP Subject Alternative
  Names, in a comma-delimited list.

- `uri_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested URI Subject Alternative
  Names, in a comma-delimited list.

- `other_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies custom OID/UTF8-string SANs. These
  must match values specified on the role in `allowed_other_sans` (see role
  creation for allowed_other_sans globbing rules).
  The format is the same as OpenSSL: `<oid>;<type>:<value>` where the
  only current valid type is `UTF8`. This can be a comma-delimited list or a
  JSON string slice.

- `ttl` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested Time To Live (after which the
  certificate will be expired). This cannot be larger than the engine's max (or,
  if not set, the system max). See `not_after` as an alternative for setting an
  absolute end date (rather than a relative one).

- `format` `(string: "pem")` – Specifies the format for returned data. Can be
  `pem`, `der`, or `pem_bundle`. If `der`, the output is base64 encoded. If
  `pem_bundle`, the `certificate` field will contain the private key (if
  exported) and certificate, concatenated; if the issuing CA is not a
  Vault-derived self-signed root, this will be included as well.

- `private_key_format` `(string: "der")` – Specifies the format for marshaling the
  private key. Defaults to `der` which will return either base64-encoded DER or
  PEM-encoded DER, depending on the value of `format`. The other option is
  `pkcs8` which will return the key marshalled as PEM-encoded PKCS8.

- `key_type` `(string: "rsa")` – Specifies the desired key type; must be `rsa`, `ed25519`
  or `ec`.

- `key_bits` `(int: 2048)` – Specifies the number of bits to use. This must be
  changed to a valid value if the `key_type` is `ec`, e.g., 224, 256, 384 or 521.

- `max_path_length` `(int: -1)` – Specifies the maximum path length to encode in
  the generated certificate. `-1` means no limit. Unless the signing certificate
  has a maximum path length set, in which case the path length is set to one
  less than that of the signing certificate. A limit of `0` means a literal
  path length of zero.

- `exclude_cn_from_sans` `(bool: false)` – If true, the given `common_name` will
  not be included in DNS or Email Subject Alternate Names (as appropriate).
  Useful if the CN is not a hostname or email address, but is instead some
  human-readable identifier.

- `permitted_dns_domains` `(string: "")` – A comma separated string (or, string
  array) containing DNS domains for which certificates are allowed to be issued
  or signed by this CA certificate. Note that subdomains are allowed, as per
  [RFC](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5280#section-4.2.1.10).

- `ou` `(string: "")` – Specifies the OU (OrganizationalUnit) values in the
  subject field of the resulting certificate. This is a comma-separated string
  or JSON array.

- `organization` `(string: "")` – Specifies the O (Organization) values in the
  subject field of the resulting certificate. This is a comma-separated string
  or JSON array.

- `country` `(string: "")` – Specifies the C (Country) values in the subject
  field of the resulting certificate. This is a comma-separated string or JSON
  array.

- `locality` `(string: "")` – Specifies the L (Locality) values in the subject
  field of the resulting certificate. This is a comma-separated string or JSON
  array.

- `province` `(string: "")` – Specifies the ST (Province) values in the subject
  field of the resulting certificate. This is a comma-separated string or JSON
  array.

- `street_address` `(string: "")` – Specifies the Street Address values in the
  subject field of the resulting certificate. This is a comma-separated string
  or JSON array.

- `postal_code` `(string: "")` – Specifies the Postal Code values in the
  subject field of the resulting certificate. This is a comma-separated string
  or JSON array.

- `serial_number` `(string: "")` – Specifies the Serial Number, if any.
  Otherwise Vault will generate a random serial for you. If you want more than
  one, specify alternative names in the alt_names map using OID 2.5.4.5.

- `not_after` `(string)` – Set the Not After field of the certificate with
  specified date value. The value format should be given in UTC format
  `YYYY-MM-ddTHH:MM:SSZ`. Supports the Y10K end date for IEEE 802.1AR-2018
  standard devices, `9999-12-31T23:59:59Z`.

### Managed Keys Parameters
See [Managed Keys](#managed-keys) for additional details on this feature, if
`type` was set to `kms`. One of the following parameters must be set

- `managed_key_name` `(string: "")` – The managed key's configured name.

