SignedXml.CheckSignature Method

Definition

Namespace:

System.Security.Cryptography.Xml

Assembly:

System.Security.Cryptography.Xml.dll

Determines whether the Signature property verifies.

Overloads

CheckSignature()	Determines whether the Signature property verifies using the public key in the signature.
CheckSignature(AsymmetricAlgorithm)	Determines whether the Signature property verifies for the specified key.
CheckSignature(KeyedHashAlgorithm)	Determines whether the Signature property verifies for the specified message authentication code (MAC) algorithm.
CheckSignature(X509Certificate2, Boolean)	Determines whether the Signature property verifies for the specified X509Certificate2 object and, optionally, whether the certificate is valid.

CheckSignature()

Source:

SignedXml.cs

Determines whether the Signature property verifies using the public key in the signature.

C#

public bool CheckSignature();

Returns

Boolean

true if the Signature property verifies; otherwise, false.

Exceptions

CryptographicException

The SignatureAlgorithm property of the public key in the signature does not match the SignatureMethod property.

-or-

The signature description could not be created.

-or

The hash algorithm could not be created.

Examples

The following code example shows how to sign and verify an entire XML document using an enveloped signature.

C#

//
// This example signs an XML file using an
// envelope signature. It then verifies the 
// signed XML.
//
using System;
using System.Security.Cryptography;
using System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates;
using System.Security.Cryptography.Xml;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml;

public class SignVerifyEnvelope
{

    public static void Main(String[] args)
    {
        try
        {
           // Generate a signing key.
           RSA Key = RSA.Create();

           // Create an XML file to sign.
           CreateSomeXml("Example.xml");
           Console.WriteLine("New XML file created."); 

           // Sign the XML that was just created and save it in a 
           // new file.
           SignXmlFile("Example.xml", "signedExample.xml", Key);
           Console.WriteLine("XML file signed."); 

           // Verify the signature of the signed XML.
           Console.WriteLine("Verifying signature...");
           bool result = VerifyXmlFile("SignedExample.xml", Key);

           // Display the results of the signature verification to 
           // the console.
           if(result)
           {
               Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is valid.");
           }
           else
           {
            Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is not valid.");
           }
        }
        catch(CryptographicException e)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(e.Message);
        }
    }

    // Sign an XML file and save the signature in a new file. This method does not  
    // save the public key within the XML file.  This file cannot be verified unless  
    // the verifying code has the key with which it was signed.
    public static void SignXmlFile(string FileName, string SignedFileName, RSA Key)
    {
        // Create a new XML document.
        XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();

        // Load the passed XML file using its name.
        doc.Load(new XmlTextReader(FileName));

        // Create a SignedXml object.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml(doc);

        // Add the key to the SignedXml document. 
        signedXml.SigningKey = Key;

        // Create a reference to be signed.
        Reference reference = new Reference();
        reference.Uri = "";

        // Add an enveloped transformation to the reference.
        XmlDsigEnvelopedSignatureTransform env = new XmlDsigEnvelopedSignatureTransform();
        reference.AddTransform(env);

        // Add the reference to the SignedXml object.
        signedXml.AddReference(reference);

        // Compute the signature.
        signedXml.ComputeSignature();

        // Get the XML representation of the signature and save
        // it to an XmlElement object.
        XmlElement xmlDigitalSignature = signedXml.GetXml();

        // Append the element to the XML document.
        doc.DocumentElement.AppendChild(doc.ImportNode(xmlDigitalSignature, true));
        
        if (doc.FirstChild is XmlDeclaration)  
        {
            doc.RemoveChild(doc.FirstChild);
        }

        // Save the signed XML document to a file specified
        // using the passed string.
        XmlTextWriter xmltw = new XmlTextWriter(SignedFileName, new UTF8Encoding(false));
        doc.WriteTo(xmltw);
        xmltw.Close();
    }

    // Verify the signature of an XML file against an asymmetric 
    // algorithm and return the result.
    public static Boolean VerifyXmlFile(String Name, RSA Key)
    {
        // Create a new XML document.
        XmlDocument xmlDocument = new XmlDocument();

        // Load the passed XML file into the document. 
        xmlDocument.Load(Name);

        // Create a new SignedXml object and pass it
        // the XML document class.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml(xmlDocument);

        // Find the "Signature" node and create a new
        // XmlNodeList object.
        XmlNodeList nodeList = xmlDocument.GetElementsByTagName("Signature");

        // Load the signature node.
        signedXml.LoadXml((XmlElement)nodeList[0]);

        // Check the signature and return the result.
        return signedXml.CheckSignature(Key);
    }

