How to Validate TDE Wallet Password in Oracle Database

Validating the Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) wallet password is crucial, especially when ensuring that the password is correct without using the OPEN or CLOSE commands in the database. This blog post explains a straightforward method to validate the TDE password using the mkstore utility.

Steps to Validate TDE Wallet Password

Follow these steps to validate the TDE wallet password:

Step 1: Copy the Keystore/Wallet File

  • Navigate to your existing TDE wallet directory.
  • Copy only the ewallet.p12 file to a new directory.
  • If a cwallet.sso file exists, do not copy it. The absence of cwallet.sso ensures that the wallet does not use auto-login, forcing the utility to prompt for the password.

Step 2: Validate Using mkstore

Use the mkstore utility to check the contents of the wallet file. The mkstore utility will prompt you for the TDE wallet password, allowing you to validate its correctness.

Command Syntax

To display the contents of the wallet, use the following syntax:


mkstore -wrl <wallet_directory> -list

Here:

  • Replace <wallet_directory> with the path to the new directory where the ewallet.p12 file was copied.

Example Steps in Action

Copy the Wallet File: Navigate to the wallet directory and copy the file:


cp /u01/app/oracle/admin/wallet/ewallet.p12 /tmp/wallet_validation/

Run the mkstore Command: Use mkstore to display the contents of the copied wallet:


mkstore -wrl /tmp/wallet_validation/ -list

Password Prompt: You will be prompted to enter the TDE wallet password:


Enter wallet password:

Validation Output:
  • If the entered password is correct, the mkstore command will display wallet details such as aliases or content information.
  • If the password is incorrect, you will see an error message.

Why Exclude cwallet.sso?

The cwallet.sso file allows auto-login, which bypasses password prompts. By excluding this file, the mkstore utility will always prompt for the wallet password, ensuring that you validate the password manually.

Benefits of This Approach

  • No Need to Open/Close the Wallet: This method avoids any database-level operations, keeping the wallet state intact.
  • Simple and Quick: The process involves only copying files and running a single command.
  • Safe Validation: As it does not require database access, it minimizes risk during validation.


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