- `managed_key_id` `(string: "")` – The managed key's UUID.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "common_name": "example.com"
}
```

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request POST \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/root/generate/internal
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "lease_id": "",
  "lease_duration": 0,
  "renewable": false,
  "data": {
    "certificate": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDzDCCAragAwIBAgIUOd0ukLcjH43TfTHFG9qE0FtlMVgwCwYJKoZIhvcNAQEL\n...\numkqeYeO30g1uYvDuWLXVA==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n",
    "issuing_ca": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDzDCCAragAwIBAgIUOd0ukLcjH43TfTHFG9qE0FtlMVgwCwYJKoZIhvcNAQEL\n...\numkqeYeO30g1uYvDuWLXVA==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n",
    "serial_number": "39:dd:2e:90:b7:23:1f:8d:d3:7d:31:c5:1b:da:84:d0:5b:65:31:58"
  },
  "auth": null
}
```



## Delete Root

This endpoint deletes the current CA key (the old CA certificate will still be
accessible for reading until a new certificate/key is generated or uploaded).
_This endpoint requires sudo/root privileges._

| Method   | Path        |
| :------- | :---------- |
| `DELETE` | `/pki/root` |

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request DELETE \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/root
```

## Sign Intermediate

This endpoint uses the configured CA certificate to issue a certificate with
appropriate values for acting as an intermediate CA. Distribution points use the
values set via `config/urls`. Values set in the CSR are ignored unless
`use_csr_values` is set to true, in which case the values from the CSR are used
verbatim.

| Method | Path                          |
| :----- | :---------------------------- |
| `POST` | `/pki/root/sign-intermediate` |

### Parameters

- `csr` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the PEM-encoded CSR to be signed.

- `common_name` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the requested CN for the
  certificate. If more than one `common_name` is desired, specify the
  alternative names in the `alt_names` list.

- `alt_names` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested Subject Alternative
  Names, in a comma-delimited list. These can be host names or email addresses;
  they will be parsed into their respective fields.

- `ip_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested IP Subject Alternative
  Names, in a comma-delimited list.

- `uri_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested URI Subject Alternative
  Names, in a comma-delimited list.

- `other_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies custom OID/UTF8-string SANs. These
  must match values specified on the role in `allowed_other_sans` (see role
  creation for allowed_other_sans globbing rules).
  The format is the same as OpenSSL: `<oid>;<type>:<value>` where the
  only current valid type is `UTF8`. This can be a comma-delimited list or a
  JSON string slice.

- `ttl` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested Time To Live (after which the
  certificate will be expired). This cannot be larger than the engine's max (or,
  if not set, the system max). However, this can be after the expiration of the
  signing CA. See `not_after` as an alternative for setting an absolute end date
  (rather than a relative one).

- `format` `(string: "pem")` – Specifies the format for returned data. Can be
  `pem`, `der`, or `pem_bundle`. If `der`, the output is base64 encoded. If
  `pem_bundle`, the `certificate` field will contain the certificate and, if the
  issuing CA is not a Vault-derived self-signed root, it will be concatenated
  with the certificate.

- `max_path_length` `(int: -1)` – Specifies the maximum path length to encode in
  the generated certificate. `-1`, means no limit, unless the signing
  certificate has a maximum path length set, in which case the path length is
  set to one less than that of the signing certificate. A limit of `0` means a
  literal path length of zero.

- `exclude_cn_from_sans` `(bool: false)` – If true, the given `common_name` will
  not be included in DNS or Email Subject Alternate Names (as appropriate).
  Useful if the CN is not a hostname or email address, but is instead some
  human-readable identifier.

- `use_csr_values` `(bool: false)` – If set to `true`, then: 1) Subject
  information, including names and alternate names, will be preserved from the
  CSR rather than using the values provided in the other parameters to this
  path; 2) Any key usages (for instance, non-repudiation) requested in the CSR
  will be added to the basic set of key usages used for CA certs signed by this
  path; 3) Extensions requested in the CSR will be copied into the issued
  certificate.

- `permitted_dns_domains` `(string: "")` – A comma separated string (or, string
  array) containing DNS domains for which certificates are allowed to be issued
  or signed by this CA certificate. Supports subdomains via a `.` in front of
  the domain, as per
  [RFC](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5280#section-4.2.1.10).

- `ou` `(string: "")` – Specifies the OU (OrganizationalUnit) values in the
  subject field of the resulting certificate. This is a comma-separated string
  or JSON array.

- `organization` `(string: "")` – Specifies the O (Organization) values in the
  subject field of the resulting certificate. This is a comma-separated string
  or JSON array.

- `country` `(string: "")` – Specifies the C (Country) values in the subject
  field of the resulting certificate. This is a comma-separated string or JSON
  array.

- `locality` `(string: "")` – Specifies the L (Locality) values in the subject
  field of the resulting certificate. This is a comma-separated string or JSON
  array.

- `province` `(string: "")` – Specifies the ST (Province) values in the subject
  field of the resulting certificate. This is a comma-separated string or JSON
  array.

- `street_address` `(string: "")` – Specifies the Street Address values in the
  subject field of the resulting certificate. This is a comma-separated string
  or JSON array.

- `postal_code` `(string: "")` – Specifies the Postal Code values in the
  subject field of the resulting certificate. This is a comma-separated string
  or JSON array.

- `serial_number` `(string: "")` – Specifies the Serial Number, if any.
  Otherwise Vault will generate a random serial for you. If you want more than
  one, specify alternative names in the alt_names map using OID 2.5.4.5.

- `not_after` `(string)` – Set the Not After field of the certificate with
  specified date value. The value format should be given in UTC format
  `YYYY-MM-ddTHH:MM:SSZ`. Supports the Y10K end date for IEEE 802.1AR-2018
  standard devices, `9999-12-31T23:59:59Z`.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "csr": "...",
  "common_name": "example.com"
}
```