    // Create example data to sign.
    public static void CreateSomeXml(string FileName)
    {
        // Create a new XmlDocument object.
        XmlDocument document = new XmlDocument();

        // Create a new XmlNode object.
        XmlNode  node = document.CreateNode(XmlNodeType.Element, "", "MyElement", "samples");
        
        // Add some text to the node.
        node.InnerText = "Example text to be signed.";

        // Append the node to the document.
        document.AppendChild(node);

        // Save the XML document to the file name specified.
        XmlTextWriter xmltw = new XmlTextWriter(FileName, new UTF8Encoding(false));
        document.WriteTo(xmltw);
        xmltw.Close();
    }
}

The following code example shows how to sign and verify a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) addressable object using a detached signature.

C#

//
// This example signs a file specified by a URI 
// using a detached signature. It then verifies  
// the signed XML.
//

using System;
using System.Security.Cryptography;
using System.Security.Cryptography.Xml;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml;

class XMLDSIGDetached
{
    
    [STAThread]
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        // The URI to sign.
        string resourceToSign = "http://www.microsoft.com";
        
        // The name of the file to which to save the XML signature.
        string XmlFileName = "xmldsig.xml";

        try
        {

            // Generate a signing key.
            RSA Key = RSA.Create();

            Console.WriteLine("Signing: {0}", resourceToSign);

            // Sign the detached resourceand save the signature in an XML file.
            SignDetachedResource(resourceToSign, XmlFileName, Key);

            Console.WriteLine("XML Signature was successfully computed and saved to {0}.", XmlFileName);

            // Verify the signature of the signed XML.
            Console.WriteLine("Verifying signature...");

            //Verify the XML signature in the XML file against the key.
            bool result = VerifyDetachedSignature(XmlFileName, Key);

            // Display the results of the signature verification to 
            // the console.
            if(result)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is valid.");
            }
            else
            {
                Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is not valid.");
            }
        }
        catch(CryptographicException e)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(e.Message);
        }
    }

    // Sign an XML file and save the signature in a new file. This method does not  
    // save the public key within the XML file.  This file cannot be verified unless  
    // the verifying code has the key with which it was signed.
    public static void SignDetachedResource(string URIString, string XmlSigFileName, RSA Key)
    {
        // Create a SignedXml object.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml();

        // Assign the key to the SignedXml object.
        signedXml.SigningKey = Key;

        // Create a reference to be signed.
        Reference reference = new Reference();

        // Add the passed URI to the reference object.
        reference.Uri = URIString;
        
        // Add the reference to the SignedXml object.
        signedXml.AddReference(reference);

        // Compute the signature.
        signedXml.ComputeSignature();

        // Get the XML representation of the signature and save
        // it to an XmlElement object.
        XmlElement xmlDigitalSignature = signedXml.GetXml();

        // Save the signed XML document to a file specified
        // using the passed string.
        XmlTextWriter xmltw = new XmlTextWriter(XmlSigFileName, new UTF8Encoding(false));
        xmlDigitalSignature.WriteTo(xmltw);
        xmltw.Close();
    }

    // Verify the signature of an XML file against an asymmetric 
    // algorithm and return the result.
    public static Boolean VerifyDetachedSignature(string XmlSigFileName, RSA Key)
    {	
        // Create a new XML document.
        XmlDocument xmlDocument = new XmlDocument();

        // Load the passedXML file into the document.
        xmlDocument.Load(XmlSigFileName);
    
        // Create a new SignedXml object.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml();

        // Find the "Signature" node and create a new
        // XmlNodeList object.
        XmlNodeList nodeList = xmlDocument.GetElementsByTagName("Signature");

        // Load the signature node.
        signedXml.LoadXml((XmlElement)nodeList[0]);

        // Check the signature against the passed asymmetric key
        // and return the result.
        return signedXml.CheckSignature(Key);
    }
}

The following code example shows how to sign and verify a single element of an XML document using an enveloping signature.

C#

//
// This example signs an XML file using an
// envelope signature. It then verifies the
// signed XML.
//
using System;
using System.Security.Cryptography;
using System.Security.Cryptography.Xml;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml;

public class SignVerifyEnvelope
{

    public static void Main(String[] args)
    {
        // Generate a signing key.
       RSA Key = RSA.Create();

       try
       {
           // Specify an element to sign.
           string[] elements =  { "#tag1" };

           // Sign an XML file and save the signature to a
           // new file.
           SignXmlFile("Test.xml", "SignedExample.xml", Key, elements);
           Console.WriteLine("XML file signed.");

           // Verify the signature of the signed XML.
           Console.WriteLine("Verifying signature...");

           bool result = VerifyXmlFile("SignedExample.xml");

