Remote Document Signing with eSigner CSC API

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This guide will show you how to enroll a document signing certificate order with SSL.com’s eSigner service and use the Cloud Signature Consortium (CSC) API to digitally sign a document hash and a PDF file. You can use this guide with either cURL or Postman. We recommend that Postman users install the desktop app for working through the examples. The examples in this guide are both applicable to SSL.com’s production and test eSigner and eSealing environments. Differences in commands between production and test modes are explained in the following sections.

To follow these instructions you will need:

  • A validated document signing certificate order. Please read this how-to for full instructions on ordering and validation.
  • A Client ID (also known as an Application ID. Please refer to this how-to for instructions on generating this credential).

Order your SSL.com Document Signing Certificate

You can skip this section if you already have an issued document signing certificate. If this is the case, please proceed to the next section which discusses how to enroll your certificate in eSigner.

How to Order a Certificate in the Production Environment

Please refer to this guide article for instructions on how to order a production document signing certificate: Ordering Process for Code and Document Signing Certificates

How to Order a Test Certificate on SSL.com’s Sandbox

SSL.com offers a dedicated Sandbox environment, mirroring our live SSL.com portal and SWS API, for a risk-free experimentation space. This “laboratory” setting allows users to explore and test SSL.com’s services without the worry of causing disruptions or incurring actual costs. 

The article, Using the SSL.com Sandbox for Testing and Integration, will help you navigate the process of establishing a Sandbox account, initiating a test order, and integrating the Sandbox with the SWS API.

Once you have created your test certificate, please contact the SSL.com support team to have it validated. You can do this by clicking the online chat button at the lower-right corner of the SSL.com website or sending an email to support@ssl.com.

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Enroll in eSigner and Set Up Two-Factor Authentication

Before you can start using the CSC API, you’ll need to enroll in SSL.com’s eSigner cloud signing service. Validated orders can be enrolled in eSigner following the instructions below: 

  1. . Navigate to the Orders tab in in your SSL.com account and locate your order.
    Locate order
  2. Click the order’s details link.
    details
  3. Create a and confirm a 4-digit PIN, then click the create PIN button.
    If you need to reset your eSigner PIN, please read this how-to.
    Create PIN
  4. A QR code will appear.
    The next time you reload the page the QR code will not be visible. If you need to to view or reset your eSigner QR code, please read this how-to.
    QR Code
  5. Scan the code into a 2-factor authentication app on your mobile device, such as Google Authenticator or Authy. The app will provide you with one-time passwords (OTPs) for use when signing. Each OTP is valid for 30 seconds.
    OTP in Authy
Tip: You can use eSigner to share organization validated (OV) signing certificates between teammates. Please read Team Sharing for eSigner Document and EV Code Signing Certificates for instructions.
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Optional: Convert your OV document signing certificate  to an esealing certificate

Note: This section is only for users who want to do esealing. To automate document signing and not be prompted by One Time Passwords (OTP), users self-convert their Organization Validation (OV) document signing certificate to an esealing certificate on their SSL.com accounts. Take note that an Individual Validation (IV) document signing certificate cannot be converted for esealing. Instructions for esealing conversion are detailed below:

  1. Click Orders on the top menu of your SSL.com account. 
  2. Locate your certificate and click the download/details link.
  3. Click the REMOVE 2FA button.
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Install Postman and Import API Collections

The instructions in this section are for Postman users only. If you’re using cURL with the CSC API, you can move onto the next section.

  1. Download and unzip the CSC API Postman collection and Document Signing API Postman collection (see https://www.postman.com/sslcom for online SSL.com API collections).
    Postman collections
  2. Download and install the Postman REST Client.
    Postman REST Client download
  3. Launch Postman, then create a new Postman account or sign into an existing one.
    Postman Login
  4. Click the Import button.
    Import button
  5. Click the Upload Files button, navigate to the unzipped API collection files (csc-api-prod.postman_collection.json and document-signing-api-prod.postman_collection.json), and open them.
    Upload Files
  6. Click the Import button.
    Click import button
  7. The API requests you will be working with are now available in the Collections tab on the left side of the Postman window.
    API requests
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Retrieve Access Token

The next step is to retrieve an access token from SSL.com. You’ll need your Client ID available, as well as the username and password for your SSL.com account. Access tokens are valid for one hour after they are issued.

