diff --git a/doc/Makefile.am b/doc/Makefile.am index a592f795..a944be62 100644 --- a/doc/Makefile.am +++ b/doc/Makefile.am @@ -1,63 +1,66 @@ # doc - Automake template # Copyright (C) 2001, 2004 g10 Code GmbH # # This file is part of GPGME. # # GPGME is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it # under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as # published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the # License, or (at your option) any later version. # # GPGME is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT # ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY # or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Lesser General # Public License for more details. # # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public # License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software # Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA ## Process this file with automake to produce Makefile.in DISTCLEANFILES = gpgme.tmp CLEANFILES = mkdefsinc defs.inc EXTRA_DIST = module-overview.sk HACKING DCO ChangeLog-2011 \ mkdefsinc.c defsincdate \ examples/gpgme-mozilla.json examples/gpgme-chrome.json BUILT_SOURCES = defsincdate defs.inc info_TEXINFOS = gpgme.texi -gpgme_TEXINFOS = uiserver.texi lesser.texi gpl.texi +gpgme_TEXINFOS = uiserver.texi gpgme-python-howto.texi lesser.texi gpl.texi gpgme.texi : defs.inc mkdefsinc: mkdefsinc.c Makefile ../config.h $(CC_FOR_BUILD) -I. -I.. -I$(srcdir) $(AM_CPPFLAGS) \ -o $@ $(srcdir)/mkdefsinc.c dist-hook: defsincdate defsincdate: $(gpgme_TEXINFOS) : >defsincdate ; \ if test -e $(top_srcdir)/.git; then \ (cd $(srcdir) && git log -1 --format='%ct' -- \ $(info_TEXINFOS) $(gpgme_TEXINFOS) 2>/dev/null) >>defsincdate; \ fi defs.inc: defsincdate Makefile mkdefsinc incd="`test -f defsincdate || echo '$(srcdir)/'`defsincdate"; \ ./mkdefsinc -C $(srcdir) --date "`cat $$incd 2>/dev/null`" \ $(info_TEXINFOS) $(gpgme_TEXINFOS) >$@ -online: gpgme.html gpgme.pdf +online: gpgme.html gpgme.pdf gpgme-python-howto.html gpgme-python-howto.pdf set -e; \ echo "Uploading current manuals to www.gnupg.org ..."; \ user=werner ; \ (cd gpgme.html && rsync -vr --exclude='.svn' . \ $${user}@ftp.gnupg.org:webspace/manuals/gpgme/ ); \ rsync -v gpgme.pdf $${user}@ftp.gnupg.org:webspace/manuals/ + (cd gpgme-python-howto.html && rsync -vr --exclude='.svn' . \ + $${user}@ftp.gnupg.org:webspace/manuals/gpgme/ ); \ + rsync -v gpgme-python-howto.pdf $${user}@ftp.gnupg.org:webspace/manuals/ diff --git a/doc/gpgme-python-howto.texi b/doc/gpgme-python-howto.texi new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3e1abaed --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/gpgme-python-howto.texi @@ -0,0 +1,2145 @@ +\input texinfo @c -*- texinfo -*- +@c %**start of header +@setfilename gpgme-python-howto.info +@settitle GNU Privacy Guard (GnuPG) Made Easy Python Bindings HOWTO (English) +@documentencoding UTF-8 +@documentlanguage en +@c %**end of header + +@finalout +@titlepage +@title GNU Privacy Guard (GnuPG) Made Easy Python Bindings HOWTO (English) +@author Ben McGinnes +@end titlepage + +@contents + +@ifnottex +@node Top +@top GNU Privacy Guard (GnuPG) Made Easy Python Bindings HOWTO (English) +@end ifnottex + +@menu +* Introduction:: +* GPGME Concepts:: +* GPGME Python bindings installation:: +* Fundamentals:: +* Working with keys:: +* Basic Functions:: +* Creating keys and subkeys:: +* Miscellaneous work-arounds:: +* Copyright and Licensing:: + +@detailmenu +--- The Detailed Node Listing --- + +Introduction + +* Python 2 versus Python 3:: +* Examples:: + +GPGME Concepts + +* A C API:: +* Python bindings:: +* Difference between the Python bindings and other GnuPG Python packages:: + +Difference between the Python bindings and other GnuPG Python packages + +* The python-gnupg package maintained by Vinay Sajip:: +* The gnupg package created and maintained by Isis Lovecruft:: +* The PyME package maintained by Martin Albrecht:: + +GPGME Python bindings installation + +* No PyPI:: +* Requirements:: +* Installation:: +* Known Issues:: + +Installation + +* Installing GPGME:: + +Known Issues + +* Breaking Builds:: +* Multiple installations:: +* Won't Work With Windows:: +* I don't like SWIG, Use CFFI instead: I don't like SWIG Use CFFI instead. + +Fundamentals + +* No REST:: +* Context:: + +Working with keys + +* Key selection:: +* Get key:: +* Importing keys:: +* Exporting keys:: + +Key selection + +* Counting keys:: + +Exporting keys + +* Exporting public keys:: +* Exporting secret keys:: + +Basic Functions + +* Encryption:: +* Decryption:: +* Signing text and files:: +* Signature verification:: + +Encryption + +* Encrypting to one key:: +* Encrypting to multiple keys:: + +Signing text and files + +* Signing key selection:: +* Normal or default signing messages or files:: +* Detached signing messages and files:: +* Clearsigning messages or text:: + +Creating keys and subkeys + +* Primary key:: +* Subkeys:: +* User IDs:: +* Key certification:: + +User IDs + +* Adding User IDs:: +* Revokinging User IDs:: + +Miscellaneous work-arounds + +* Group lines:: + +Copyright and Licensing + +* Copyright (C) The GnuPG Project, 2018: Copyright (C) The GnuPG Project 2018. +* License GPL compatible:: + +@end detailmenu +@end menu + +@node Introduction +@chapter Introduction + +@multitable {aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa} {aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa} +@item Version: +@tab 0.1.4 +@item Author: +@tab Ben McGinnes +@item Author GPG Key: +@tab DB4724E6FA4286C92B4E55C4321E4E2373590E5D +@item Language: +@tab Australian English, British English +@item xml:lang: +@tab en-AU, en-GB, en +@end multitable + +This document provides basic instruction in how to use the GPGME +Python bindings to programmatically leverage the GPGME library. + +@menu +* Python 2 versus Python 3:: +* Examples:: +@end menu + +@node Python 2 versus Python 3 +@section Python 2 versus Python 3 + +Though the GPGME Python bindings themselves provide support for both +Python 2 and 3, the focus is unequivocally on Python 3 and +specifically from Python 3.4 and above. As a consequence all the +examples and instructions in this guide use Python 3 code. + +Much of it will work with Python 2, but much of it also deals with +Python 3 byte literals, particularly when reading and writing data. +Developers concentrating on Python 2.7, and possibly even 2.6, will +need to make the appropriate modifications to support the older string +and unicode types as opposed to bytes. + +There are multiple reasons for concentrating on Python 3; some of +which relate to the immediate integration of these bindings, some of +which relate to longer term plans for both GPGME and the python +bindings and some of which relate to the impending EOL period for +Python 2.7. Essentially, though, there is little value in tying the +bindings to a version of the language which is a dead end and the +advantages offered by Python 3 over Python 2 make handling the data +types with which GPGME deals considerably easier. + +@node Examples +@section Examples + +All of the examples found in this document can be found as Python 3 +scripts in the @samp{lang/python/examples/howto} directory. + +@node GPGME Concepts +@chapter GPGME Concepts + +@menu +* A C API:: +* Python bindings:: +* Difference between the Python bindings and other GnuPG Python packages:: +@end menu + +@node A C API +@section A C API + +Unlike many modern APIs with which programmers will be more familiar +with these days, the GPGME API is a C API. The API is intended for +use by C coders who would be able to access its features by including +the @samp{gpgme.h} header file with their own C source code and then access +its functions just as they would any other C headers. + +This is a very effective method of gaining complete access to the API +and in the most efficient manner possible. It does, however, have the +drawback that it cannot be directly used by other languages without +some means of providing an interface to those languages. This is +where the need for bindings in various languages stems. + +@node Python bindings +@section Python bindings + +The Python bindings for GPGME provide a higher level means of +accessing the complete feature set of GPGME itself. It also provides +a more pythonic means of calling these API functions. + +The bindings are generated dynamically with SWIG and the copy of +@samp{gpgme.h} generated when GPGME is compiled. + +This means that a version of the Python bindings is fundamentally tied +to the exact same version of GPGME used to generate that copy of +@samp{gpgme.h}. + +@node Difference between the Python bindings and other GnuPG Python packages +@section Difference between the Python bindings and other GnuPG Python packages + +There have been numerous attempts to add GnuPG support to Python over +the years. Some of the most well known are listed here, along with +what differentiates them. + +@menu +* The python-gnupg package maintained