           // Display the results of the signature verification to
           // the console.
           if (result)
           {
               Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is valid.");
           }
           else
           {
               Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is not valid.");
           }
       }
       catch (CryptographicException e)
       {
           Console.WriteLine(e.Message);
       }
       finally
       {
           // Clear resources associated with the
           // RSA instance.
           Key.Clear();
       }
   }

    // Sign an XML file and save the signature in a new file.
    public static void SignXmlFile(string FileName, string SignedFileName, RSA Key, string[] ElementsToSign)
    {
        // Check the arguments.
        if (FileName == null)
            throw new ArgumentNullException("FileName");
        if (SignedFileName == null)
            throw new ArgumentNullException("SignedFileName");
        if (Key == null)
            throw new ArgumentNullException("Key");
        if (ElementsToSign == null)
            throw new ArgumentNullException("ElementsToSign");

        // Create a new XML document.
        XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();

        // Format the document to ignore white spaces.
        doc.PreserveWhitespace = false;

        // Load the passed XML file using it's name.
        doc.Load(new XmlTextReader(FileName));

        // Create a SignedXml object.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml(doc);

        // Add the key to the SignedXml document.
        signedXml.SigningKey = Key;

        // Loop through each passed element to sign
        // and create a reference.
        foreach (string s in ElementsToSign)
        {
            // Create a reference to be signed.
            Reference reference = new Reference();
            reference.Uri = s;

            // Add an enveloped transformation to the reference.
            XmlDsigEnvelopedSignatureTransform env = new XmlDsigEnvelopedSignatureTransform();
            reference.AddTransform(env);

            // Add the reference to the SignedXml object.
            signedXml.AddReference(reference);
        }

        // Add an RSAKeyValue KeyInfo (optional; helps recipient find key to validate).
        KeyInfo keyInfo = new KeyInfo();
        keyInfo.AddClause(new RSAKeyValue((RSA)Key));
        signedXml.KeyInfo = keyInfo;

        // Compute the signature.
        signedXml.ComputeSignature();

        // Get the XML representation of the signature and save
        // it to an XmlElement object.
        XmlElement xmlDigitalSignature = signedXml.GetXml();

        // Append the element to the XML document.
        doc.DocumentElement.AppendChild(doc.ImportNode(xmlDigitalSignature, true));

        if (doc.FirstChild is XmlDeclaration)
        {
            doc.RemoveChild(doc.FirstChild);
        }

        // Save the signed XML document to a file specified
        // using the passed string.
        XmlTextWriter xmltw = new XmlTextWriter(SignedFileName, new UTF8Encoding(false));
        doc.WriteTo(xmltw);
        xmltw.Close();
    }
    // Verify the signature of an XML file and return the result.
    public static Boolean VerifyXmlFile(String Name)
    {
        // Check the arguments.
        if (Name == null)
            throw new ArgumentNullException("Name");

        // Create a new XML document.
        XmlDocument xmlDocument = new XmlDocument();

        // Format using white spaces.
        xmlDocument.PreserveWhitespace = true;

        // Load the passed XML file into the document.
        xmlDocument.Load(Name);

        // Create a new SignedXml object and pass it
        // the XML document class.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml(xmlDocument);

        // Find the "Signature" node and create a new
        // XmlNodeList object.
        XmlNodeList nodeList = xmlDocument.GetElementsByTagName("Signature");

        // Load the signature node.
        signedXml.LoadXml((XmlElement)nodeList[0]);

        // Check the signature and return the result.
        return signedXml.CheckSignature();
    }
}

Remarks

This method also computes the digest of the references and the value of the signature.

If an XML document was signed with an X.509 signature, the CheckSignature method will search the "AddressBook" store for certificates suitable for the verification. For example, if the certificate is referenced by a Subject Key Identifier (SKI), the CheckSignature method will select certificates with this SKI and try them one after another until it can verify the certificate.

CheckSignature(AsymmetricAlgorithm)

Source:

SignedXml.cs

Determines whether the Signature property verifies for the specified key.

C#

public bool CheckSignature(System.Security.Cryptography.AsymmetricAlgorithm key);

Parameters

key

AsymmetricAlgorithm

The implementation of the AsymmetricAlgorithm property that holds the key to be used to verify the Signature property.

Returns

Boolean

true if the Signature property verifies for the specified key; otherwise, false.

Exceptions

ArgumentNullException

The key parameter is null.

CryptographicException

The SignatureAlgorithm property of the key parameter does not match the SignatureMethod property.

-or-

The signature description could not be created.

-or

The hash algorithm could not be created.