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request POST \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/root/sign-intermediate
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "lease_id": "",
  "renewable": false,
  "lease_duration": 0,
  "data": {
    "certificate": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDzDCCAragAwIBAgIUOd0ukLcjH43TfTHFG9qE0FtlMVgwCwYJKoZIhvcNAQEL\n...\numkqeYeO30g1uYvDuWLXVA==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n",
    "issuing_ca": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDUTCCAjmgAwIBAgIJAKM+z4MSfw2mMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBCwUAMBsxGTAXBgNV\n...\nG/7g4koczXLoUM3OQXd5Aq2cs4SS1vODrYmgbioFsQ3eDHd1fg==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n",
    "ca_chain": [
      "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDUTCCAjmgAwIBAgIJAKM+z4MSfw2mMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBCwUAMBsxGTAXBgNV\n...\nG/7g4koczXLoUM3OQXd5Aq2cs4SS1vODrYmgbioFsQ3eDHd1fg==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n"
    ],
    "serial_number": "39:dd:2e:90:b7:23:1f:8d:d3:7d:31:c5:1b:da:84:d0:5b:65:31:58"
  },
  "auth": null
}
```

## Sign Self-Issued

This endpoint uses the configured CA certificate to sign a self-issued
certificate (which will usually be a self-signed certificate as well).

**_This is an extremely privileged endpoint_**. The given certificate will be
signed as-is with only minimal validation performed (is it a CA cert, and is it
actually self-issued). The only values that will be changed will be the
authority key ID, the issuer DN, and, if set, any distribution points.

This is generally only needed for root certificate rolling in cases where you
don't want/can't get access to a CSR (such as if it's a root stored in Vault
where the key is not exposed). If you don't know whether you need this
endpoint, you most likely should be using a different endpoint (such as
`sign-intermediate`).

This endpoint requires `sudo` capability.

| Method | Path                         |
| :----- | :--------------------------- |
| `POST` | `/pki/root/sign-self-issued` |

### Parameters

- `certificate` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the PEM-encoded self-issued certificate.
- `require_matching_certificate_algorithms` `(bool: false)` - If true, requires
that the public key algorithm of the CA match that of the submitted certificate.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "certificate": "..."
}
```

