Powershell TextBox SecureString

Question

Is it possible using the System.Windows.Forms.TextBox (or any other method) to enter in text that can then be converted to securestring? I would like to be able to take a value entered, convert it to securestring and write that to a file which could then be called on if needed and the securestring converted back should we need to identify the value.

I've looked into something similar to this, but since I am using the TextBox forms, I don't want to rely on Read-Host

$secstr = Read-Host -AsSecureString "Enter your text"

$secstr | ConvertFrom-SecureString | out-file C:\temp\test.txt

$secstr = get-content c:\temp\test.txt | ConvertTo-SecureString -AsPlaintText -Force

Essentially, I want to have a text box use masked/password characters (which I can do with $TextBox.PasswordChar = "*" and then take that input and dump it into a securestring text file. Then, I could use another script to call on that file and display the text in plain text for the end user should they need to know that current value.

Ansgar Wiechers · Accepted Answer · 2019-05-21 07:49:00Z

6

Use a MaskedTextBox instead of a regular TextBox if you want to embed this in a custom GUI:

Add-Type -Assembly 'System.Windows.Forms'

$form = New-Object Windows.Forms.Form

$password = New-Object Windows.Forms.MaskedTextBox
$password.PasswordChar = '*'
$password.Top  = 100
$password.Left = 80

$form.Controls.Add($password)

$form.ShowDialog()

[source]

and then convert the text to a secure string:

$secstr = $password.Text | ConvertTo-SecureString -AsPlaintText -Force

If you just want to prompt for credentials you could use Get-Credential, which already stores the entered password as a secure string:

PS C:\> $cred = Get-Credential

Cmdlet Get-Credential an der Befehlspipelineposition 1
Geben Sie Werte für die folgenden Parameter an:
Credential
PS C:\> $cred.Password
System.Security.SecureString

edited May 21, 2019 at 7:49

answered Jan 21, 2015 at 16:17

Ansgar Wiechers

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Comments

Micky Balladelli · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-21 16:45:44Z

2

An additional way is to use a plain TextBox and as Ansgar mentioned use the PasswordChar attribute:

$textbox = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Textbox
$textbox.Size = '75,23'
$textbox.PasswordChar = '*'
$form.Controls.Add($textbox)

answered Jan 21, 2015 at 16:45

Micky Balladelli

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1 Comment

mhu Dec 16, 2024 at 15:56

This is better than the accepted answer, because there is no need for the MaskedTextBox in this case. In terms of a text box, the MaskedTextBox provides a way for custom input validation logic and has nothing to do with masking (obscuring) values

NinjaTurtle · Accepted Answer · 2024-02-27 20:35:59Z

0

You need to create a Form and then add the password input box This is how I would do

Add-Type -Assembly Name System. Drawing
Add-Type -Assembly Name Presentation Framework
Add-Type -Assembly Name System.Windows.Forms

$Form = New-Object Windows.Forms.Form
$Form.Text = 'Password'
$Form.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(300,230) 
$Form.StartPosition = 'CenterScreen'

Following will create OK button on the form

$OKButton = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$OKButton.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(75,150)
$OKButton.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(75,23)
$OKButton.Text = 'OK'
$OKButton.DialogResult =[System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::OK
$Form.AcceptButton = $OKButton
$Form.Controls.Add($OKButton)

Do the same for Cancel button if you need it.

Create a Label before Text box as follows

$label = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label
$label.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(10, 40)
$label.size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(120,20)
$label.Text = 'Password' 
$form.Controls.Add($label)

Following will Create the Masked Text box for password entry.

$Textbox = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.MaskedTextBox
$Textbox.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(10,40)
$Textbox.PasswordChar = "*"
$Form.Controls.Add($Textbox)
$Form.ShowDialog()

edited Feb 27, 2024 at 20:35

answered Feb 19, 2024 at 21:59

NinjaTurtle

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1 Comment

NinjaTurtle Over a year ago

Thank you Dennis for making the code presentable. I was struggling with that

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