Remote Document Signing with eSigner CSC API

By SSL.com Support Team
February 16, 2021
Categories: eSigner, Other, S/MIME, Client, and Document Signing
Tags: CSC API

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

Go to SSL.com and click the Login link to access your account. Enter your login credentials and click the Next>> button.
Open a new tab on your browser. Go to SSL.com again. Hover to Products and click the Doc Signing certificates section.
Scroll down the product page to the type of document signing certificate you wish to purchase and click the Buy Now! button.
Select the number of years you want your certificate to be valid. You can also order Yubikey tokens as additional storage for your certificate. Once finalized, click the Add to Cart button.
If you decide to add the number of certificates you will purchase, click the drop-down arrow. Afterwards, click Checkout.
You will then be asked to confirm your purchase using the existing funds in your SSL.com account. Click the Next>> button.
Click the Click here link or the Orders tab to finish processing your order. You will also be contacted by an SSL.com employee to help you complete the requirements for the issuance of your certificate.

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

If you’d like to skip creating a Sandbox account and test order, you can also try the eSigner Sandbox with a demo account and certificate. Please read eSigner Demo Credentials and Certificates for credentials and configuration information.

First, you’ll need to create a document signing order in the Sandbox. Begin by signing into your Sandbox account and going to the Dashboard tab.
Click developer tools.
Select eSigner Document Signing, then click the Create Test Order button.
A dialog box will appear. Click the OK button.
Locate your test order, then click the details link.
Click edit registrant to begin entering applicant and recipient information for your test order. Note that since this information will not be used to issue a valid document signing certificate, you can enter fictitious information if desired.
Add applicant information for the test certificate, then click the Next>> button.
Enter recipient information, then click the Next>> button.
Click the Skip button to skip uploading validation documents for the test certificate.
Your test order should now have a status of pending validation. Contact the SSL.com support team at Support@SSL.com to have your test certificate validated.

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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 eSigner. Navigate to the Orders tab in in your SSL.com account and locate your order.
Click the order’s details link.
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.
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.
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.

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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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.

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).
Download and install the Postman REST Client.
Launch Postman, then create a new Postman account or sign into an existing one.
Click the Import button.
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.
Click the Import button.
The API requests you will be working with are now available in the Collections tab on the left side of the Postman window.

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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

Select an API request from the CSC API collection.
Select the Authorization tab and select OAuth 2.0 from the Type menu.
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.
A login form will appear. Enter your SSL.com username and password, then click the Member Login button.
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.

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"
}'

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.

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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.

Get CSC Info (Optional)

Postman InstructionscURL Instructions

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.
Information about the cloud signature service will appear in a JSON object in Postman’s Response field.

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 "{}"
```
You will recieve a JSON object with details about the service:

CSC Credentials List

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

Postman InstructionscURL Instructions

Select CSC Credentials List and click the Authorization tab.
Choose Bearer Token from the Type menu, paste your access token into the Token field, then click the Send button.
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.

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"}'
```
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.

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

To use this request, select CSC Credentials Info from the collection and click the Authorization tab.
Choose Bearer Token from the Type menu, then paste your access token into the Token field.
Select the Body tab, then paste your credential ID as the value for credentialID.
Click the Send button.
A JSON object with your signing certificate chain and other information will appear in the Response field.

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 
}'

You should receive a JSON object with your signing certificate chain and other information:

Credentials Authorize

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

Postman InstructionscURL Instructions

Begin by selecting Credentials Authorize from the collection and clicking the Authorization tab.
Choose Bearer Token from the Type menu, then paste your access token into the Token field.
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.
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.

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"
}'

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.

Sign Hash

Now you’re ready to sign the document hash.

Postman InstructionscURL Instructions

Select Sign Hash from the collection, then select the Authorization tab.
Choose Bearer Token from the Type menu, then paste your access token into the Token field.
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.
A JSON object with your signature will appear in the Response field.

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" 
}'

You should receive a JSON object containing your signature.

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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

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

Select the Upload PDF Document request and click the Authorization tab.
Choose Bearer Token from the Type menu, then paste your access token into the Token field.
Select the Headers tab and paste your credential ID in the Value column.
Select the Body tab and click the × next to hello.pdf to remove this placeholder filename.
Click the Select File button, then navigate to the file you want to upload.
Click the Send button.
Select and copy the id value in the response to use in the next request.

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"

You will receive a JSON object with a value for id. Copy this value to use in the next request.

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

Select the Upload PDF Document request and click the Authorization tab.
Choose Bearer Token from the Type menu, then paste your access token into the Token field.
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.
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.
Open the file in Acrobat to confirm that the file has been signed.

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

cURL will download the signed file and save it to the filename you specified:
Open the PDF in Acrobat or Acrobat Reader to check that the signature is valid.

CSC API

SSL.com Support Team

Author - Content Administrator

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Remote Document Signing with eSigner CSC API

Order your SSL.com Document Signing Certificate

How to Order a Certificate in the Production Environment

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

Enroll in eSigner and Set Up Two-Factor Authentication

Install Postman and Import API Collections

Retrieve Access Token

Sign a Hash

Get CSC Info (Optional)

CSC Credentials List

CSC Credentials Info (Optional)

Credentials Authorize

Sign Hash

Sign a PDF

Upload PDF Document

Sign PDF Document

SSL.com Support Team

Stay Informed and Secure

We’d love your feedback

Remote Document Signing with eSigner CSC API

Order your SSL.com Document Signing Certificate

How to Order a Certificate in the Production Environment

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

Enroll in eSigner and Set Up Two-Factor Authentication

Install Postman and Import API Collections

Retrieve Access Token

Sign a Hash

Get CSC Info (Optional)

CSC Credentials List

CSC Credentials Info (Optional)

Credentials Authorize

Sign Hash

Sign a PDF

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27471" src="https://www.ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/esigner-sign-pdf-02.png" alt="Document Signing API Collection" width="334" height="383" />

Upload PDF Document

Sign PDF Document

SSL.com Support Team

Stay Informed and Secure

We’d love your feedback