Use the clickable tabs below to choose instructions for Postman or cURL:

Postman InstructionscURL Instructions
  1. Select an API request from the CSC API collection.
    select API request
  2. Select the Authorization tab and select OAuth 2.0 from the Type menu.
    Authorization Tab
  3. Enter the following information into the form:
    • Header Prefix: Bearer
    • Token Name: SSLCOM CSC (or any other easy-to-remember name that you prefer)
    • Grant Type: Authorization Code
    • Callback URL: https://upload.esigner.com
    • Authorize using browser: unchecked
    • Auth URL:  https://login.ssl.com/oauth2/authorize for Production environment; https://oauth-sandbox.ssl.com/oauth2/authorize for Sandbox environment.
    • Access Token URL: https://login.ssl.com/oauth2/token for Production environment; https://oauth-sandbox.ssl.com/oauth2/token for Sandbox environment. 
    • Client ID: [Your Client ID]
    • Client Secret: [Your Client Secret]
    • Scope: service
    • State: [leave blank]
    • Client Authentication: Send as Basic Auth header

    When you are finished, click the Get New Access Token button.
    Get New Access Token

  4. A login form will appear. Enter your SSL.com username and password, then click the Member Login button.
    Account login
  5. Your new access token should appear in Postman. Select the access token text and copy it to the clipboard, then close the Manage Access Tokens dialog box. Paste your access token into a text editor where you can access it easily. Each access token will expire after one hour.
    You can also save your token for re-use in Postman requests, but we have found that it is most reliable to copy and paste the token directly into each request.
    Access Token
  1. Use the following command to request an access token. Replace the values shown in ALL-CAPS with your actual values:
    curl --location --request POST "https://login.ssl.com/oauth2/token" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data-raw '{
 "client_id"  : "YOUR-CLIENT-ID",
 "client_secret"  : "YOUR-CLIENT-SECRET",
 "grant_type" : "password",
 "username"   : "YOUR-USERNAME",
 "password"   : "YOUR-PASSSWORD"
}'
  2. You should receive a JSON object containing an access token and a refresh token. Copy the access token value to paste into your API requests. You won’t need the refresh token for these examples.
    Retrieve access token
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Sign a Hash

Now that you have an access token, you can begin making API requests and creating signatures. This section will lead you through the five available requests in the Postman CSC collection, resulting in the creation of a digital signature from a document hash.

SHA 256 algorithm should be used to compute the hash of the PDF document. 

  1. A PDF library is needed to manipulate the PDF for hash input and later embed the PKCS#7 in the PDF document. (ex. ApachePDFBox in Java). 
  2. A Crypto library for creating PKCS#7 out of raw signatures received from eSigner API (ex. BouncyCastle in Java).

Get CSC Info (Optional)

Postman InstructionscURL Instructions
  1. You can use the CSC Info request to get information about SSL.com’s cloud signature service. Note that, unlike the others in the collection, this request does not require your access token. To send the request, select CSC Info from the CSC API collection, then click the Send button.
    Send CSC Info Request
  2. Information about the cloud signature service will appear in a JSON object in Postman’s Response field.
    CSC Info
  1. Use the following command to get info about SSL.com’s CSC API service. If you in sandbox environment, use https://cs-try.ssl.com/csc/v0/info instead. 
    curl --location --request POST "https://cs.ssl.com/csc/v0/info" \ 
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \ 
--data-raw "{}"
  2. You will recieve a JSON object with details about the service:
    Get CSC info

CSC Credentials List

The CSC Credentials List request will retrieve a credential you will use in later API requests.

Postman InstructionscURL Instructions
  1. Select CSC Credentials List and click the Authorization tab.
    Authorization tab
  2. Choose Bearer Token from the Type menu, paste your access token into the Token field, then click the Send button.
    Send credentials list request
  3. A JSON object with a list of credential IDs associated with the user will appear in the Response field. Your list will probably contain one value. Copy and paste your credential ID into a text editor for use in later requests.
    Credential IDs
  1. Enter the following command. (Replace MY-ACCESS-TOKEN with your actual access token). If you are in sandbox environment, use https://cs-try.ssl.com/csc/v0/credentials/list instead:
    curl --location --request POST "https://cs.ssl.com/csc/v0/credentials/list" \ 
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \ 
--header "Authorization: Bearer MY-ACCESS-TOKEN" \ 
--data-raw "{}"