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request POST \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/root/sign-self-issued
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "lease_id": "",
  "renewable": false,
  "lease_duration": 0,
  "data": {
    "certificate": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDzDCCAragAwIBAgIUOd0ukLcjH43TfTHFG9qE0FtlMVgwCwYJKoZIhvcNAQEL\n...\numkqeYeO30g1uYvDuWLXVA==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n",
    "issuing_ca": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDUTCCAjmgAwIBAgIJAKM+z4MSfw2mMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBCwUAMBsxGTAXBgNV\n...\nG/7g4koczXLoUM3OQXd5Aq2cs4SS1vODrYmgbioFsQ3eDHd1fg==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n"
  },
  "auth": null
}
```

## Sign Certificate

This endpoint signs a new certificate based upon the provided CSR and the
supplied parameters, subject to the restrictions contained in the role named in
the endpoint. The issuing CA certificate is returned as well, so that only the
root CA need be in a client's trust store.

| Method | Path              |
| :----- | :---------------- |
| `POST` | `/pki/sign/:name` |

### Parameters

- `csr` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the PEM-encoded CSR.

- `common_name` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the requested CN for the
  certificate. If the CN is allowed by role policy, it will be issued. If
  more than one `common_name` is desired, specify the alternative names in
  the `alt_names` list.

- `alt_names` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested Subject Alternative
  Names, in a comma-delimited list. These can be host names or email addresses;
  they will be parsed into their respective fields. If any requested names do
  not match role policy, the entire request will be denied.

- `other_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies custom OID/UTF8-string SANs. These
  must match values specified on the role in `allowed_other_sans` (see role
  creation for allowed_other_sans globbing rules).
  The format is the same as OpenSSL: `<oid>;<type>:<value>` where the
  only current valid type is `UTF8`. This can be a comma-delimited list or a
  JSON string slice.

- `ip_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested IP Subject Alternative
  Names, in a comma-delimited list. Only valid if the role allows IP SANs (which
  is the default).

- `uri_sans` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested URI Subject Alternative
  Names, in a comma-delimited list. If any requested URIs do not match role policy,
  the entire request will be denied.

- `ttl` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested Time To Live. Cannot be greater
  than the role's `max_ttl` value. If not provided, the role's `ttl` value will
  be used. Note that the role values default to system values if not explicitly
  set. See `not_after` as an alternative for setting an absolute end date
  (rather than a relative one).

- `format` `(string: "pem")` – Specifies the format for returned data. Can be
  `pem`, `der`, or `pem_bundle`. If `der`, the output is base64 encoded. If
  `pem_bundle`, the `certificate` field will contain the certificate and, if the
  issuing CA is not a Vault-derived self-signed root, it will be concatenated
  with the certificate.

- `exclude_cn_from_sans` `(bool: false)` – If true, the given `common_name` will
  not be included in DNS or Email Subject Alternate Names (as appropriate).
  Useful if the CN is not a hostname or email address, but is instead some
  human-readable identifier.

- `not_after` `(string)` – Set the Not After field of the certificate with
  specified date value. The value format should be given in UTC format
  `YYYY-MM-ddTHH:MM:SSZ`. Supports the Y10K end date for IEEE 802.1AR-2018
  standard devices, `9999-12-31T23:59:59Z`.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "csr": "...",
  "common_name": "example.com"
}
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "lease_id": "pki/sign/test/7ad6cfa5-f04f-c62a-d477-f33210475d05",
  "renewable": false,
  "lease_duration": 21600,
  "data": {
    "certificate": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDzDCCAragAwIBAgIUOd0ukLcjH43TfTHFG9qE0FtlMVgwCwYJKoZIhvcNAQEL\n...\numkqeYeO30g1uYvDuWLXVA==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n",
    "issuing_ca": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDUTCCAjmgAwIBAgIJAKM+z4MSfw2mMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBCwUAMBsxGTAXBgNV\n...\nG/7g4koczXLoUM3OQXd5Aq2cs4SS1vODrYmgbioFsQ3eDHd1fg==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n",
    "ca_chain": [
      "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDUTCCAjmgAwIBAgIJAKM+z4MSfw2mMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBCwUAMBsxGTAXBgNV\n...\nG/7g4koczXLoUM3OQXd5Aq2cs4SS1vODrYmgbioFsQ3eDHd1fg==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n"
    ],
    "serial_number": "39:dd:2e:90:b7:23:1f:8d:d3:7d:31:c5:1b:da:84:d0:5b:65:31:58"
  },
  "auth": null
}
```

## Sign Verbatim

This endpoint signs a new certificate based upon the provided CSR. Values are
taken verbatim from the CSR; the _only_ restriction is that this endpoint will
refuse to issue an intermediate CA certificate (see the
`/pki/root/sign-intermediate` endpoint for that functionality.)

