Reference Class

Definition

Namespace:

System.Security.Cryptography.Xml

Assembly:

System.Security.Cryptography.Xml.dll

Represents the <reference> element of an XML signature.

public ref class Reference

public class Reference

type Reference = class

Public Class Reference

Inheritance

Object

Reference

Examples

The following code example demonstrates how to generate and verify an enveloped XML signature using the Reference object.

//
// This example signs an XML file using an
// envelope signature. It then verifies the 
// signed XML.
//
#using <System.Security.dll>
#using <System.Xml.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Security::Cryptography;
using namespace System::Security::Cryptography::X509Certificates;
using namespace System::Security::Cryptography::Xml;
using namespace System::Text;
using namespace System::Xml;

// Sign an XML file and save the signature in a new file.
void SignXmlFile( String^ FileName, String^ SignedFileName, RSA^ Key )
{
   
   // Create a new XML document.
   XmlDocument^ doc = gcnew XmlDocument;
   
   // Format the document to ignore white spaces.
   doc->PreserveWhitespace = false;
   
   // Load the passed XML file using its name.
   doc->Load( gcnew XmlTextReader( FileName ) );
   
   // Create a SignedXml object.
   SignedXml^ signedXml = gcnew SignedXml( doc );
   
   // Add the key to the SignedXml document. 
   signedXml->SigningKey = Key;
   
   // Create a reference to be signed.
   Reference^ reference = gcnew Reference;
   reference->Uri = "";
   
   // Add an enveloped transformation to the reference.
   XmlDsigEnvelopedSignatureTransform^ env = gcnew 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 = gcnew KeyInfo;
   keyInfo->AddClause( gcnew RSAKeyValue( safe_cast<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)->GetType() == XmlDeclaration::typeid )
   {
      doc->RemoveChild( doc->FirstChild );
   }

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


// Verify the signature of an XML file and return the result.
Boolean VerifyXmlFile( String^ Name )
{
   
   // Create a new XML document.
   XmlDocument^ xmlDocument = gcnew 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 = gcnew SignedXml( xmlDocument );
   
   // Find the "Signature" node and create a new
   // XmlNodeList object.
   XmlNodeList^ nodeList = xmlDocument->GetElementsByTagName( "Signature" );
   
   // Load the signature node.
   signedXml->LoadXml( safe_cast<XmlElement^>(nodeList->Item( 0 )) );
   
   // Check the signature and return the result.
   return signedXml->CheckSignature();
}


// Create example data to sign.
void CreateSomeXml( String^ FileName )
{
   
   // Create a new XmlDocument object.
   XmlDocument^ document = gcnew 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 = gcnew XmlTextWriter( FileName,gcnew UTF8Encoding( false ) );
   document->WriteTo( xmltw );
   xmltw->Close();
}

int main()
{
   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" );
      
      // 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 );
   }

}

//
// 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");

            // 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, RSA 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);

        // 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);

        // 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)
    {
        // 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();
    }

    // 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();
    }
}

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



Public Class SignVerifyEnvelope
   
   Overloads Public Shared Sub Main(args() As [String])
      Try
         ' Generate a signing key.
         Dim Key As RSA = 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...")
         Dim result As Boolean = VerifyXmlFile("SignedExample.xml")
         
         ' Display the results of the signature verification to \
         ' the console.
         If result Then
            Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is valid.")
         Else
            Console.WriteLine("The XML signature is not valid.")
         End If
      Catch e As CryptographicException
         Console.WriteLine(e.Message)
      End Try
   End Sub 
   
   
   ' Sign an XML file and save the signature in a new file.
   Public Shared Sub SignXmlFile(FileName As String, SignedFileName As String, Key As RSA)
      ' Create a new XML document.
      Dim doc As 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.
      Dim signedXml As New SignedXml(doc)
      
      ' Add the key to the SignedXml document. 
      signedXml.SigningKey = Key
      
      ' Create a reference to be signed.
      Dim reference As New Reference()
      reference.Uri = ""
      
