How to Generate Unique Public and Private Key via RSA

Solution 1:

When you use a code like this:

using (var rsa = new RSACryptoServiceProvider(1024))
{
   // Do something with the key...
   // Encrypt, export, etc.
}

.NET (actually Windows) stores your key in a persistent key container forever. The container is randomly generated by .NET

This means:

1. Any random RSA/DSA key you have EVER generated for the purpose of protecting data, creating custom X.509 certificate, etc. may have been exposed without your awareness in the Windows file system. Accessible by anyone who has access to your account.

2. Your disk is being slowly filled with data. Normally not a big concern but it depends on your application (e.g. it might generates hundreds of keys every minute).

To resolve these issues:

using (var rsa = new RSACryptoServiceProvider(1024))
{
   try
   {
      // Do something with the key...
      // Encrypt, export, etc.
   }
   finally
   {
      rsa.PersistKeyInCsp = false;
   }
}

ALWAYS

Solution 2:

The RSACryptoServiceProvider(CspParameters) constructor creates a keypair which is stored in the keystore on the local machine. If you already have a keypair with the specified name, it uses the existing keypair.

It sounds as if you are not interested in having the key stored on the machine.

So use the RSACryptoServiceProvider(Int32) constructor:

public static void AssignNewKey(){
    RSA rsa = new RSACryptoServiceProvider(2048); // Generate a new 2048 bit RSA key

    string publicPrivateKeyXML = rsa.ToXmlString(true);
    string publicOnlyKeyXML = rsa.ToXmlString(false);
    // do stuff with keys...
}

EDIT:

Alternatively try setting the PersistKeyInCsp to false:

public static void AssignNewKey(){
    const int PROVIDER_RSA_FULL = 1;
    const string CONTAINER_NAME = "KeyContainer";
    CspParameters cspParams;
    cspParams = new CspParameters(PROVIDER_RSA_FULL);
    cspParams.KeyContainerName = CONTAINER_NAME;
    cspParams.Flags = CspProviderFlags.UseMachineKeyStore;
    cspParams.ProviderName = "Microsoft Strong Cryptographic Provider";
    rsa = new RSACryptoServiceProvider(cspParams);

    rsa.PersistKeyInCsp = false;

    string publicPrivateKeyXML = rsa.ToXmlString(true);
    string publicOnlyKeyXML = rsa.ToXmlString(false);
    // do stuff with keys...
}

Solution 3:

What I ended up doing is create a new KeyContainer name based off of the current DateTime (DateTime.Now.Ticks.ToString()) whenever I need to create a new key and save the container name and public key to the database. Also, whenever I create a new key I would do the following:

public static string ConvertToNewKey(string oldPrivateKey)
{

    // get the current container name from the database...

    rsa.PersistKeyInCsp = false;
    rsa.Clear();
    rsa = null;

    string privateKey = AssignNewKey(true); // create the new public key and container name and write them to the database...

       // re-encrypt existing data to use the new keys and write to database...

    return privateKey;
}
public static string AssignNewKey(bool ReturnPrivateKey){
     string containerName = DateTime.Now.Ticks.ToString();
     // create the new key...
     // saves container name and public key to database...
     // and returns Private Key XML.
}

before creating the new key.