**This is a potentially dangerous endpoint and only highly trusted users should
have access.**

| Method | Path                         |
| :----- | :--------------------------- |
| `POST` | `/pki/sign-verbatim(/:name)` |

### Parameters

- `name` `(string: "")` - Specifies a role. If set, the following parameters
  from the role will have effect: `ttl`, `max_ttl`, `generate_lease`, and
  `no_store`.

- `csr` `(string: <required>)` – Specifies the PEM-encoded CSR.

- `key_usage` `(list: ["DigitalSignature", "KeyAgreement", "KeyEncipherment"])` –
  Specifies the allowed key usage constraint on issued certificates. Valid
  values can be found at https://golang.org/pkg/crypto/x509/#KeyUsage - simply
  drop the `KeyUsage` part of the value. Values are not case-sensitive. To
  specify no key usage constraints, set this to an empty list.

- `ext_key_usage` `(list: [])` –
  Specifies the allowed extended key usage constraint on issued certificates. Valid
  values can be found at https://golang.org/pkg/crypto/x509/#ExtKeyUsage - simply
  drop the `ExtKeyUsage` part of the value. Values are not case-sensitive. To
  specify no key usage constraints, set this to an empty list.

- `ext_key_usage_oids` `(string: "")` - A comma-separated string or list of extended key usage oids.

- `ttl` `(string: "")` – Specifies the requested Time To Live. Cannot be greater
  than the engine's `max_ttl` value. If not provided, the engine's `ttl` value
  will be used, which defaults to system values if not explicitly set. See
  `not_after` as an alternative for setting an absolute end date (rather than
  a relative one).

- `format` `(string: "pem")` – Specifies the format for returned data. Can be
  `pem`, `der`, or `pem_bundle`. If `der`, the output is base64 encoded. If
  `pem_bundle`, the `certificate` field will contain the certificate and, if the
  issuing CA is not a Vault-derived self-signed root, it will be concatenated
  with the certificate.

- `not_after` `(string)` – Set the Not After field of the certificate with
  specified date value. The value format should be given in UTC format
  `YYYY-MM-ddTHH:MM:SSZ`. Supports the Y10K end date for IEEE 802.1AR-2018
  standard devices, `9999-12-31T23:59:59Z`.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "csr": "..."
}
```

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request POST \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/sign-verbatim
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "lease_id": "pki/sign-verbatim/7ad6cfa5-f04f-c62a-d477-f33210475d05",
  "renewable": false,
  "lease_duration": 21600,
  "data": {
    "certificate": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDzDCCAragAwIBAgIUOd0ukLcjH43TfTHFG9qE0FtlMVgwCwYJKoZIhvcNAQEL\n...\numkqeYeO30g1uYvDuWLXVA==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n",
    "issuing_ca": "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDUTCCAjmgAwIBAgIJAKM+z4MSfw2mMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBCwUAMBsxGTAXBgNV\n...\nG/7g4koczXLoUM3OQXd5Aq2cs4SS1vODrYmgbioFsQ3eDHd1fg==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n",
    "ca_chain": [
      "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nMIIDUTCCAjmgAwIBAgIJAKM+z4MSfw2mMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBCwUAMBsxGTAXBgNV\n...\nG/7g4koczXLoUM3OQXd5Aq2cs4SS1vODrYmgbioFsQ3eDHd1fg==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n"
    ],
    "serial_number": "39:dd:2e:90:b7:23:1f:8d:d3:7d:31:c5:1b:da:84:d0:5b:65:31:58"
  },
  "auth": null
}
```

## Tidy

This endpoint allows tidying up the storage backend and/or CRL by removing
certificates that have expired and are past a certain buffer period beyond their
expiration time.

| Method | Path        |
| :----- | :---------- |
| `POST` | `/pki/tidy` |

### Parameters

- `tidy_cert_store` `(bool: false)` Specifies whether to tidy up the certificate
  store.

