Generate an application hash value

This topic describes how to generate an application hash value using the GetAppInfo utilities.

GetAppInfo utilities

The GetAppInfo utilities calculate the unique hash value of an application/script, which can then be used to authenticate an application to the Credential Provider.

The main benefit of this type of authentication is to protect the application/script from any malicious code changes.

The hash value of an application/script is calculated using the file’s content. This value is specified for an application ID in the Vault and is compared to the runtime hash values of requesting applications.

After the code is finalized, update the hash value of an application in the Vault by running the utility on the machine where the application resides. Then use the returned value to update the hash value in the Vault.

 
  • Whenever your application file is modified, you must repeat this process.
  • If, after running this utility on a Windows machine, the application or script is deployed on a UNIX machine and goes through a DOS2UNIX process, this may result in a code change. The hash value taken from the Windows machine may therefore not be valid anymore and you must generate a new one.

Credential Providers includes the following GetAppInfo utilities:

Utility

Description

AIMGetAppInfo

Calculates a unique hash value of scripts for the CLI Application Password SDK.

During installation, this utility is copied to the following folders:

  • Windows – This utility is copied to the ApplicationPasswordProvider\Utils folder.
  • UNIX – This utility is copied to the /opt/CARKaim/bin folder.

NetCoreAAMGetAppInfo

Calculates a unique hash value of .NET Core applications.

NetAIMGetAppInfo

Calculates a unique hash value of .NET Framework applications.

JavaAIMGetAppInfo

Calculates a unique hash value of Java applications.

  • Windows – The JavaAIMGetAppInfo.jar utility for Windows is copied to the ApplicationPasswordProvider\Utils folder.
  • UNIX – The javaaimgetappinfo.jar utility for UNIX is copied to the /opt/CARKaim/bin folder.
 

You need the following permissions to run this utility

  • ‘Execute’ permission on the utility file
  • ‘Read’ permission on all the application/script files for which the utility will calculate the hash value