PEM_read_PrivateKey failed issue

Alain G. Fabry
Sat, 18 Nov 2006 17:04:14 -0000

Hello,

I'm having a problem with my ssh client, on FreeBSD 5.4 and 6.1 the same
issue.

OpenSSH_3.8.1p1 FreeBSD-20040419, OpenSSL 0.9.7e 25 Oct 2004

but also same problem with OpenSSH_4.3

When I make a key, everything goes fine. When I try to change the password on
the key
it give me the 'PEM_read_PrivateKey failed' problem, this also prevents
me from connecting
to another host.

Below small debug of creation of keys + trying to change the password. I'm
sure that I type
in the password correct, even though it indicates it is not !!

1. Creation of key (afterward I perform a - chmod 600 test* )

afabry at ducati-748 21:18 % ssh-keygen -t dsa -b 1024
Generating public/private dsa key pair.
Enter file in which to save the key (/home/afabry/.ssh/id_dsa):
/home/afabry/.ssh/test
Enter passphrase (empty for no passphrase):
Enter same passphrase again:
Your identification has been saved in /home/afabry/.ssh/test.
Your public key has been saved in /home/afabry/.ssh/test.pub.
The key fingerprint is:
1c:45:31:f9:f4:62:ad:d1:66:5d:9c:8a:4c:1b:48:d6 afabry at
ducati-748.3rdrock.kicks-ass.net

2. Changing the password

afabry at ducati-748 21:20 % ssh-keygen -v -p -f .ssh/test.pub
debug1: PEM_read_PrivateKey failed
debug1: read PEM private key done: type <unknown>
Enter old passphrase:
debug1: PEM_read_PrivateKey failed
debug1: read PEM private key done: type <unknown>
Bad passphrase.


I'm hoping you can help me with this problem. I've already googled like
crazy but haven't
+found a
solution anywhere.

Many thanks in advance.

Alain