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public-key-encryptionx509certificate2

X509Certificate validation with SerialNumber or Public Key


Can anyone offer some advice on validating a X509Certificate. I am already checking to see if the cert is signed by a trusted root, however I also want to check that the certificate is issued to a known party.

What is the best property to use for this? I'm thinking along the lines of SerialNumber or Public Key but don't fully understand the implications of either. I guess public key lives beyond any reissued certificates, whereas SerialNumber is constrained to a particular certificate issued on a particular date?

Can anyone offer some informed advice?

Edit: It looks like the certificate thumbprint might be the typical way to achieve this.


Solution

  • I found there is a Thumbprint property which uniquely identifies the exact certificate details.

    However in the end I reverted to string matching the Company Name in the Subject, as it's the only way I could know for sure that I could validate renewed or re-issued certificates.