- `tidy_revoked_certs` `(bool: false)` Set to true to remove all invalid and
  expired certificates from storage. A revoked storage entry is considered
  invalid if the entry is empty, or the value within the entry is empty. If a
  certificate is removed due to expiry, the entry will also be removed from the
  CRL, and the CRL will be rotated.

- `safety_buffer` `(string: "")` Specifies A duration (given as an integer
  number of seconds or a string; defaults to `72h`) used as a safety buffer to
  ensure certificates are not expunged prematurely; as an example, this can keep
  certificates from being removed from the CRL that, due to clock skew, might
  still be considered valid on other hosts. For a certificate to be expunged,
  the time must be after the expiration time of the certificate (according to
  the local clock) plus the duration of `safety_buffer`.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "safety_buffer": "24h"
}
```

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request POST \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/tidy
```

## Tidy Status

This is a read only endpoint that returns information about the current tidy
operation, or the most recent if none are currently running.

The result includes the following fields:
* `safety_buffer`: the value of this parameter when initiating the tidy operation
* `tidy_cert_store`: the value of this parameter when initiating the tidy operation
* `tidy_revoked_certs`: the value of this parameter when initiating the tidy operation
* `state`: one of *Inactive*, *Running*, *Finished*, *Error*
* `error`: the error message, if the operation ran into an error
* `time_started`: the time the operation started
* `time_finished`: the time the operation finished
* `message`: One of *Tidying certificate store: checking entry N of TOTAL* or
  *Tidying revoked certificates: checking certificate N of TOTAL*
* `cert_store_deleted_count`: The number of certificate storage entries deleted
* `revoked_cert_deleted_count`: The number of revoked certificate entries deleted

| Method | Path               |
| :----- | :----------------- |
| `GET`  | `/pki/tidy-status` |

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    --header "X-Vault-Token: ..." \
    --request GET \
    http://127.0.0.1:8200/v1/pki/tidy-status

```

### Sample Response

```json
  "data": {
    "safety_buffer": 60,
    "tidy_cert_store": true,
    "tidy_revoked_certs": true,
    "error": null,
    "message": "Tidying certificate store: checking entry 234 of 488",
    "revoked_cert_deleted_count": 0,
    "cert_store_deleted_count": 2,
    "state": "Running",
    "time_started": "2021-10-20T14:52:13.510161-04:00",
    "time_finished": null
  },
```

# Cluster Scalability

Most non-introspection operations in the PKI secrets engine require a write to
storage, and so are forwarded to the cluster's active node for execution.
This table outlines which operations can be executed on performance standbys
and thus scale horizontally.

| Path                        | Operations           |
| --------------------------- | -------------------- |
| ca[/pem]                    | Read                 |
| cert/<em>serial-number</em> | Read                 |
| cert/ca_chain               | Read                 |
| config/crl                  | Read                 |
| certs                       | List                 |
| ca_chain                    | Read                 |
| crl[/pem]                   | Read                 |
| crl/pem                     | Read                 |
| issue                       | Update <sup>\*</sup> |
| revoked/\*                  | Read, List           |
| sign                        | Update <sup>\*</sup> |
| sign-verbatim               | Update <sup>\*</sup> |

\* Only if the corresponding role has `no_store` set to true and `generate_lease`
set to false. If `generate_lease` is true the lease creation will be forwarded to
the active node; if `no_store` is false the entire request will be forwarded to
the active node.

# Managed Keys

~> Note: Managed keys are an Enterprise only feature.

The [Generate Root](#generate-root) and [Generate Intermediate](#generate-intermediate)
API calls can leverage the Managed Keys feature, delegating operations that
require private key material to an external system.

To leverage a Managed Key, assuming it has already been configured, set the type
parameter to `kms` within either, [Generate Root](#generate-root) or
[Generate Intermediate](#generate-intermediate) APIs, and one of either
`managed_key_name` or `managed_key_id` parameters specifying a Managed Key to use.
As with the `internal` type for those APIs, if the type parameter is set to `kms`,
there is no way to read/fetch the private key.

The API call will fail if the specified Managed Key is not properly configured or
arguments detailing private key attributes are specified such as `key_type` or
`key_bits`.

Once either of the certificate APIs have successfully executed, all other PKI
operations behave the same, with no other special configuration or parameters required.