    If using an eseal certificate (document signing certificate with only organization information; included with your free esigner.com account), then include “clientData”: “DS_ESEAL” (note: eseals do not require OTP authentication). Other options for “clientData” are “EVCS” for EV Code Signing and “DS” (default) for IV or IV+OV Document Signing :

    curl --location --request POST "https://cs.ssl.com/csc/v0/credentials/list" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--header "Authorization: Bearer MY-ACCESS-TOKEN" \
--data-raw '{"clientData": "DS_ESEAL"}'
  2. You should receive a JSON object with a list of credential IDs associated with the user. Your list will probably contain one value. Copy and paste your credential ID into a text editor for use in later requests.
    Credential IDs

CSC Credentials Info (Optional)

The CSC Credentials Info request will return certificates and other information associated with a credential ID, and is not required for signing.

Postman InstructionscURL Instructions
  1. To use this request, select CSC Credentials Info from the collection and click the Authorization tab.
    authorization tab
  2. Choose Bearer Token from the Type menu, then paste your access token into the Token field.
    Paste token
  3. Select the Body tab, then paste your credential ID as the value for credentialID.
    Paste credential ID
  4. Click the Send button.
    Send
  5. A JSON object with your signing certificate chain and other information will appear in the Response field.
    Credentials info
  1. Enter the following command. If you are in the sandbox environment, use https://cs-try.ssl.com/csc/v0/credentials/info  Replace MY-ACCESS-TOKEN and MY-CREDENTIAL-ID with your actual information:
    curl --location --request POST "https://cs.ssl.com/csc/v0/credentials/info" \ 
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \ 
--header "Authorization: Bearer MY-ACCESS-TOKEN" \ 
--data-raw '{ 
"credentialID": "MY-CREDENTIAL-ID", 
"certificates": "chain", 
"certInfo": true, 
"authInfo": true 
}'
  2. You should receive a JSON object with your signing certificate chain and other information:
    CSC Credentials Info

Credentials Authorize

The Credentials Authorize request will retrieve authorization for signing a hash.

Postman InstructionscURL Instructions
  1. Begin by selecting Credentials Authorize from the collection and clicking the Authorization tab.
    Authorization tab
  2. Choose Bearer Token from the Type menu, then paste your access token into the Token field.
    paste token
  3. Select the Body tab. Paste your credential ID as the credentialID value and a hash of the document you wish to sign as the hash value. Retrieve and enter an OTP from your authentication app and enter it as the value for OTP, then click the Send button. Note: OTP is not required for esealing certificates.
    Body tab
  4. A JSON object with your Signature Activation Data (SAD) will appear in the Response field. Copy and paste this value into a text editor for use in the hash signing request.
    SAD
  1. Use the following command. Replace MY-ACCESS-TOKEN, MY-CREDENTIAL-ID, and MY-HASH with your actual information. Get a one-time password from your 2FA application and use is as the value for MY-OTP. Note: OTP is not required for esealing certificates.
    curl --location --request POST "https://cs.ssl.com/csc/v0/credentials/authorize" \ 
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \ 
--header "Authorization: Bearer MY-ACCESS-TOKEN" \ 
--data-raw '{ 
    "credentialID": "MY-CREDENTIAL-ID", 
    "numSignatures": 1, 
    "hash": [
        "MY-HASH"
    ],
    "OTP": "MY-OTP"
}'
  2. You should receive a JSON object with your Signature Activation Data (SAD). Copy and paste this value into a text editor for use in the hash signing request.
    Credentials Authorize

Sign Hash

Now you’re ready to sign the document hash.

Postman InstructionscURL Instructions
  1. Select Sign Hash from the collection, then select the Authorization tab.
    Authorization tab
  2. Choose Bearer Token from the Type menu, then paste your access token into the Token field.
    Paste token
  3. Select the Body tab. Paste your credential ID as the credentialID value, your Signature Activation Data as the SAD value, and a hash of the document you wish to sign as the hash value, then click the Send button.
    Body tab
  4. A JSON object with your signature will appear in the Response field.
    Signature
  1. Enter the following command. Replace MY-ACCESS-TOKEN,  MY-CREDENTIAL-ID, MY-SAD, and MY-HASH with your actual information:
    curl --location --request POST "https://cs.ssl.com/csc/v0/signatures/signHash" \ 
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \ 
--header "Authorization: Bearer MY-ACCESS-TOKEN" \ 
--data-raw '{ 
    "credentialID": "MY-CREDENTIAL-ID", 
    "SAD": "MY-SAD", 
    "hash": [ "MY-HASH" ], 
    "signAlgo": "1.2.840.113549.1.1.11" 
}'
  2. You should receive a JSON object containing your signature.
    Sign hash
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Sign a PDF

In addition to signing document hashes, you can also upload and sign a PDF file.

