Sign PDF with Military CAC (smart card)

[#1]

I have a Military CAC that I am trying to use to sign a PDF document with.  I created the document and have tried multiple signature fields.  I have my CAC connected via an ActivCard reader and my computer is correctly reading the card.  I have verified that the certificate is present in the computer and that Adobe Acrobat Pro can see the certificate.  I am not given the option to sign with the card.  Am I missing something?

Thanks,

Alex

[#2]

I have a Military CAC that I am trying to use to sign a PDF document with.  I created the document and have tried multiple signature fields.  I have my CAC connected via an ActivCard reader and my computer is correctly reading the card.  I have verified that the certificate is present in the computer and that Adobe Acrobat Pro can see the certificate.  I am not given the option to sign with the card.  Am I missing something?

Thanks,

Alex

[#3]

how do I sign electronically with my cac card

[#4 · Accepted solution]

Hello Jackieh,

Sorry for the delayed response and inconvenience caused. As per the description above, you want to sign a PDF using your CAC card, Is that correct?

The CAC card stores your digital id on an embedded microprocessor chip. Use the digital ID on a smart card to sign and decrypt documents on computers that can be connected to a smart card reader.

You can access your digital ID by connecting the token to a USB port on your computer or mobile device. If you store your digital ID on a smart card or hardware token, connect it to your device to use it for signing documents.

For detailed information, please refer to Adobe article Digital IDs in Acrobat

You can also refer to Certificate-based signatures, Adobe Acrobat DC

Feel free to update this discussion for any further assistance.

Regards,

Anand Sri.

[#5]

in the Adobe program it doesnt give us the option to select to sign via digital ID

[#6]

Hello G36hickey,

Sorry for the delayed response and inconvenience caused. Is it possible to share the screenshot of the window where you are not getting the options? To share the screenshot, refer to https://forums.adobe.com/docs/DOC-7043#jive_content_id_How_do_I_attach_a_screenshot

make sure that you have the latest version of Acrobat installed, check for the latest updates from help>check for updates, or install them manually from DC Release Notes — Release Notes for Acrobat DC Products

What is the current dot version of Acrobat installed? To identify, refer to Identify the product and its version for Acrobat and Reader DC

What is the version of OS installed? Is it specific to one PDF or with all the PDF?

Let us know how it goes and share your observation.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

[#7]

Sorry for this not adding to the resolution but I wanted as much information as possible added to the conversation in the hope that Adobe will address this issue as it is done in Windows.

Since Catalina now accepts DoD CAC cards too logon to Mac the “helper” reader apps have to be removed and Catalina doesn’t temporarily add the CAC to the keychain. Therefore I have lost the ability to Digitally Sign PDFs with my CAC card. I was able to sign PDFs without issue prior to Catalina with Thursby PKard helper middleware, which with Catalina MUST be removed.

Will your Adobe move to corrects this Catalina problem?

http://www.thursby.com/support/faq/pkard-mac-and-macos-catalina

Mark Fay MMC Jr. Engineer QMED AS-E / MSC ET

[#8]

They ever find a fix for this.  My Mac read my connected CAC via USB, however, when I go to digitally sign a document it wants to configure a digital ID.  Adobe does not see my connected CAC via USB.  Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[#9]

Try this, used it successfully with Adobe DC Pro at home with my CAC and it worked:

Got this info from: https://militarycac.com/esign.htm. 

-------------------------

Mac OS 10.12.x (Sierra) through 10.15.x (Catalina) users need to make some adjustments in Adobe to be able to sign PDFs.  This is only when using the native Apple Smart Card Ability and Adobe Reader, please verify these settings on your Mac:

Open an Adobe PDF file,

Select the words Adobe Reader (at the top of the screen)

Click Preferences

Under Categories, scroll down to Signatures

In the Creation and Appearance section, click More

Make sure Enable CryptoTokenKit framework support is checked.

You might also need to change the Default Signing Format to CAdES-Equivalent

If you don't see these options, it could be you have an older version of Adobe Reader.  Go to:  https://get.adobe.com/reader and update your Adobe Reader

BTW, you'll need to enter your key chain password exactly FOUR times before it unlocks and uploads your cert it Adobe. 

[#10]

I followed these steps from that website, but still am not having any luck. 

I'm not sure I follow on the keychain password guidance that you were referring to?