by Vinay Sajip:: +* The gnupg package created and maintained by Isis Lovecruft:: +* The PyME package maintained by Martin Albrecht:: +@end menu + +@node The python-gnupg package maintained by Vinay Sajip +@subsection The python-gnupg package maintained by Vinay Sajip + +This is arguably the most popular means of integrating GPG with +Python. The package utilises the @samp{subprocess} module to implement +wrappers for the @samp{gpg} and @samp{gpg2} executables normally invoked on the +command line (@samp{gpg.exe} and @samp{gpg2.exe} on Windows). + +The popularity of this package stemmed from its ease of use and +capability in providing the most commonly required features. + +Unfortunately it has been beset by a number of security issues in the +past; most of which stemmed from using unsafe methods of accessing the +command line via the @samp{subprocess} calls. While some effort has been +made over the last two to three years (as of 2018) to mitigate this, +particularly by no longer providing shell access through those +subprocess calls, the wrapper is still somewhat limited in the scope +of its GnuPG features coverage. + +The python-gnupg package is available under the MIT license. + +@node The gnupg package created and maintained by Isis Lovecruft +@subsection The gnupg package created and maintained by Isis Lovecruft + +In 2015 Isis Lovecruft from the Tor Project forked and then +re-implemented the python-gnupg package as just gnupg. This new +package also relied on subprocess to call the @samp{gpg} or @samp{gpg2} +binaries, but did so somewhat more securely. + +The naming and version numbering selected for this package, however, +resulted in conflicts with the original python-gnupg and since its +functions were called in a different manner to python-gnupg, the +release of this package also resulted in a great deal of consternation +when people installed what they thought was an upgrade that +subsequently broke the code relying on it. + +The gnupg package is available under the GNU General Public License +version 3.0 (or any later version). + +@node The PyME package maintained by Martin Albrecht +@subsection The PyME package maintained by Martin Albrecht + +This package is the origin of these bindings, though they are somewhat +different now. For details of when and how the PyME package was folded +back into GPGME itself see the @emph{Short History} +document@footnote{@samp{lang/python/docs/Short_History.org} and/or +@samp{lang/python/docs/Short_History.html}.} in the Python bindings +@samp{docs} directory.@footnote{The @samp{lang/python/docs/} directory +in the GPGME source.} + +The PyME package was first released in 2002 and was also the first +attempt to implement a low level binding to GPGME. In doing so it +provided access to considerably more functionality than either the +@samp{python-gnupg} or @samp{gnupg} packages. + +The PyME package is only available for Python 2.6 and 2.7. + +Porting the PyME package to Python 3.4 in 2015 is what resulted in it +being folded into the GPGME project and the current bindings are the +end result of that effort. + +The PyME package is available under the same dual licensing as GPGME +itself: the GNU General Public License version 2.0 (or any later +version) and the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1 (or any +later version). + +@node GPGME Python bindings installation +@chapter GPGME Python bindings installation + +@menu +* No PyPI:: +* Requirements:: +* Installation:: +* Known Issues:: +@end menu + +@node No PyPI +@section No PyPI + +Most third-party Python packages and modules are available and +distributed through the Python Package Installer, known as PyPI. + +Due to the nature of what these bindings are and how they work, it is +infeasible to install the GPGME Python bindings in the same way. + +This is because the bindings use SWIG to dynamically generate C +bindings against @samp{gpgme.h} and @samp{gpgme.h} is generated from +@samp{gpgme.h.in} at compile time when GPGME is built from source. Thus to +include a package in PyPI which actually built correctly would require +either statically built libraries for every architecture bundled with +it or a full implementation of C for each architecture. + +See the additional notes regarding @ref{I don't like SWIG Use CFFI instead, , CFFI and SWIG} at the end of this +section for further details. + +@node Requirements +@section Requirements + +The GPGME Python bindings only have three requirements: + +@enumerate +@item +A suitable version of Python 2 or Python 3. With Python 2 that +means Python 2.7 and with Python 3 that means Python 3.4 or higher. +@item +@uref{https://www.swig.org, SWIG}. +@item +GPGME itself. Which also means that all of GPGME's dependencies +must be installed too. +@end enumerate + +@node Installation +@section Installation + +Installing the Python bindings is effectively achieved by compiling +and installing GPGME itself. + +Once SWIG is installed with Python and all the dependencies for GPGME +are installed you only need to confirm that the version(s) of Python +you want the bindings installed for are in your @samp{$PATH}. + +By default GPGME will attempt to install the bindings for the most +recent or highest version number of Python 2 and Python 3 it detects +in @samp{$PATH}. It specifically checks for the @samp{python} and @samp{python3} +executables first and then checks for specific version numbers. + +For Python 2 it checks for these executables in this order: @samp{python}, +@samp{python2} and @samp{python2.7}. + +For Python 3 it checks for these executables in this order: @samp{python3}, +@samp{python3.6}, @samp{python3.5}, @samp{python3.4} and @samp{python3.7}.@footnote{As Python 3.7 is a very recent release, it is not given +priority over 3.6 yet, but will probably be prioritised by the release +of Python 3.7.2.} + +@menu +* Installing GPGME:: +@end menu + +@node Installing GPGME +@subsection Installing GPGME + +See the GPGME @samp{README} file for details of how to install GPGME from +source. + +@node Known Issues +@section Known Issues + +There are a few known issues with the current build process and the +Python bindings. For the most part these are easily addressed should +they be encountered. + +@menu +* Breaking Builds:: +* Multiple installations:: +* Won't Work With Windows:: +* I don't like SWIG, Use CFFI instead: I don't like SWIG Use CFFI instead. +@end menu + +@node Breaking Builds +@subsection Breaking Builds + +Occasionally when installing GPGME with the Python bindings included +it may be observed that the @samp{make} portion of that process induces a +large very number of warnings and, eventually errors which end that +part of the build process. Yet following that with @samp{make check} and +@samp{make install} appears to work seamlessly. + +The cause of this is related to the way SWIG needs to be called to +dynamically generate the C bindings for GPGME in the first place. So +the entire process will always produce @samp{lang/python/python2-gpg/} and +@samp{lang/python/python3-gpg/} directories. These should contain the +build output generated during compilation, including the complete +bindings and module installed into @samp{site-packages}. + +Occasionally the errors in the early part or some other conflict +(e.g. not installing as @strong{@emph{root}} or @strong{@emph{su}}) may result in nothing +being installed to the relevant @samp{site-packages} directory and the +build directory missing a lot of expected files. Even when this +occurs, the solution is actually quite simple and will always work. + +That solution is simply to run the following commands as either the +@strong{root} user or prepended with @samp{sudo -H}@footnote{Yes, even if you use virtualenv with everything you do in +Python. If you want to install this module as just your user account +then you will need to manually configure, compile and install the +@emph{entire} GnuPG stack as that user as well. This includes libraries +which are not often installed that way. It can be done and there are +circumstances under which it is worthwhile, but generally only on +POSIX systems which utilise single user mode (some even require it).