When signing a PDF you will be working with two POST requests:

  • Upload PDF Document
  • Sign PDF Document

Document Signing API Collection

You can re-use the credential you retrieved above with the CSC Credentials List request. You will probably also need to retrieve a new access token.

Upload PDF Document

Postman InstructionscURL Instructions
  1. Select the Upload PDF Document request and click the Authorization tab.
    Authorization tab
  2. Choose Bearer Token from the Type menu, then paste your access token into the Token field.
    Paste token
  3. Select the Headers tab and paste your credential ID in the Value column.
    Headers tab
  4. Select the Body tab and click the × next to hello.pdf to remove this placeholder filename.
    remove example filename
  5. Click the Select File button, then navigate to the file you want to upload.
    Select file
  6. Click the Send button.
    Send
  7. Select and copy the id value in the response to use in the next request.
    ID
  1. Use the following command. Replace MY-CREDENTIAL-ID, MY-ACCESS-TOKEN, and /PATH/TO/FILE.pdf with your actual information:
    curl --location --request POST "https://ds.ssl.com/v1/pdf/upload" \ 
--header "Credential-Id: MY-CREDENTIAL-ID" \ 
--header "Authorization: Bearer MY-ACCESS-TOKEN" \ 
--header "Content-Type: application/pdf" \ 
--data-binary "@/PATH/TO/FILE.pdf"
  2. You will receive a JSON object with a value for id. Copy this value to use in the next request.
    Upload PDF

Note: For visible signatures, please refer to the following HTTP Request Headers (/v1/pdf/upload):

Request Header

Description

Credential-Id

Unique Credential ID assigned to the key – Mandatory

Signing-Reason

Add signing reason to add in signature appearance and also in signature dictionary – Optional e.g. I approve this document

Signing-Location

Add signing location in signature dictionary – Optional e.g. Houston, Texas

Contact-Info

Add contact information in signature dictionary – Optional e.g. Phone number

Signature-Field-Position

Signature field position where visual signature displays. The format is “x,y,width,height“ – Optional

Page-Number

Page number where to draw signature – Optional

Hand-Signature

Base64 encoded PNG image of hand signature – Optional


Sign PDF Document

Now you can sign the PDF.

OTP authorization is not required when signing using an esealing document signing certificate. Ignore all OTP parameters in the following guide if using an esealing document signing cerificate.
Postman InstructionscURL Instructions
  1. Select the Upload PDF Document request and click the Authorization tab.
       Authorization
  2. Choose Bearer Token from the Type menu, then paste your access token into the Token field.
    Paste token
  3. Select the Body tab, paste in the id value from the previous step and an OTP from your authentication app, then click the Send button.
    Send request
  4. The PDF data will appear below in the Response field. Choose Save to a File from the Save Response menu, then give the file a name.
    Save PDF to File
  5. Open the file in Acrobat to confirm that the file has been signed.
    Valid Signature
  1. Enter the following command. Replace MY-CREDENTIAL-ID, MY-FILE-ID, and OUTPUT-FILENAME with your actual information. Get a one-time password (OTP) from your 2FA app and enter it as MY-OTP. Note: OTP is not required for esealing certificates:
    curl --location --request POST 'https://ds.ssl.com/v1/pdf/sign' \
--header 'Content-Transfer-Encoding: application/json' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--header 'Authorization: Bearer MY-ACCESS-TOKEN' \
--data-raw '{ 
    "id": "MY-FILE-ID", 
    "otp":"MY-OTP" 
}' \
--output OUTPUT-FILENAME
  2. cURL will download the signed file and save it to the filename you specified:
    Sign PDF
  3. Open the PDF in Acrobat or Acrobat Reader to check that the signature is valid.
    Valid signature

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SSL.com Support Team

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