      ' Add an enveloped transformation to the reference.
      Dim env As 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).
      Dim keyInfo As New KeyInfo()
      keyInfo.AddClause(New RSAKeyValue(CType(Key, RSA)))
      signedXml.KeyInfo = keyInfo
      
      ' Compute the signature.
      signedXml.ComputeSignature()
      
      ' Get the XML representation of the signature and save
      ' it to an XmlElement object.
      Dim xmlDigitalSignature As XmlElement = signedXml.GetXml()
      
      ' Append the element to the XML document.
      doc.DocumentElement.AppendChild(doc.ImportNode(xmlDigitalSignature, True))
      
      
      If TypeOf doc.FirstChild Is XmlDeclaration Then
         doc.RemoveChild(doc.FirstChild)
      End If
      
      ' Save the signed XML document to a file specified
      ' using the passed string.
      Dim xmltw As New XmlTextWriter(SignedFileName, New UTF8Encoding(False))
      doc.WriteTo(xmltw)
      xmltw.Close()
   End Sub 
   ' Verify the signature of an XML file and return the result.
   Public Shared Function VerifyXmlFile(Name As [String]) As [Boolean]
      ' Create a new XML document.
      Dim xmlDocument As 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.
      Dim signedXml As New SignedXml(xmlDocument)
      
      ' Find the "Signature" node and create a new
      ' XmlNodeList object.
      Dim nodeList As XmlNodeList = xmlDocument.GetElementsByTagName("Signature")
      
      ' Load the signature node.
      signedXml.LoadXml(CType(nodeList(0), XmlElement))
      
      ' Check the signature and return the result.
      Return signedXml.CheckSignature()
   End Function 
   
   
   ' Create example data to sign.
   Public Shared Sub CreateSomeXml(FileName As String)
      ' Create a new XmlDocument object.
      Dim document As New XmlDocument()
      
      ' Create a new XmlNode object.
      Dim node As XmlNode = 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.
      Dim xmltw As New XmlTextWriter(FileName, New UTF8Encoding(False))
      document.WriteTo(xmltw)
      xmltw.Close()
   End Sub 
End Class

Remarks

The Reference object represents the <reference> element of an XML digital signature defined by the XML digital signature specification.

Use the Reference object to specify the following information:

• The digest algorithm used to sign of the data object. This value is required.

• The Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) of the data object to sign. The URI can specify a file path or specific elements within an XML document. This value is required.

• A chain of transforms to apply before generating the digest. This value is optional.

• The type of object to sign. This value is optional.

• A unique identifier used to reference the current <reference> element. This value is optional.

For more information about the <reference> element, see the W3C specification.

Constructors

Reference()	Initializes a new instance of the Reference class with default properties.
Reference(Stream)	Initializes a new instance of the Reference class with a hash value of the specified Stream.
Reference(String)	Initializes a new instance of the Reference class with the specified Uri.

Properties

DigestMethod	Gets or sets the digest method Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) of the current Reference.
DigestValue	Gets or sets the digest value of the current Reference.
Id	Gets or sets the ID of the current Reference.
TransformChain	Gets the transform chain of the current Reference.
Type	Gets or sets the type of the object being signed.
Uri	Gets or sets the Uri of the current Reference.

Methods

AddTransform(Transform)	Adds a Transform object to the list of transforms to be performed on the data before passing it to the digest algorithm.
Equals(Object)	Determines whether the specified object is equal to the current object. (Inherited from Object)
GetHashCode()	Serves as the default hash function. (Inherited from Object)
GetType()	Gets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object)
GetXml()	Returns the XML representation of the Reference.
LoadXml(XmlElement)	Loads a Reference state from an XML element.
MemberwiseClone()	Creates a shallow copy of the current Object. (Inherited from Object)
ToString()	Returns a string that represents the current object. (Inherited from Object)