Examples

The following code example shows how to sign and verify a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) addressable object using a detached signature.

C#

//
// This example signs a file specified by a URI 
// using a detached signature. It then verifies  
// the signed XML.
//

using System;
using System.Security.Cryptography;
using System.Security.Cryptography.Xml;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml;

class XMLDSIGDetached
{
    
    [STAThread]
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        // The URI to sign.
        string resourceToSign = "http://www.microsoft.com";
        
        // The name of the file to which to save the XML signature.
        string XmlFileName = "xmldsig.xml";

        try
        {

            // Generate a signing key.
            RSA Key = RSA.Create();

            Console.WriteLine("Signing: {0}", resourceToSign);

            // Sign the detached resourceand save the signature in an XML file.
            SignDetachedResource(resourceToSign, XmlFileName, Key);

            Console.WriteLine("XML Signature was successfully computed and saved to {0}.", XmlFileName);

            // Verify the signature of the signed XML.
            Console.WriteLine("Verifying signature...");

            //Verify the XML signature in the XML file against the key.
            bool result = VerifyDetachedSignature(XmlFileName, Key);

            // Display the results of the signature verification to 
            // the console.
            if(result)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is valid.");
            }
            else
            {
                Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is not valid.");
            }
        }
        catch(CryptographicException e)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(e.Message);
        }
    }

    // Sign an XML file and save the signature in a new file. This method does not  
    // save the public key within the XML file.  This file cannot be verified unless  
    // the verifying code has the key with which it was signed.
    public static void SignDetachedResource(string URIString, string XmlSigFileName, RSA Key)
    {
        // Create a SignedXml object.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml();

        // Assign the key to the SignedXml object.
        signedXml.SigningKey = Key;

        // Create a reference to be signed.
        Reference reference = new Reference();

        // Add the passed URI to the reference object.
        reference.Uri = URIString;
        
        // Add the reference to the SignedXml object.
        signedXml.AddReference(reference);

        // Compute the signature.
        signedXml.ComputeSignature();

        // Get the XML representation of the signature and save
        // it to an XmlElement object.
        XmlElement xmlDigitalSignature = signedXml.GetXml();

        // Save the signed XML document to a file specified
        // using the passed string.
        XmlTextWriter xmltw = new XmlTextWriter(XmlSigFileName, new UTF8Encoding(false));
        xmlDigitalSignature.WriteTo(xmltw);
        xmltw.Close();
    }

    // Verify the signature of an XML file against an asymmetric 
    // algorithm and return the result.
    public static Boolean VerifyDetachedSignature(string XmlSigFileName, RSA Key)
    {	
        // Create a new XML document.
        XmlDocument xmlDocument = new XmlDocument();

        // Load the passedXML file into the document.
        xmlDocument.Load(XmlSigFileName);
    
        // Create a new SignedXml object.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml();

        // Find the "Signature" node and create a new
        // XmlNodeList object.
        XmlNodeList nodeList = xmlDocument.GetElementsByTagName("Signature");

        // Load the signature node.
        signedXml.LoadXml((XmlElement)nodeList[0]);

        // Check the signature against the passed asymmetric key
        // and return the result.
        return signedXml.CheckSignature(Key);
    }
}

The following code example shows how to sign and verify an entire XML document using an enveloped signature.

C#

//
// This example signs an XML file using an
// envelope signature. It then verifies the 
// signed XML.
//
using System;
using System.Security.Cryptography;
using System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates;
using System.Security.Cryptography.Xml;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml;

public class SignVerifyEnvelope
{

    public static void Main(String[] args)
    {
        try
        {
           // Generate a signing key.
           RSA Key = RSA.Create();

           // Create an XML file to sign.
           CreateSomeXml("Example.xml");
           Console.WriteLine("New XML file created."); 

           // Sign the XML that was just created and save it in a 
           // new file.
           SignXmlFile("Example.xml", "signedExample.xml", Key);
           Console.WriteLine("XML file signed."); 

           // Verify the signature of the signed XML.
           Console.WriteLine("Verifying signature...");
           bool result = VerifyXmlFile("SignedExample.xml", Key);

           // Display the results of the signature verification to 
           // the console.
           if(result)
           {
               Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is valid.");
           }
           else
           {
            Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is not valid.");
           }
        }
        catch(CryptographicException e)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(e.Message);
        }
    }

    // Sign an XML file and save the signature in a new file. This method does not  
    // save the public key within the XML file.  This file cannot be verified unless  
    // the verifying code has the key with which it was signed.
    public static void SignXmlFile(string FileName, string SignedFileName, RSA Key)
    {
        // Create a new XML document.
        XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();