} in the @samp{lang/python/} +directory: + +@example +/path/to/pythonX.Y setup.py build +/path/to/pythonX.Y setup.py build +/path/to/pythonX.Y setup.py install +@end example + +Yes, the build command does need to be run twice. Yes, you still need +to run the potentially failing or incomplete steps during the +@samp{configure}, @samp{make} and @samp{make install} steps with installing GPGME. +This is because those steps generate a lot of essential files needed, +both by and in order to create, the bindings (including both the +@samp{setup.py} and @samp{gpgme.h} files). + +@enumerate +@item +IMPORTANT Note + + +If specifying a selected number of languages to create bindings for, +try to leave Python last. Currently the majority of the other +language bindings are also preceding Python of either version when +listed alphabetically and so that just happens by default currently. + +If Python is set to precede one of the other languages then it is +possible that the errors described here may interrupt the build +process before generating bindings for those other languages. In +these cases it may be preferable to configure all preferred language +bindings separately with alternative @samp{configure} steps for GPGME using +the @samp{--enable-languages=$LANGUAGE} option. +@end enumerate + +@node Multiple installations +@subsection Multiple installations + +For a veriety of reasons it may be either necessary or just preferable +to install the bindings to alternative installed Python versions which +meet the requirements of these bindings. + +On POSIX systems this will generally be most simply achieved by +running the manual installation commands (build, build, install) as +described in the previous section for each Python installation the +bindings need to be installed to. + +As per the SWIG documentation: the compilers, libraries and runtime +used to build GPGME and the Python Bindings @strong{must} match those used to +compile Python itself, including the version number(s) (at least going +by major version numbers and probably minor numbers too). + +On most POSIX systems, including OS X, this will very likely be the +case in most, if not all, cases. + +@node Won't Work With Windows +@subsection Won't Work With Windows + +There are semi-regular reports of Windows users having considerable +difficulty in installing and using the Python bindings at all. Very +often, possibly even always, these reports come from Cygwin users +and/or MinGW users and/or Msys2 users. Though not all of them have +been confirmed, it appears that these reports have also come from +people who installed Python using the Windows installer files from the +@uref{https://python.org, Python website} (i.e. mostly MSI installers, sometimes self-extracting +@samp{.exe} files). + +The Windows versions of Python are not built using Cygwin, MinGW or +Msys2; they're built using Microsoft Visual Studio. Furthermore the +version used is @emph{considerably} more advanced than the version which +MinGW obtained a small number of files from many years ago in order to +be able to compile anything at all. Not only that, but there are +changes to the version of Visual Studio between some micro releases, +though that is is particularly the case with Python 2.7, since it has +been kept around far longer than it should have been. + +There are two theoretical solutions to this issue: + +@enumerate +@item +Compile and install the GnuPG stack, including GPGME and the +Python bibdings using the same version of Microsoft Visual Studio +used by the Python Foundation to compile the version of Python +installed. + +If there are multiple versions of Python then this will need to be +done with each different version of Visual Studio used. + +@item +Compile and install Python using the same tools used by choice, +such as MinGW or Msys2. +@end enumerate + +Do @strong{not} use the official Windows installer for Python unless +following the first method. + +In this type of situation it may even be for the best to accept that +there are less limitations on permissive software than free software +and simply opt to use a recent version of the Community Edition of +Microsoft Visual Studio to compile and build all of it, no matter +what. + +Investigations into the extent or the limitations of this issue are +ongoing. + +@node I don't like SWIG Use CFFI instead +@subsection I don't like SWIG, Use CFFI instead + +There are many reasons for favouring @uref{https://cffi.readthedocs.io/en/latest/overview.html, CFFI} and proponents of it are +quite happy to repeat these things as if all it would take to switch +from SWIG to CFFI is repeating that list as if it were a new concept. + +The fact is that there are things which Python's CFFI implementation +cannot handle in the GPGME C code. Beyond that there are features of +SWIG which are simply not available with CFFI at all. SWIG generates +the bindings to Python using the @samp{gpgme.h} file, but that file is not +a single version shipped with each release, it too is generated when +GPGME is compiled. + +CFFI is currently unable to adapt to such a potentially mutable +codebase. If there were some means of applying SWIG's dynamic code +generation to produce the Python/CFFI API modes of accessing the GPGME +libraries (or the source source code directly), but such a thing does +not exist yet either and it currently appears that work is needed in +at least one of CFFI's dependencies before any of this can be +addressed. + +So if you're a massive fan of CFFI; that's great, but if you want this +project to switch to CFFI then rather than just insisting that it +should, I'd suggest you volunteer to bring CFFI up to the level this +project needs. + +If you're actually seriously considering doing so, then I'd suggest +taking the @samp{gpgme-tool.c} file in the GPGME @samp{src/} directory and +getting that to work with any of the CFFI API methods (not the ABI +methods, they'll work with pretty much anything). When you start +running into trouble with "ifdefs" then you'll know what sort of +things are lacking. That doesn't even take into account the amount of +work saved via SWIG's code generation techniques either. + +@node Fundamentals +@chapter Fundamentals + +Before we can get to the fun stuff, there are a few matters regarding +GPGME's design which hold true whether you're dealing with the C code +directly or these Python bindings. + +@menu +* No REST:: +* Context:: +@end menu + +@node No REST +@section No REST + +The first part of which is or will be fairly blatantly obvious upon +viewing the first example, but it's worth reiterating anyway. That +being that this API is @emph{@strong{not}} a REST API. Nor indeed could it ever +be one. + +Most, if not all, Python programmers (and not just Python programmers) +know how easy it is to work with a RESTful API. In fact they've +become so popular that many other APIs attempt to emulate REST-like +behaviour as much as they are able. Right down to the use of JSON +formatted output to facilitate the use of their API without having to +retrain developers. + +This API does not do that. It would not be able to do that and also +provide access to the entire C API on which it's built. It does, +however, provide a very pythonic interface on top of the direct +bindings and it's this pythonic layer that this HOWTO deals with. + +@node Context +@section Context + +One of the reasons which prevents this API from being RESTful is that +most operations require more than one instruction to the API to +perform the task. Sure, there are certain functions which can be +performed simultaneously, particularly if the result known or strongly +anticipated (e.g. selecting and encrypting to a key known to be in the +public keybox). + +There are many more, however, which cannot be manipulated so readily: +they must be performed in a specific sequence and the result of one +operation has a direct bearing on the outcome of subsequent +operations. Not merely by generating an error either. + +When dealing with this type of persistent state on the web, full of +both the RESTful and REST-like, it's most commonly referred to as a +session. In GPGME, however, it is called a context and every +operation type has one. + +@node Working with keys +@chapter Working with keys + +@menu +* Key selection:: +* Get key:: +* Importing keys:: +* Exporting keys:: +@end menu + +@node Key selection +@section Key selection + +Selecting keys to encrypt to or to sign with will be a common +occurrence when working with GPGMe and the means available for doing +so are quite simple. + +They do depend on utilising a Context; however once the data is +recorded in another variable, that Context does not need to be the +same one which subsequent operations are performed. + +The easiest way to select a specific key is by searching for that +key's key ID or fingerprint, preferably the full fingerprint without +any spaces in it. A long key ID will probably be okay, but is not +advised and short key IDs are already a problem with some being +generated to match specific patterns. It does not matter whether the +pattern is upper or lower case. + +So this is the best method: + +@example +import gpg + +k = gpg.Context().keylist(pattern="258E88DCBD3CD44D8E7AB43F6ECB6AF0DEADBEEF") +keys = list(k) +@end example + +This is passable and very likely to be common: + +@example +import gpg + +k = gpg.Context().keylist(pattern="0x6ECB6AF0DEADBEEF") +keys = list(k) +@end example + +And this is a really bad idea: + +@example +import gpg + +k = gpg.Context().keylist(pattern="0xDEADBEEF") +keys = list(k) +@end example + +Alternatively it may be that the intention is to create a list of keys +which all match a particular search string. For instance all the +addresses at a particular domain, like this: + +@example +import gpg + +ncsc = gpg.Context().keylist(pattern="ncsc.mil") +nsa = list(ncsc) +@end example + +@menu +* Counting keys:: +@end menu + +@node Counting keys +@subsection Counting keys + +Counting the number of keys in your public keybox (@samp{pubring.kbx}), the +format which has superseded the old keyring format (@samp{pubring.gpg} and +@samp{secring.gpg}), or the number of secret keys is a very simple task. + +@example +import gpg + +c = gpg.Context() +seckeys = c.keylist(pattern=None, secret=True) +pubkeys = c.keylist(pattern=None, secret=False) + +seclist = list(seckeys) +secnum = len(seclist) + +publist = list(pubkeys) +pubnum = len(publist) + +print(""" + Number of secret keys: @{0@} + Number of public keys: @{1@} +""".format(secnum, pubnum)) +@end example + +@node Get key +@section Get key + +An alternative method of getting a single key via its fingerprint is +available directly within a Context with @samp{Context().get_key}. This is +the preferred method of selecting a key in order to modify it, sign or +certify it and for obtaining relevant data about a single key as a +part of other functions; when verifying a signature made by that key, +for instance. + +By default this method will select public keys, but it can select +secret keys as well. + +This first example demonstrates selecting the current key of Werner +Koch, which is due to expire at the end of 2018: + +@example +import gpg + +fingerprint = "80615870F5BAD690333686D0F2AD85AC1E42B367" +key = gpg.Context().get_key(fingerprint) +@end example + +Whereas this example demonstrates selecting the author's current key +with the @samp{secret} key word argument set to @samp{True}: + +@example +import gpg + +fingerprint = "DB4724E6FA4286C92B4E55C4321E4E2373590E5D" +key = gpg.Context().get_key(fingerprint, secret=True) +@end example + +It is, of course, quite possible to select expired, disabled and +revoked keys with this function, but only to effectively display +information about those keys. + +It is also possible to use both unicode or string literals and byte +literals with the fingerprint when getting a key in this way. + +@node Importing keys +@section Importing keys + +Importing keys is possible with the @samp{key_import()} method and takes +one argument which is a bytes literal object containing either the +binary or ASCII armoured key data for one or more keys. + +The following example retrieves one or more keys from the SKS +keyservers via the web using the requests module. Since requests +returns the content as a bytes literal object, we can then use that +directly to import the resulting data into our keybox. + +@example +import gpg +import os.path +import requests + +c = gpg.Context() +url = "https://sks-keyservers.net/pks/lookup" +pattern = input("Enter the pattern to search for key or user IDs: ") +payload = @{ "op": "get", "search": pattern @} + +r = requests.get(url, verify=True, params=payload) +result = c.key_import(r.content) + +if result is not None and hasattr(result, "considered") is False: + print(result) +elif result is not None and hasattr(result, "considered") is True: + num_keys = len(result.imports) + new_revs = result.new_revocations + new_sigs = result.new_signatures + new_subs = result.new_sub_keys + new_uids = result.new_user_ids + new_scrt = result.secret_imported + nochange = result.unchanged + print(""" + The total number of keys considered for import was: @{0@} + + Number of keys revoked: @{1@} + Number of new signatures: @{2@} + Number of new subkeys: @{3@} + Number of new user IDs: @{4@} + Number of new secret keys: @{5@} + Number of unchanged keys: @{6@} + + The key IDs for all considered keys were: +""".format(num_keys, new_revs, new_sigs, new_subs, new_uids, new_scrt, + nochange)) + for i in range(num_keys): + print("@{0@}\n".format(result.imports[i].fpr)) +else: + pass +@end example + +@strong{NOTE:} When searching for a key ID of any length or a fingerprint +(without spaces), the SKS servers require the the leading @samp{0x} +indicative of hexadecimal be included. Also note that the old short +key IDs (e.g. @samp{0xDEADBEEF}) should no longer be used due to the +relative ease by which such key IDs can be reproduced, as demonstrated +by the Evil32 Project in 2014 (which was subsequently exploited in +2016). + +Here is a variation on the above which checks the constrained +ProtonMail keyserver for ProtonMail public keys. + +@example +import gpg +import requests +import sys + +print(""" +This script searches the ProtonMail key server for the specified key and +imports it. +""") + +c = gpg.Context(armor=True) +url = "https://api.protonmail.ch/pks/lookup" +ksearch = [] + +if len(sys.argv) >= 2: + keyterm = sys.argv[1] +else: + keyterm = input("Enter the key ID, UID or search string: ") + +if keyterm.count("@@") == 2 and keyterm.startswith("@@") is True: + ksearch.append(keyterm[1:]) + ksearch.append(keyterm[1:]) + ksearch.append(keyterm[1:]) +elif keyterm.count("@@") == 1 and keyterm.startswith("@@") is True: + ksearch.append("@{0@}@@protonmail.com".format(keyterm[1:])) + ksearch.append("@{0@}@@protonmail.ch".format(keyterm[1:])) + ksearch.append("@{0@}@@pm.me".format(keyterm[1:])) +elif keyterm.count("@@") == 0: + ksearch.append("@{0@}@@protonmail.com".format(keyterm)) + ksearch.append("@{0@}@@protonmail.ch".format(keyterm)) + ksearch.append("@{0@}@@pm.me".format(keyterm)) +elif keyterm.count("@@") == 2 and keyterm.startswith("@@") is False: + uidlist = keyterm.split("@@") + for uid in uidlist: + ksearch.append("@{0@}@@protonmail.com".format(uid)) + ksearch.append("@{0@}@@protonmail.ch".format(uid)) + ksearch.append("@{0@}@@pm.me".format(uid)) +elif keyterm.count("@@") > 2: + uidlist = keyterm.split("@@") + for uid in uidlist: + ksearch.append("@{0@}@@protonmail.com".format(uid)) + ksearch.append("@{0@}@@protonmail.ch".format(uid)) + ksearch.append("@{0@}@@pm.me".format(uid)) +else: + ksearch.append(keyterm) + +for k in ksearch: + payload = @{"op": "get", "search": k@} + try: + r = requests.get(url, verify=True, params=payload) + if r.ok is True: + result = c.key_import(r.content) + elif r.ok is False: + result = r.content + except Exception as e: + result = None + + if result is not None and hasattr(result, "considered") is False: + print("@{0@} for @{1@}".format(result.decode(), k)) + elif result is not None and hasattr(result, "considered") is True: + num_keys = len(result.imports) + new_revs = result.new_revocations + new_sigs = result.new_signatures + new_subs = result.new_sub_keys + new_uids = result.new_user_ids + new_scrt = result.secret_imported + nochange = result.unchanged + print(""" +The total number of keys considered for import was: @{0@} + +With UIDs wholely or partially matching the following string: + + @{1@} + + Number of keys revoked: @{2@} + Number of new signatures: @{3@} + Number of new subkeys: @{4@} + Number of new user IDs: @{5@} +Number of new secret keys: @{6@} + Number of unchanged keys: @{7@} + +The key IDs for all considered keys were: +""".format(num_keys, k, new_revs, new_sigs, new_subs, new_uids, new_scrt, + nochange)) + for i in range(num_keys): + print(result.imports[i].fpr) + print("") + elif result is None: + print(e) +@end example + +Both the above example, @uref{../examples/howto/pmkey-import.py, pmkey-import.py}, and a version which prompts +for an alternative GnuPG home directory, @uref{../examples/howto/pmkey-import-alt.py, pmkey-import-alt.py}, are +available with the other examples and are executable scripts. + +Note that while the ProtonMail servers are based on the SKS servers, +their server is related more to their API and is not feature complete +by comparison to the servers in the SKS pool. One notable difference +being that the ProtonMail server does not permit non ProtonMail users +to update their own keys, which could be a vector for attacking +ProtonMail users who may not receive a key's revocation if it had been +compromised. + +@node Exporting keys +@section Exporting keys + +Exporting keys remains a reasonably simple task, but has been +separated into three different functions for the OpenPGP cryptographic +engine. Two of those functions are for exporting public keys and the +third is for exporting secret keys. + +@menu +* Exporting public keys:: +* Exporting secret keys:: +@end menu + +@node Exporting public keys +@subsection Exporting public keys + +There are two methods of exporting public keys, both of which are very +similar to the other. The default method, @samp{key_export()}, will export +a public key or keys matching a specified pattern as normal. The +alternative, the @samp{key_export_minimal()} method, will do the same thing +except producing a minimised output with extra signatures and third +party signatures or certifications removed. + +@example +import gpg +import os.path +import sys + +print(""" +This script exports one or more public keys. +""") + +c = gpg.Context(armor=True) + +if len(sys.argv) >= 4: + keyfile = sys.argv[1] + logrus = sys.argv[2] + homedir = sys.argv[3] +elif