How to install a Certificates using powershell script

Question

I am trying to install a certificate through a PowerShell script. I am using the Import-Certificate method, as suggested in the Microsoft PowerShell documentation.

Here's my code:

$script = {
    $file = ( Get-ChildItem -Path  C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\newCert.cer )
    $file | Import-Certificate -CertStoreLocation cert:\CurrentUser\Root
    echo $file
    }

invoke-command -Credential $clientCred -ComputerName $ClientIP -ScriptBlock $script

I get the following error:

UI is not allowed in this operation
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidArgument: (:) [Import-Certificate], ArgumentException

I'm not sure where is this going wrong - it would be really helpful if someone could point me in the right direction.

Crypt32 · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-12 18:55:12Z

20

The problem here is that when you install the certificate to Cert:\CurrentUser\Root (Trusted Root CAs in the current user account), underlying CryptoAPI invokes the following dialog:

And this is why error message mentions UI. Since you are attempting to install the certificate in the remoting session it is impossible to press the button in the remote host's interactive session. This is why UI dialogs are prohibited.

What you can do is to install the certificate to Local Machine store. That is, install it to Cert:\LocalMachine\Root.

Note that when installing a root certificate to the local machine store, it is automatically propagated to all user accounts on that machine. That is, an unintentional trust can be established for users where such trust might not be supposed.

answered Apr 12, 2016 at 18:55

Crypt32

14.2k3 gold badges49 silver badges77 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Peter Over a year ago

Note - This needs to be in an elevated session to avoid an Access Denied error

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to install a Certificates using powershell script

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related