        // Load the passed XML file using its name.
        doc.Load(new XmlTextReader(FileName));

        // Create a SignedXml object.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml(doc);

        // Add the key to the SignedXml document. 
        signedXml.SigningKey = Key;

        // Create a reference to be signed.
        Reference reference = new Reference();
        reference.Uri = "";

        // Add an enveloped transformation to the reference.
        XmlDsigEnvelopedSignatureTransform env = new XmlDsigEnvelopedSignatureTransform();
        reference.AddTransform(env);

        // Add the reference to the SignedXml object.
        signedXml.AddReference(reference);

        // Compute the signature.
        signedXml.ComputeSignature();

        // Get the XML representation of the signature and save
        // it to an XmlElement object.
        XmlElement xmlDigitalSignature = signedXml.GetXml();

        // Append the element to the XML document.
        doc.DocumentElement.AppendChild(doc.ImportNode(xmlDigitalSignature, true));
        
        if (doc.FirstChild is XmlDeclaration)  
        {
            doc.RemoveChild(doc.FirstChild);
        }

        // Save the signed XML document to a file specified
        // using the passed string.
        XmlTextWriter xmltw = new XmlTextWriter(SignedFileName, new UTF8Encoding(false));
        doc.WriteTo(xmltw);
        xmltw.Close();
    }

    // Verify the signature of an XML file against an asymmetric 
    // algorithm and return the result.
    public static Boolean VerifyXmlFile(String Name, RSA Key)
    {
        // Create a new XML document.
        XmlDocument xmlDocument = new XmlDocument();

        // Load the passed XML file into the document. 
        xmlDocument.Load(Name);

        // Create a new SignedXml object and pass it
        // the XML document class.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml(xmlDocument);

        // Find the "Signature" node and create a new
        // XmlNodeList object.
        XmlNodeList nodeList = xmlDocument.GetElementsByTagName("Signature");

        // Load the signature node.
        signedXml.LoadXml((XmlElement)nodeList[0]);

        // Check the signature and return the result.
        return signedXml.CheckSignature(Key);
    }

    // Create example data to sign.
    public static void CreateSomeXml(string FileName)
    {
        // Create a new XmlDocument object.
        XmlDocument document = new XmlDocument();

        // Create a new XmlNode object.
        XmlNode  node = document.CreateNode(XmlNodeType.Element, "", "MyElement", "samples");
        
        // Add some text to the node.
        node.InnerText = "Example text to be signed.";

        // Append the node to the document.
        document.AppendChild(node);

        // Save the XML document to the file name specified.
        XmlTextWriter xmltw = new XmlTextWriter(FileName, new UTF8Encoding(false));
        document.WriteTo(xmltw);
        xmltw.Close();
    }
}

CheckSignature(KeyedHashAlgorithm)

Source:

SignedXml.cs

Determines whether the Signature property verifies for the specified message authentication code (MAC) algorithm.

C#

public bool CheckSignature(System.Security.Cryptography.KeyedHashAlgorithm macAlg);

Parameters

macAlg

KeyedHashAlgorithm

The implementation of KeyedHashAlgorithm that holds the MAC to be used to verify the Signature property.

Returns

Boolean

true if the Signature property verifies for the specified MAC; otherwise, false.

Exceptions

ArgumentNullException

The macAlg parameter is null.

CryptographicException

The HashSize property of the specified KeyedHashAlgorithm object is not valid.

-or-

The Signature property is null.

-or-

The cryptographic transform used to check the signature could not be created.

Examples

The following code example shows how to sign and verify a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) addressable object using a detached signature.

C#

//
// This example signs a file specified by a URI 
// using a detached signature. It then verifies  
// the signed XML.
//

using System;
using System.Security.Cryptography;
using System.Security.Cryptography.Xml;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml;

class XMLDSIGDetached
{
    
    [STAThread]
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        try
        {
            // The URI to sign.
            string resourceToSign = "http://www.microsoft.com";
        
            // The name of the file to which to save the XML signature.
            string XmlFileName = "xmlsig.xml";

            // Generate a signing key.
            HMACSHA256 Key = new HMACSHA256();

            Console.WriteLine("Signing: {0}", resourceToSign);

            // Sign the detached resourceand save the signature in an XML file.
            SignDetachedResource(resourceToSign, XmlFileName, Key);

            Console.WriteLine("XML signature was successfully computed and saved to {0}.", XmlFileName);

            // Verify the signature of the signed XML.
            Console.WriteLine("Verifying signature...");

            //Verify the XML signature in the XML file.
            bool result = VerifyDetachedSignature(XmlFileName, Key);