len(sys.argv) == 3: + keyfile = sys.argv[1] + logrus = sys.argv[2] + homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ") +elif len(sys.argv) == 2: + keyfile = sys.argv[1] + logrus = input("Enter the UID matching the key(s) to export: ") + homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ") +else: + keyfile = input("Enter the path and filename to save the secret key to: ") + logrus = input("Enter the UID matching the key(s) to export: ") + homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ") + +if homedir.startswith("~"): + if os.path.exists(os.path.expanduser(homedir)) is True: + c.home_dir = os.path.expanduser(homedir) + else: + pass +elif os.path.exists(homedir) is True: + c.home_dir = homedir +else: + pass + +try: + result = c.key_export(pattern=logrus) +except: + result = c.key_export(pattern=None) + +if result is not None: + with open(keyfile, "wb") as f: + f.write(result) +else: + pass +@end example + +It is important to note that the result will only return @samp{None} when a +pattern has been entered for @samp{logrus}, but it has not matched any +keys. When the search pattern itself is set to @samp{None} this triggers +the exporting of the entire public keybox. + +@example +import gpg +import os.path +import sys + +print(""" +This script exports one or more public keys in minimised form. +""") + +c = gpg.Context(armor=True) + +if len(sys.argv) >= 4: + keyfile = sys.argv[1] + logrus = sys.argv[2] + homedir = sys.argv[3] +elif len(sys.argv) == 3: + keyfile = sys.argv[1] + logrus = sys.argv[2] + homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ") +elif len(sys.argv) == 2: + keyfile = sys.argv[1] + logrus = input("Enter the UID matching the key(s) to export: ") + homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ") +else: + keyfile = input("Enter the path and filename to save the secret key to: ") + logrus = input("Enter the UID matching the key(s) to export: ") + homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ") + +if homedir.startswith("~"): + if os.path.exists(os.path.expanduser(homedir)) is True: + c.home_dir = os.path.expanduser(homedir) + else: + pass +elif os.path.exists(homedir) is True: + c.home_dir = homedir +else: + pass + +try: + result = c.key_export_minimal(pattern=logrus) +except: + result = c.key_export_minimal(pattern=None) + +if result is not None: + with open(keyfile, "wb") as f: + f.write(result) +else: + pass +@end example + +@node Exporting secret keys +@subsection Exporting secret keys + +Exporting secret keys is, functionally, very similar to exporting +public keys; save for the invocation of @samp{pinentry} via @samp{gpg-agent} in +order to securely enter the key's passphrase and authorise the export. + +The following example exports the secret key to a file which is then +set with the same permissions as the output files created by the +command line secret key export options. + +@example +import gpg +import os +import os.path +import sys + +print(""" +This script exports one or more secret keys. + +The gpg-agent and pinentry are invoked to authorise the export. +""") + +c = gpg.Context(armor=True) + +if len(sys.argv) >= 4: + keyfile = sys.argv[1] + logrus = sys.argv[2] + homedir = sys.argv[3] +elif len(sys.argv) == 3: + keyfile = sys.argv[1] + logrus = sys.argv[2] + homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ") +elif len(sys.argv) == 2: + keyfile = sys.argv[1] + logrus = input("Enter the UID matching the secret key(s) to export: ") + homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ") +else: + keyfile = input("Enter the path and filename to save the secret key to: ") + logrus = input("Enter the UID matching the secret key(s) to export: ") + homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ") + +if homedir.startswith("~"): + if os.path.exists(os.path.expanduser(homedir)) is True: + c.home_dir = os.path.expanduser(homedir) + else: + pass +elif os.path.exists(homedir) is True: + c.home_dir = homedir +else: + pass + +try: + result = c.key_export_secret(pattern=logrus) +except: + result = c.key_export_secret(pattern=None) + +if result is not None: + with open(keyfile, "wb") as f: + f.write(result) + os.chmod(keyfile, 0o600) +else: + pass +@end example + +Alternatively the approach of the following script can be used. This +longer example saves the exported secret key(s) in files in the GnuPG +home directory, in addition to setting the file permissions as only +readable and writable by the user. It also exports the secret key(s) +twice in order to output both GPG binary (@samp{.gpg}) and ASCII armoured +(@samp{.asc}) files. + +@example +import gpg +import os +import os.path +import subprocess +import sys + +print(""" +This script exports one or more secret keys as both ASCII armored and binary +file formats, saved in files within the user's GPG home directory. + +The gpg-agent and pinentry are invoked to authorise the export. +""") + +if sys.platform == "win32": + gpgconfcmd = "gpgconf.exe --list-dirs homedir" +else: + gpgconfcmd = "gpgconf --list-dirs homedir" + +a = gpg.Context(armor=True) +b = gpg.Context() +c = gpg.Context() + +if len(sys.argv) >= 4: + keyfile = sys.argv[1] + logrus = sys.argv[2] + homedir = sys.argv[3] +elif len(sys.argv) == 3: + keyfile = sys.argv[1] + logrus = sys.argv[2] + homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ") +elif len(sys.argv) == 2: + keyfile = sys.argv[1] + logrus = input("Enter the UID matching the secret key(s) to export: ") + homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ") +else: + keyfile = input("Enter the filename to save the secret key to: ") + logrus = input("Enter the UID matching the secret key(s) to export: ") + homedir = input("Enter the GPG configuration directory path (optional): ") + +if homedir.startswith("~"): + if os.path.exists(os.path.expanduser(homedir)) is True: + c.home_dir = os.path.expanduser(homedir) + else: + pass +elif os.path.exists(homedir) is True: + c.home_dir = homedir +else: + pass + +if c.home_dir is not None: + if c.home_dir.endswith("/"): + gpgfile = "@{0@}@{1@}.gpg".format(c.home_dir, keyfile) + ascfile = "@{0@}@{1@}.asc".format(c.home_dir, keyfile) + else: + gpgfile = "@{0@}/@{1@}.gpg".format(c.home_dir, keyfile) + ascfile = "@{0@}/@{1@}.asc".format(c.home_dir, keyfile) +else: + if os.path.exists(os.environ["GNUPGHOME"]) is True: + hd = os.environ["GNUPGHOME"] + else: + try: + hd = subprocess.getoutput(gpgconfcmd) + except: + process = subprocess.Popen(gpgconfcmd.split(), + stdout=subprocess.PIPE) + procom = process.communicate() + if sys.version_info[0] == 2: + hd = procom[0].strip() + else: + hd = procom[0].decode().strip() + gpgfile = "@{0@}/@{1@}.gpg".format(hd, keyfile) + ascfile = "@{0@}/@{1@}.asc".format(hd, keyfile) + +try: + a_result = a.key_export_secret(pattern=logrus) + b_result = b.key_export_secret(pattern=logrus) +except: + a_result = a.key_export_secret(pattern=None) + b_result = b.key_export_secret(pattern=None) + +if a_result is not None: + with open(ascfile, "wb") as f: + f.write(a_result) + os.chmod(ascfile, 0o600) +else: + pass + +if b_result is not None: + with open(gpgfile, "wb") as f: + f.write(b_result) + os.chmod(gpgfile, 0o600) +else: + pass +@end example + +@node Basic Functions +@chapter Basic Functions + +The most frequently called features of any cryptographic library will +be the most fundamental tasks for encryption software. In this +section we will look at how to programmatically encrypt data, decrypt +it, sign it and verify signatures. + +@menu +* Encryption:: +* Decryption:: +* Signing text and files:: +* Signature verification:: +@end menu + +@node Encryption +@section Encryption + +Encrypting is very straight forward. In the first example below the +message, @samp{text}, is encrypted to a single recipient's key. In the +second example the message will be encrypted to multiple recipients. + +@menu +* Encrypting to one key:: +* Encrypting to multiple keys:: +@end menu + +@node Encrypting to one key +@subsection Encrypting to one key + +Once the the Context is set the main issues with encrypting data is +essentially reduced to key selection and the keyword arguments +specified in the @samp{gpg.Context().encrypt()} method. + +Those keyword arguments are: @samp{recipients}, a list of keys encrypted to +(covered in greater detail in the following section); @samp{sign}, whether +or not to sign the plaintext data, see subsequent sections on signing +and verifying signatures below (defaults to @samp{True}); @samp{sink}, to write +results or partial results to a secure sink instead of returning it +(defaults to @samp{None}); @samp{passphrase}, only used when utilising symmetric +encryption (defaults to @samp{None}); @samp{always_trust}, used to override the +trust model settings for recipient keys (defaults to @samp{False}); +@samp{add_encrypt_to}, utilises any preconfigured @samp{encrypt-to} or +@samp{default-key} settings in the user's @samp{gpg.conf} file (defaults to +@samp{False}); @samp{prepare}, prepare for encryption (defaults to @samp{False}); +@samp{expect_sign}, prepare for signing (defaults to @samp{False}); @samp{compress}, +compresses the plaintext prior to encryption (defaults to @samp{True}). + +@example +import gpg + +a_key = "0x12345678DEADBEEF" +text = b"""Some text to test with. + +Since the text in this case must be bytes, it is most likely that +the input form will be a separate file which is opened with "rb" +as this is the simplest method of obtaining the correct data format. +""" + +c = gpg.Context(armor=True) +rkey = list(c.keylist(pattern=a_key, secret=False)) +ciphertext, result, sign_result = c.encrypt(text, recipients=rkey, sign=False) + +with open("secret_plans.txt.asc", "wb") as afile: + afile.write(ciphertext) +@end example + +Though this is even more likely to be used like this; with the +plaintext input read from a file, the recipient keys used for +encryption regardless of key trust status and the encrypted output +also encrypted to any preconfigured keys set in the @samp{gpg.conf} file: + +@example +import gpg + +a_key = "0x12345678DEADBEEF" + +with open("secret_plans.txt", "rb") as afile: + text = afile.read() + +c = gpg.Context(armor=True) +rkey = list(c.keylist(pattern=a_key, secret=False)) +ciphertext, result, sign_result = c.encrypt(text, recipients=rkey, sign=True, + always_trust=True, + add_encrypt_to=True) + +with open("secret_plans.txt.asc", "wb") as afile: + afile.write(ciphertext) +@end example + +If the @samp{recipients} paramater is empty then the plaintext is encrypted +symmetrically. If no @samp{passphrase} is supplied as a parameter or via a +callback registered with the @samp{Context()} then an out-of-band prompt +for the passphrase via pinentry will be invoked. + +@node Encrypting to multiple keys +@subsection Encrypting to multiple keys + +Encrypting to multiple keys essentially just expands upon the key +selection process and the recipients from the previous examples. + +The following example encrypts a message (@samp{text}) to everyone with an +email address on the @samp{gnupg.org} domain,@footnote{You probably don't really want to do this. Searching the +keyservers for "gnupg.org" produces over 400 results, the majority of +which aren't actually at the gnupg.org domain, but just included a +comment regarding the project in their key somewhere.} but does @emph{not} encrypt +to a default key or other key which is configured to normally encrypt +to. + +@example +import gpg + +text = b"""Oh look, another test message. + +The same rules apply as with the previous example and more likely +than not, the message will actually be drawn from reading the +contents of a file or, maybe, from entering data at an input() +prompt. + +Since the text in this case must be bytes, it is most likely that +the input form will be a separate file which is opened with "rb" +as this is the simplest method of obtaining the correct data +format. +""" + +c = gpg.Context(armor=True) +rpattern = list(c.keylist(pattern="@@gnupg.org", secret=False)) +logrus = [] + +for i in range(len(rpattern)): + if rpattern[i].can_encrypt == 1: + logrus.append(rpattern[i]) + +ciphertext, result, sign_result = c.encrypt(text, recipients=logrus, + sign=False, always_trust=True) + +with open("secret_plans.txt.asc", "wb") as afile: + afile.write(ciphertext) +@end example + +All it would take to change the above example to sign the message +and also encrypt the message to any configured default keys would +be to change the @samp{c.encrypt} line to this: + +@example +ciphertext, result, sign_result = c.encrypt(text, recipients=logrus, + always_trust=True, + add_encrypt_to=True) +@end example + +The only keyword arguments requiring modification are those for which +the default values are changing. The default value of @samp{sign} is +@samp{True}, the default of @samp{always_trust} is @samp{False}, the default of +@samp{add_encrypt_to} is @samp{False}. + +If @samp{always_trust} is not set to @samp{True} and any of the recipient keys +are not trusted (e.g. not signed or locally signed) then the +encryption will raise an error. It is possible to mitigate this +somewhat with something more like this: + +@example +import gpg + +with open("secret_plans.txt.asc", "rb") as afile: + text = afile.read() + +c = gpg.Context(armor=True) +rpattern = list(c.keylist(pattern="@@gnupg.org", secret=False)) +logrus = [] + +for i in range(len(rpattern)): + if rpattern[i].can_encrypt == 1: + logrus.append(rpattern[i]) + + try: + ciphertext, result, sign_result = c.encrypt(text, recipients=logrus, + add_encrypt_to=True) + except gpg.errors.InvalidRecipients as e: + for i in range(len(e.recipients)): + for n in range(len(logrus)): + if logrus[n].fpr == e.recipients[i].fpr: + logrus.remove(logrus[n]) + else: + pass + try: + ciphertext, result, sign_result = c.encrypt(text, + recipients=logrus, + add_encrypt_to=True) + with open("secret_plans.txt.asc", "wb") as afile: + afile.write(ciphertext) + except: + pass +@end example + +This will attempt to encrypt to all the keys searched for, then remove +invalid recipients if it fails and try again. + +@node Decryption +@section Decryption + +Decrypting something encrypted to a key in one's secret keyring is +fairly straight forward. + +In this example code, however, preconfiguring either @samp{gpg.Context()} +or @samp{gpg.core.Context()} as @samp{c} is unnecessary because there is no need +to modify the Context prior to conducting the decryption and since the +Context is only used once, setting it to @samp{c} simply adds lines for no +gain. + +@example +import gpg + +ciphertext = input("Enter path and filename of encrypted file: ") +newfile = input("Enter path and filename of file to save decrypted data to: ") + +with open(ciphertext, "rb") as cfile: + try: + plaintext, result, verify_result = gpg.Context().decrypt(cfile) + except gpg.errors.GPGMEError as e: + plaintext = None + print(e) + +if plaintext is not None: + with open(newfile, "wb") as nfile: + nfile.write(plaintext) + else: + pass +@end example + +The data available in @samp{plaintext} in this example is the decrypted +content as a byte object, the recipient key IDs and algorithms in +@samp{result} and the results of verifying any signatures of the data in +@samp{verify_result}. + +@node Signing text and files +@section Signing text and files + +The following sections demonstrate how to specify keys to sign with. + +@menu +* Signing key selection:: +* Normal or default signing messages or files:: +* Detached signing messages and files:: +* Clearsigning messages or text:: +@end menu + +@node Signing key selection +@subsection Signing key selection + +By default GPGME and the Python bindings will use the default key +configured for the user invoking the GPGME API. If there is no +default key specified and there is more than one secret key available +it may be necessary to specify the key or keys with which to sign +messages and files. + +@example +import gpg + +logrus = input("Enter the email address or string to match signing keys to: ") +hancock = gpg.Context().keylist(pattern=logrus, secret=True) +sig_src = list(hancock) +@end example + +The signing examples in the following sections include the explicitly +designated @samp{signers} parameter in two of the five examples; once where +the resulting signature would be ASCII armoured and once where it +would not be armoured. + +While it would be possible to enter a key ID or fingerprint here to +match a specific key, it is not possible to enter two fingerprints and +match two keys since the patten expects a string, bytes or None and +not a list. A string with two fingerprints won't match any single +key. + +@node Normal or default signing messages or files +@subsection Normal or default signing messages or files + +The normal or default signing process is essentially the same as is +most often invoked when also encrypting a message or file. So when +the encryption component is not utilised, the result is to produce an +encoded and signed output which may or may not be ASCII armoured and +which may or may not also be compressed. + +By default compression will be used unless GnuPG detects that the +plaintext is already compressed. ASCII armouring will be determined +according to the value of @samp{gpg.Context().armor}. + +The compression algorithm is selected in much the same way as the +symmetric encryption algorithm or the hash digest algorithm is when +multiple keys are involved; from the preferences saved into the key +itself or by comparison with the preferences with all other keys +involved. + +@example +import gpg + +text0 = """Declaration of ... something. + +""" +text = text0.encode() + +c = gpg.Context(armor=True, signers=sig_src) +signed_data, result = c.sign(text, mode=gpg.constants.sig.mode.NORMAL) + +with open("/path/to/statement.txt.asc", "w") as afile: + afile.write(signed_data.decode()) +@end example + +Though everything in this example is accurate, it is more likely that +reading the input data from another file and