[#11]

Same. Any one have success?

[#12]

So I had the same problem.  I followed the following from above:

Click Preferences

Under Categories, scroll down to Signatures

In the Creation and Appearance section, click More

Make sure Enable CryptoTokenKit framework support is checked.

You might also need to change the Default Signing Format to CAdES-Equivalent

This did not work for me.  I changed the Default Signing Format: back to PKCS#7 - Detached and now it does work.  I wanted to post this in case it helps anyone.  Took me about 20 minutes to update my profile and everythign so I could post.  Haha.

[#13]

This also seemed to work. How? IDK

Perhaps the 'did you restart your computer?' applies here to.

[#14]

You need to restart Adobe Reader after making the above changes.

[#15]

I made these changes under Catalina and they did work.  They are  not working under Big Sur.

[#16]

Quitting Adobe after making the changes, then reopening it worked for me.  After I drew the signature box it immediately recognized my smart card.  As mentioned earlier in this thread, it asked for my keychain password exactly 4 times and then I was able to select my CAC certificate.  I am working off of catalina (10.15.7) still--haven't upgraded to big sur yet.

[#17]

This worked for me the first time.  I'm using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC and have mac OS Big Sur (11.0.1) installed.  I did close Reader DC after I made these changes, but not sure if that is necessary.  Note:  after installing Big Sur, I had to reinstall the built in reader via instructions found on the militarycac website.  (it wouldn't let me post the URL)

[#18]

I am on Big Sur, and this also worked for me. Thank you everybody.

[#19]

Followed these steps:

Click Preferences

Under Categories, scroll down to Signatures

In the Creation and Appearance section, click More

Enabled CryptoTokenKit framework support

Changed the Default Signing Format to CAdES-Equivalent

Quit ADOBE

Changed the Default Signing Format back to PKCS#7

Thanks everyone!

[#20]

Second this. Just did this exact same step today and it worked.

[#21]

For those of you having issues to this problem try the following steps.

1. Open Document using the right click followed by Edit with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

2. Click on the "Tools" Option located on the editing bar above

3. Scroll down and click "Open" under "Certificates" 

4. Below the "Tools" bar you will now see a "Certificates" Menu 

5. Click on "Validate All Signatures"

6. Make sure your CAC is plugged in and sign the signature portion as requested

7. Pray that you don't have to go into work just to use the Office Computer

Hope this helps! Fly, Fight, Win!

[#22]

 Nope. Still not successful in either Adobe Pro or Reader. Followed guide on Military CAC. Won't synch with my CAC certicificates in reader

[#23]

I am in the same exact boat.  I can access CAC enabled websites just fine however, I can't sign using my Hardware Token (SCR-3310v2) CAC Reader.  When I try to add via Adobe it says:

"Adobe Acrobat could not find any new digital IDs. If your digital ID is on a hardware token, please make sure it is plugged in and the token interface is properly configured. Contact your system administrator for further assistance."

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC:  2020.009.20074

Mac OS: Catalina 10.15.2

CAC Reader: SCR 3310v2  and I've tried an HP CAC enabled keyboard

[#24]

Ok here is an update:

I bit the bullet and upgraded MacOS to 10.15.6.  That seem to fix the problem.  ugh....

[#25]

Hello,

I have done all of the above including updating to 10.15.6 and still nothing. 

[#26]

After spending literally 2 hours on the phone with Adobe support, with zero resolution, I hung up... and figured this out. 

I was getting this same error. Basically it was not seeing my CAC reader, and therefore not seeing my certificates. 

What you have to do is this:

Acrobat Pro DC > Preferences > Signatures > Click on "More" under Creation & Appearance > Click the drop down under "Default Signing Format" and select "PKCS#7 - Detached"

Click "Okay"

Now, still under Signatures, click on "More" under Identities & Trusted Certificates....

you should see your DOD Certs. 

That should fix your problem. 

[#27]

This seems to be the opposite of what other people are saying.  Under Catalina we were told to change to CADES which then worked. Now you are saying to change it to PKCS#7 which if you look the other postings are saying change it to CADES.

[#28]

I went to tools and didn't see validate all signatures.

[#29]

I just followed the steps for changing it back to PKCS#7 and I was able to CAC sign my document just now. Like someone said further up in the thread, make sure you quit Adobe for the changes to go into effect!