            // Display the results of the signature verification to 
            // the console.
            if(result)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is valid.");
            }
            else
            {
                Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is not valid.");
            }
        }
        catch(CryptographicException e)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(e.Message);
        }
    }

    // Sign an XML file and save the signature in a new file.
    public static void SignDetachedResource(string URIString, string XmlSigFileName, KeyedHashAlgorithm Key)
    {
        // Create a SignedXml object.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml();

        // Create a reference to be signed.
        Reference reference = new Reference();

        // Add the passed URI to the reference object.
        reference.Uri = URIString;
        
        // Add the reference to the SignedXml object.
        signedXml.AddReference(reference);

        // Compute the signature.
        signedXml.ComputeSignature(Key);

        // Get the XML representation of the signature and save
        // it to an XmlElement object.
        XmlElement xmlDigitalSignature = signedXml.GetXml();

        // Save the signed XML document to a file specified
        // using the passed string.
        XmlTextWriter xmltw = new XmlTextWriter(XmlSigFileName, new UTF8Encoding(false));
        xmlDigitalSignature.WriteTo(xmltw);
        xmltw.Close();
    }

    // Verify the signature of an XML file and return the result.
    public static Boolean VerifyDetachedSignature(string XmlSigFileName, KeyedHashAlgorithm Key)
    {	
        // Create a new XML document.
        XmlDocument xmlDocument = new XmlDocument();

        // Load the passedXML file into the document.
        xmlDocument.Load(XmlSigFileName);
    
        // Create a new SignedXml object and pass it
        // the XML document class.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml();

        // Find the "Signature" node and create a new
        // XmlNodeList object.
        XmlNodeList nodeList = xmlDocument.GetElementsByTagName("Signature");

        // Load the signature node.
        signedXml.LoadXml((XmlElement)nodeList[0]);

        // Check the signature and return the result.
        return signedXml.CheckSignature(Key);
    }
}

The following code example shows how to sign and verify an entire XML document using an enveloping signature.

C#

//
// This example signs an XML file using an
// envelope signature. It then verifies the 
// signed XML.
//
using System;
using System.Security.Cryptography;
using System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates;
using System.Security.Cryptography.Xml;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml;

public class SignVerifyEnvelope
{

    public static void Main(String[] args)
    {
        try
        {

            // Generate a signing key.
            HMACSHA256 Key = new HMACSHA256();

            // Create an XML file to sign.
            CreateSomeXml("Example.xml");
            Console.WriteLine("New XML file created."); 

            // Sign the XML that was just created and save it in a 
            // new file.
            SignXmlFile("Example.xml", "SignedExample.xml", Key);
            Console.WriteLine("XML file signed."); 

            // Verify the signature of the signed XML.
            Console.WriteLine("Verifying Signature...");
            bool result = VerifyXmlFile("SignedExample.xml", Key);

            // Display the results of the signature verification to \
            // the console.
            if(result)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is valid.");
            }
            else
            {
                Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is not valid.");
            }
        }
        catch(CryptographicException e)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(e.Message);
        }
    }

    // Sign an XML file and save the signature in a new file.
    public static void SignXmlFile(string FileName, string SignedFileName, KeyedHashAlgorithm Key)
    {
        // Create a new XML document.
        XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();

        // Format the document to ignore white spaces.
        doc.PreserveWhitespace = false;

        // Load the passed XML file using it's name.
        doc.Load(new XmlTextReader(FileName));

        // Create a SignedXml object.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml(doc);

        // Create a reference to be signed.
        Reference reference = new Reference();
        reference.Uri = "";

        // Add an enveloped transformation to the reference.
        XmlDsigEnvelopedSignatureTransform env = new XmlDsigEnvelopedSignatureTransform();
        reference.AddTransform(env);

        // Add the reference to the SignedXML object.
        signedXml.AddReference(reference);

        // Compute the signature.
        signedXml.ComputeSignature(Key);

        // Get the XML representation of the signature and save
        // it to an XmlElement object.
        XmlElement xmlDigitalSignature = signedXml.GetXml();

        // Append the element to the XML document.
        doc.DocumentElement.AppendChild(doc.ImportNode(xmlDigitalSignature, true));

        if (doc.FirstChild is XmlDeclaration)  
        {
            doc.RemoveChild(doc.FirstChild);
        }

        // Save the signed XML document to a file specified
        // using the passed string.
        XmlTextWriter xmltw = new XmlTextWriter(SignedFileName, new UTF8Encoding(false));
        doc.WriteTo(xmltw);
        xmltw.Close();
    }