writing the result to a +new file will be performed more like the way it is done in the next +example. Even if the output format is ASCII armoured. + +@example +import gpg + +with open("/path/to/statement.txt", "rb") as tfile: + text = tfile.read() + +c = gpg.Context() +signed_data, result = c.sign(text, mode=gpg.constants.sig.mode.NORMAL) + +with open("/path/to/statement.txt.sig", "wb") as afile: + afile.write(signed_data) +@end example + +@node Detached signing messages and files +@subsection Detached signing messages and files + +Detached signatures will often be needed in programmatic uses of +GPGME, either for signing files (e.g. tarballs of code releases) or as +a component of message signing (e.g. PGP/MIME encoded email). + +@example +import gpg + +text0 = """Declaration of ... something. + +""" +text = text0.encode() + +c = gpg.Context(armor=True) +signed_data, result = c.sign(text, mode=gpg.constants.sig.mode.DETACH) + +with open("/path/to/statement.txt.asc", "w") as afile: + afile.write(signed_data.decode()) +@end example + +As with normal signatures, detached signatures are best handled as +byte literals, even when the output is ASCII armoured. + +@example +import gpg + +with open("/path/to/statement.txt", "rb") as tfile: + text = tfile.read() + +c = gpg.Context(signers=sig_src) +signed_data, result = c.sign(text, mode=gpg.constants.sig.mode.DETACH) + +with open("/path/to/statement.txt.sig", "wb") as afile: + afile.write(signed_data) +@end example + +@node Clearsigning messages or text +@subsection Clearsigning messages or text + +Though PGP/in-line messages are no longer encouraged in favour of +PGP/MIME, there is still sometimes value in utilising in-line +signatures. This is where clear-signed messages or text is of value. + +@example +import gpg + +text0 = """Declaration of ... something. + +""" +text = text0.encode() + +c = gpg.Context() +signed_data, result = c.sign(text, mode=gpg.constants.sig.mode.CLEAR) + +with open("/path/to/statement.txt.asc", "w") as afile: + afile.write(signed_data.decode()) +@end example + +In spite of the appearance of a clear-signed message, the data handled +by GPGME in signing it must still be byte literals. + +@example +import gpg + +with open("/path/to/statement.txt", "rb") as tfile: + text = tfile.read() + +c = gpg.Context() +signed_data, result = c.sign(text, mode=gpg.constants.sig.mode.CLEAR) + +with open("/path/to/statement.txt.asc", "wb") as afile: + afile.write(signed_data) +@end example + +@node Signature verification +@section Signature verification + +Essentially there are two principal methods of verification of a +signature. The first of these is for use with the normal or default +signing method and for clear-signed messages. The second is for use +with files and data with detached signatures. + +The following example is intended for use with the default signing +method where the file was not ASCII armoured: + +@example +import gpg +import time + +filename = "statement.txt" +gpg_file = "statement.txt.gpg" + +c = gpg.Context() + +try: + data, result = c.verify(open(gpg_file)) + verified = True +except gpg.errors.BadSignatures as e: + verified = False + print(e) + +if verified is True: + for i in range(len(result.signatures)): + sign = result.signatures[i] + print("""Good signature from: +@{0@} +with key @{1@} +made at @{2@} +""".format(c.get_key(sign.fpr).uids[0].uid, sign.fpr, + time.ctime(sign.timestamp))) +else: + pass +@end example + +Whereas this next example, which is almost identical would work with +normal ASCII armoured files and with clear-signed files: + +@example +import gpg +import time + +filename = "statement.txt" +asc_file = "statement.txt.asc" + +c = gpg.Context() + +try: + data, result = c.verify(open(asc_file)) + verified = True +except gpg.errors.BadSignatures as e: + verified = False + print(e) + +if verified is True: + for i in range(len(result.signatures)): + sign = result.signatures[i] + print("""Good signature from: +@{0@} +with key @{1@} +made at @{2@} +""".format(c.get_key(sign.fpr).uids[0].uid, sign.fpr, + time.ctime(sign.timestamp))) +else: + pass +@end example + +In both of the previous examples it is also possible to compare the +original data that was signed against the signed data in @samp{data} to see +if it matches with something like this: + +@example +with open(filename, "rb") as afile: + text = afile.read() + +if text == data: + print("Good signature.") +else: + pass +@end example + +The following two examples, however, deal with detached signatures. +With his method of verification the data that was signed does not get +returned since it is already being explicitly referenced in the first +argument of @samp{c.verify}. So @samp{data} is @samp{None} and only the information +in @samp{result} is available. + +@example +import gpg +import time + +filename = "statement.txt" +sig_file = "statement.txt.sig" + +c = gpg.Context() + +try: + data, result = c.verify(open(filename), open(sig_file)) + verified = True +except gpg.errors.BadSignatures as e: + verified = False + print(e) + +if verified is True: + for i in range(len(result.signatures)): + sign = result.signatures[i] + print("""Good signature from: +@{0@} +with key @{1@} +made at @{2@} +""".format(c.get_key(sign.fpr).uids[0].uid, sign.fpr, + time.ctime(sign.timestamp))) +else: + pass +@end example + +@example +import gpg +import time + +filename = "statement.txt" +asc_file = "statement.txt.asc" + +c = gpg.Context() + +try: + data, result = c.verify(open(filename), open(asc_file)) + verified = True +except gpg.errors.BadSignatures as e: + verified = False + print(e) + +if verified is True: + for i in range(len(result.signatures)): + sign = result.signatures[i] + print("""Good signature from: +@{0@} +with key @{1@} +made at @{2@} +""".format(c.get_key(sign.fpr).uids[0].uid, sign.fpr, + time.ctime(sign.timestamp))) +else: + pass +@end example + +@node Creating keys and subkeys +@chapter Creating keys and subkeys + +The one thing, aside from GnuPG itself, that GPGME depends on, of +course, is the keys themselves. So it is necessary to be able to +generate them and modify them by adding subkeys, revoking or disabling +them, sometimes deleting them and doing the same for user IDs. + +In the following examples a key will be created for the world's +greatest secret agent, Danger Mouse. Since Danger Mouse is a secret +agent he needs to be able to protect information to @samp{SECRET} level +clearance, so his keys will be 3072-bit keys. + +The pre-configured @samp{gpg.conf} file which sets cipher, digest and other +preferences contains the following configuration parameters: + +@example +expert +allow-freeform-uid +allow-secret-key-import +trust-model tofu+pgp +tofu-default-policy unknown +enable-large-rsa +enable-dsa2 +cert-digest-algo SHA512 +default-preference-list TWOFISH CAMELLIA256 AES256 CAMELLIA192 AES192 CAMELLIA128 AES BLOWFISH IDEA CAST5 3DES SHA512 SHA384 SHA256 SHA224 RIPEMD160 SHA1 ZLIB BZIP2 ZIP Uncompressed +personal-cipher-preferences TWOFISH CAMELLIA256 AES256 CAMELLIA192 AES192 CAMELLIA128 AES BLOWFISH IDEA CAST5 3DES +personal-digest-preferences SHA512 SHA384 SHA256 SHA224 RIPEMD160 SHA1 +personal-compress-preferences ZLIB BZIP2 ZIP Uncompressed +@end example + +@menu +* Primary key:: +* Subkeys:: +* User IDs:: +* Key certification:: +@end menu + +@node Primary key +@section Primary key + +Generating a primary key uses the @samp{create_key} method in a Context. +It contains multiple arguments and keyword arguments, including: +@samp{userid}, @samp{algorithm}, @samp{expires_in}, @samp{expires}, @samp{sign}, @samp{encrypt}, +@samp{certify}, @samp{authenticate}, @samp{passphrase} and @samp{force}. The defaults for +all of those except @samp{userid}, @samp{algorithm}, @samp{expires_in}, @samp{expires} and +@samp{passphrase} is @samp{False}. The defaults for @samp{algorithm} and +@samp{passphrase} is @samp{None}. The default for @samp{expires_in} is @samp{0}. The +default for @samp{expires} is @samp{True}. There is no default for @samp{userid}. + +If @samp{passphrase} is left as @samp{None} then the key will not be generated +with a passphrase, if @samp{passphrase} is set to a string then that will +be the passphrase and if @samp{passphrase} is set to @samp{True} then gpg-agent +will launch pinentry to prompt for a passphrase. For the sake of +convenience, these examples will keep @samp{passphrase} set to @samp{None}. + +@example +import gpg + +c = gpg.Context() + +c.home_dir = "~/.gnupg-dm" +userid = "Danger Mouse " + +dmkey = c.create_key(userid, algorithm="rsa3072", expires_in=31536000, + sign=True, certify=True) +@end example + +One thing to note here is the use of setting the @samp{c.home_dir} +parameter. This enables generating the key or keys in a different +location. In this case to keep the new key data created for this +example in a separate location rather than adding it to existing and +active key store data. As with the default directory, @samp{~/.gnupg}, any +temporary or separate