    // Verify the signature of an XML file and return the result.
    public static Boolean VerifyXmlFile(String Name, KeyedHashAlgorithm Key)
    {
        // Create a new XML document.
        XmlDocument xmlDocument = new XmlDocument();

        // Format using white spaces.
        xmlDocument.PreserveWhitespace = true;

        // Load the passed XML file into the document. 
        xmlDocument.Load(Name);

        // Create a new SignedXMl object and pass it
        // the XMl document class.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml(xmlDocument);

        // Find the "Signature" node and create a new
        // XmlNodeList object.
        XmlNodeList nodeList = xmlDocument.GetElementsByTagName("Signature");

        // Load the signature node.
        signedXml.LoadXml((XmlElement)nodeList[0]);

        // Check the signature and return the result.
        return signedXml.CheckSignature(Key);
    }

    // Create example data to sign.
    public static void CreateSomeXml(string FileName)
    {
        // Create a new XmlDocument object.
        XmlDocument document = new XmlDocument();

        // Create a new XmlNode object.
        XmlNode  node = document.CreateNode(XmlNodeType.Element, "", "MyElement", "samples");
        
        // Add some text to the node.
        node.InnerText = "Example text to be signed.";

        // Append the node to the document.
        document.AppendChild(node);

        // Save the XML document to the filename specified.
        XmlTextWriter xmltw = new XmlTextWriter(FileName, new UTF8Encoding(false));
        document.WriteTo(xmltw);
        xmltw.Close();
    }
}

CheckSignature(X509Certificate2, Boolean)

Source:

SignedXml.cs

Determines whether the Signature property verifies for the specified X509Certificate2 object and, optionally, whether the certificate is valid.

C#

public bool CheckSignature(System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates.X509Certificate2 certificate, bool verifySignatureOnly);

Parameters

certificate

X509Certificate2

The X509Certificate2 object to use to verify the Signature property.

verifySignatureOnly

Boolean

true to verify the signature only; false to verify both the signature and certificate.

Returns

Boolean

true if the signature is valid; otherwise, false.

-or-

true if the signature and certificate are valid; otherwise, false.

Exceptions

ArgumentNullException

The certificate parameter is null.

CryptographicException

A signature description could not be created for the certificate parameter.

Examples

The following code example uses an X.509 certificate from a certificate store to sign and verify an XML document.

C#

//
// This example signs an XML file using an
// envelope signature. It then verifies the
// signed XML.
//
// You must have a certificate with a subject name
// of "CN=XMLDSIG_Test" in the "My" certificate store.
//
// Run the following command to create a certificate
// and place it in the store.
// makecert -r -pe -n "CN=XMLDSIG_Test" -b 01/01/2005 -e 01/01/2010 -sky signing -ss my

using System;
using System.Security.Cryptography;
using System.Security.Cryptography.Xml;
using System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates;
using System.Text;
using System.Xml;

public class SignVerifyEnvelope
{

    public static void Main(String[] args)
    {

        string Certificate = "CN=XMLDSIG_Test";

        try
        {

            // Create an XML file to sign.
            CreateSomeXml("Example.xml");
            Console.WriteLine("New XML file created.");

            // Sign the XML that was just created and save it in a
            // new file.
            SignXmlFile("Example.xml", "SignedExample.xml", Certificate);
            Console.WriteLine("XML file signed.");

            if (VerifyXmlFile("SignedExample.xml", Certificate))
            {
                Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is valid.");
            }
            else
            {
                Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is not valid.");
            }
        }
        catch (CryptographicException e)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(e.Message);
        }
    }

    // Sign an XML file and save the signature in a new file.
    public static void SignXmlFile(string FileName, string SignedFileName, string SubjectName)
    {
        if (null == FileName)
            throw new ArgumentNullException("FileName");
        if (null == SignedFileName)
            throw new ArgumentNullException("SignedFileName");
        if (null == SubjectName)
            throw new ArgumentNullException("SubjectName");

        // Load the certificate from the certificate store.
        X509Certificate2 cert = GetCertificateBySubject(SubjectName);

        // Create a new XML document.
        XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();

        // Format the document to ignore white spaces.
        doc.PreserveWhitespace = false;

        // Load the passed XML file using it's name.
        doc.Load(new XmlTextReader(FileName));

        // Create a SignedXml object.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml(doc);

        // Add the key to the SignedXml document.
        signedXml.SigningKey = cert.GetRSAPrivateKey();

        // Create a reference to be signed.
        Reference reference = new Reference();
        reference.Uri = "";

        // Add an enveloped transformation to the reference.
        XmlDsigEnvelopedSignatureTransform env = new XmlDsigEnvelopedSignatureTransform();
        reference.AddTransform(env);

        // Add the reference to the SignedXml object.
        signedXml.AddReference(reference);

        // Create a new KeyInfo object.
        KeyInfo keyInfo = new KeyInfo();

        // Load the certificate into a KeyInfoX509Data object
        // and add it to the KeyInfo object.
        keyInfo.AddClause(new KeyInfoX509Data(cert));

        // Add the KeyInfo object to the SignedXml object.
        signedXml.KeyInfo = keyInfo;

        // Compute the signature.
        signedXml.ComputeSignature();

        // Get the XML representation of the signature and save
        // it to an XmlElement object.
        XmlElement xmlDigitalSignature = signedXml.GetXml();

        // Append the element to the XML document.
        doc.DocumentElement.AppendChild(doc.ImportNode(xmlDigitalSignature, true));

        if (doc.FirstChild is XmlDeclaration)
        {
            doc.RemoveChild(doc.FirstChild);
        }

        // Save the signed XML document to a file specified
        // using the passed string.
        using (XmlTextWriter xmltw = new XmlTextWriter(SignedFileName, new UTF8Encoding(false)))
        {
            doc.WriteTo(xmltw);
            xmltw.Close();
        }
    }

    // Verify the signature of an XML file against an asymmetric
    // algorithm and return the result.
    public static Boolean VerifyXmlFile(String FileName, String CertificateSubject)
    {
        // Check the args.
        if (null == FileName)
            throw new ArgumentNullException("FileName");
        if (null == CertificateSubject)
            throw new ArgumentNullException("CertificateSubject");

        // Load the certificate from the store.
        X509Certificate2 cert = GetCertificateBySubject(CertificateSubject);

        // Create a new XML document.
        XmlDocument xmlDocument = new XmlDocument();

        // Load the passed XML file into the document.
        xmlDocument.Load(FileName);

        // Create a new SignedXml object and pass it
        // the XML document class.
        SignedXml signedXml = new SignedXml(xmlDocument);

        // Find the "Signature" node and create a new
        // XmlNodeList object.
        XmlNodeList nodeList = xmlDocument.GetElementsByTagName("Signature");

        // Load the signature node.
        signedXml.LoadXml((XmlElement)nodeList[0]);

        // Check the signature and return the result.
        return signedXml.CheckSignature(cert, true);
    }

    public static X509Certificate2 GetCertificateBySubject(string CertificateSubject)
    {
        // Check the args.
        if (null == CertificateSubject)
            throw new ArgumentNullException("CertificateSubject");

        // Load the certificate from the certificate store.
        X509Certificate2 cert = null;

        X509Store store = new X509Store("My", StoreLocation.CurrentUser);

        try
        {
            // Open the store.
            store.Open(OpenFlags.ReadOnly | OpenFlags.OpenExistingOnly);

            // Get the certs from the store.
            X509Certificate2Collection CertCol = store.Certificates;

            // Find the certificate with the specified subject.
            foreach (X509Certificate2 c in CertCol)
            {
                if (c.Subject == CertificateSubject)
                {
                    cert = c;
                    break;
                }
            }

            // Throw an exception of the certificate was not found.
            if (cert == null)
            {
                throw new CryptographicException("The certificate could not be found.");
            }
        }
        finally
        {
            // Close the store even if an exception was thrown.
            store.Close();
        }

        return cert;
    }

    // Create example data to sign.
    public static void CreateSomeXml(string FileName)
    {
        // Check the args.
        if (null == FileName)
            throw new ArgumentNullException("FileName");

        // Create a new XmlDocument object.
        XmlDocument document = new XmlDocument();

        // Create a new XmlNode object.
        XmlNode node = document.CreateNode(XmlNodeType.Element, "", "MyElement", "samples");

        // Add some text to the node.
        node.InnerText = "Example text to be signed.";

        // Append the node to the document.
        document.AppendChild(node);

        // Save the XML document to the file name specified.
        using (XmlTextWriter xmltw = new XmlTextWriter(FileName, new UTF8Encoding(false)))
        {
            document.WriteTo(xmltw);

            xmltw.Close();
        }
    }
}
// This code example displays the following to the console:
//
// New XML file created.
// XML file signed.
// The XML signature is valid.

Remarks

In version 1.1 of the .NET Framework, the X.509 certificate is not verified. In version 2.0 and later, the X.509 certificate is verified.

In version 2.0 and later of the .NET Framework, the CheckSignature method will search the "AddressBook" store for certificates suitable for the verification. For example, if the certificate is referenced by a Subject Key Identifier (SKI), the CheckSignature method will select certificates with this SKI and try them one after another until it can verify the certificate.