directory needs the permissions set to only +permit access by the directory owner. On posix systems this means +setting the directory permissions to 700. + +The @samp{temp-homedir-config.py} script in the HOWTO examples directory +will create an alternative homedir with these configuration options +already set and the correct directory and file permissions. + +The successful generation of the key can be confirmed via the returned +@samp{GenkeyResult} object, which includes the following data: + +@example +print(""" + Fingerprint: @{0@} + Primary Key: @{1@} + Public Key: @{2@} + Secret Key: @{3@} + Sub Key: @{4@} +User IDs: @{5@} +""".format(dmkey.fpr, dmkey.primary, dmkey.pubkey, dmkey.seckey, dmkey.sub, + dmkey.uid)) +@end example + +Alternatively the information can be confirmed using the command line +program: + +@example +bash-4.4$ gpg --homedir ~/.gnupg-dm -K +~/.gnupg-dm/pubring.kbx +---------------------- +sec rsa3072 2018-03-15 [SC] [expires: 2019-03-15] + 177B7C25DB99745EE2EE13ED026D2F19E99E63AA +uid [ultimate] Danger Mouse + +bash-4.4$ +@end example + +As with generating keys manually, to preconfigure expanded preferences +for the cipher, digest and compression algorithms, the @samp{gpg.conf} file +must contain those details in the home directory in which the new key +is being generated. I used a cut down version of my own @samp{gpg.conf} +file in order to be able to generate this: + +@example +bash-4.4$ gpg --homedir ~/.gnupg-dm --edit-key 177B7C25DB99745EE2EE13ED026D2F19E99E63AA showpref quit +Secret key is available. + +sec rsa3072/026D2F19E99E63AA + created: 2018-03-15 expires: 2019-03-15 usage: SC + trust: ultimate validity: ultimate +[ultimate] (1). Danger Mouse + +[ultimate] (1). Danger Mouse + Cipher: TWOFISH, CAMELLIA256, AES256, CAMELLIA192, AES192, CAMELLIA128, AES, BLOWFISH, IDEA, CAST5, 3DES + Digest: SHA512, SHA384, SHA256, SHA224, RIPEMD160, SHA1 + Compression: ZLIB, BZIP2, ZIP, Uncompressed + Features: MDC, Keyserver no-modify + +bash-4.4$ +@end example + +@node Subkeys +@section Subkeys + +Adding subkeys to a primary key is fairly similar to creating the +primary key with the @samp{create_subkey} method. Most of the arguments +are the same, but not quite all. Instead of the @samp{userid} argument +there is now a @samp{key} argument for selecting which primary key to add +the subkey to. + +In the following example an encryption subkey will be added to the +primary key. Since Danger Mouse is a security conscious secret agent, +this subkey will only be valid for about six months, half the length +of the primary key. + +@example +import gpg + +c = gpg.Context() +c.home_dir = "~/.gnupg-dm" + +key = c.get_key(dmkey.fpr, secret=True) +dmsub = c.create_subkey(key, algorithm="rsa3072", expires_in=15768000, + encrypt=True) +@end example + +As with the primary key, the results here can be checked with: + +@example +print(""" + Fingerprint: @{0@} + Primary Key: @{1@} + Public Key: @{2@} + Secret Key: @{3@} + Sub Key: @{4@} +User IDs: @{5@} +""".format(dmsub.fpr, dmsub.primary, dmsub.pubkey, dmsub.seckey, dmsub.sub, + dmsub.uid)) +@end example + +As well as on the command line with: + +@example +bash-4.4$ gpg --homedir ~/.gnupg-dm -K +~/.gnupg-dm/pubring.kbx +---------------------- +sec rsa3072 2018-03-15 [SC] [expires: 2019-03-15] + 177B7C25DB99745EE2EE13ED026D2F19E99E63AA +uid [ultimate] Danger Mouse +ssb rsa3072 2018-03-15 [E] [expires: 2018-09-13] + +bash-4.4$ +@end example + +@node User IDs +@section User IDs + +@menu +* Adding User IDs:: +* Revokinging User IDs:: +@end menu + +@node Adding User IDs +@subsection Adding User IDs + +By comparison to creating primary keys and subkeys, adding a new user +ID to an existing key is much simpler. The method used to do this is +@samp{key_add_uid} and the only arguments it takes are for the @samp{key} and +the new @samp{uid}. + +@example +import gpg + +c = gpg.Context() +c.home_dir = "~/.gnupg-dm" + +dmfpr = "177B7C25DB99745EE2EE13ED026D2F19E99E63AA" +key = c.get_key(dmfpr, secret=True) +uid = "Danger Mouse " + +c.key_add_uid(key, uid) +@end example + +Unsurprisingly the result of this is: + +@example +bash-4.4$ gpg --homedir ~/.gnupg-dm -K +~/.gnupg-dm/pubring.kbx +---------------------- +sec rsa3072 2018-03-15 [SC] [expires: 2019-03-15] + 177B7C25DB99745EE2EE13ED026D2F19E99E63AA +uid [ultimate] Danger Mouse +uid [ultimate] Danger Mouse +ssb rsa3072 2018-03-15 [E] [expires: 2018-09-13] + +bash-4.4$ +@end example + +@node Revokinging User IDs +@subsection Revokinging User IDs + +Revoking a user ID is a fairly similar process, except that it uses +the @samp{key_revoke_uid} method. + +@example +import gpg + +c = gpg.Context() +c.home_dir = "~/.gnupg-dm" + +dmfpr = "177B7C25DB99745EE2EE13ED026D2F19E99E63AA" +key = c.get_key(dmfpr, secret=True) +uid = "Danger Mouse " + +c.key_revoke_uid(key, uid) +@end example + +@node Key certification +@section Key certification + +Since key certification is more frequently referred to as key signing, +the method used to perform this function is @samp{key_sign}. + +The @samp{key_sign} method takes four arguments: @samp{key}, @samp{uids}, +@samp{expires_in} and @samp{local}. The default value of @samp{uids} is @samp{None} and +which results in all user IDs being selected. The default value of +both @samp{expires_in} and @samp{local} is @samp{False}; which results in the +signature never expiring and being able to be exported. + +The @samp{key} is the key being signed rather than the key doing the +signing. To change the key doing the signing refer to the signing key +selection above for signing messages and files. + +If the @samp{uids} value is not @samp{None} then it must either be a string to +match a single user ID or a list of strings to match multiple user +IDs. In this case the matching of those strings must be precise and +it is case sensitive. + +To sign Danger Mouse's key for just the initial user ID with a +signature which will last a little over a month, do this: + +@example +import gpg + +c = gpg.Context() +uid = "Danger Mouse " + +dmfpr = "177B7C25DB99745EE2EE13ED026D2F19E99E63AA" +key = c.get_key(dmfpr, secret=True) +c.key_sign(key, uids=uid, expires_in=2764800) +@end example + +@node Miscellaneous work-arounds +@chapter Miscellaneous work-arounds + +@menu +* Group lines:: +@end menu + +@node Group lines +@section Group lines + +There is not yet an easy way to access groups configured in the +gpg.conf file from within GPGME. As a consequence these central +groupings of keys cannot be shared amongst multiple programs, such as +MUAs readily. + +The following code, however, provides a work-around for obtaining this +information in Python. + +@example +import subprocess +import sys + +try: + lines = subprocess.getoutput("gpgconf --list-options gpg").splitlines() +except: + process = subprocess.Popen(gpgconfcmd.split(), stdout=subprocess.PIPE) + procom = process.communicate() + if sys.version_info[0] == 2: + lines = procom[0].splitlines() + else: + lines = procom[0].decode().splitlines() + +for i in range(len(lines)): + if lines[i].startswith("group") is True: + line = lines[i] + else: + pass + +groups = line.split(":")[-1].replace('"', '').split(',') + +group_lines = [] +group_lists = [] + +for i in range(len(groups)): + group_lines.append(groups[i].split("=")) + group_lists.append(groups[i].split("=")) + +for i in range(len(group_lists)): + group_lists[i][1] = group_lists[i][1].split() +@end example + +The result of that code is that @samp{group_lines} is a list of lists where +@samp{group_lines[i][0]} is the name of the group and @samp{group_lines[i][1]} +is the key IDs of the group as a string. + +The @samp{group_lists} result is very similar in that it is a list of +lists. The first part, @samp{group_lists[i][0]} matches +@samp{group_lines[i][0]} as the name of the group, but @samp{group_lists[i][1]} +is the key IDs of the group as a string. + +A demonstration of using the @samp{groups.py} module is also available in +the form of the executable @samp{mutt-groups.py} script. This second +script reads all the group entries in a user's @samp{gpg.conf} file and +converts them into crypt-hooks suitable for use with the Mutt and +Neomutt mail clients. + +@node Copyright and Licensing +@chapter Copyright and Licensing + +@menu +* Copyright (C) The GnuPG Project, 2018: Copyright (C) The GnuPG Project 2018. +* License GPL compatible:: +@end menu + +@node Copyright (C) The GnuPG Project 2018 +@section Copyright (C) The GnuPG Project, 2018 + +Copyright © The GnuPG Project, 2018. + +@node License GPL compatible +@section License GPL compatible + +This file is free software; as a special exception the author gives +unlimited permission to copy and/or distribute it, with or without +modifications, as long as this notice is preserved. + +This file is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but +WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law; without even the +implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR +PURPOSE. + +@bye