| Previous | Next |
| CERTSRV_E_ARCHIVED_KEY_UNEXPECTED | CERTSRV_E_SUBJECT_EMAIL_REQUIRED |
CERTSRV_E_KEY_LENGTH
CERTSRV_E_KEY_LENGTH should be read at the certificate-template minimum key size boundary. The CA evaluated the submitted public key against the template and found it below the template minimum or incompatible with the selected algorithm policy. Compare the submitted public-key algorithm and key size with the minimum and algorithm restrictions on the exact certificate-template version used by the CA.
Where the status is selected
The certification authority is evaluating the request against a published certificate template. Capture the template OID, display name, major and minor version, CA template publication state, key and subject settings, validity and renewal periods, and any authorized-signature requirements.
Evidence that changes the diagnosis
| Record | Why it matters for this code |
|---|---|
| template OID and version actually referenced by the request | Links the status to the exact template or CA transaction. |
| CA configuration, published-template set, and directory replication view | Preserves directory, request, and policy data evaluated by the CA. |
| encoded request attributes, public-key properties, renewal state, and signer count | Avoids treating a new enrollment as proof that the original request was fixed. |
Code-specific checks:
- Record template OID/name, public-key algorithm, actual key size, KSP/CSP, and request format.
- Read the effective replicated template object rather than only a local console display.
- Generate a new key that satisfies the template; an existing undersized key cannot be enlarged.
Correlate the failure with state changes
CA decisions depend on directory and transaction state at a particular moment. Correlate template modification and publication, Active Directory replication, request submission, request ID assignment, policy-module evaluation, disposition changes, and any client continuation. This is especially important when a retry reaches a different domain controller or creates a new CA database row.
- exported request and relevant attributes, template OID/version, CA configuration, and original request ID.
- CA operational events and request disposition history from the same transaction.
- Directory evidence showing the template and requester attributes as visible to the CA at evaluation time.
A controlled way to reproduce it
Submit a nonproduction request built directly from the same template with one known compliant key and identity. Then change only the policy dimension named by the status in a certificate-template minimum key size investigation. This avoids confusing template lookup, request construction, and CA issuance policy.
| Test | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Same input, known-good path | For certificate-template minimum key size, success moves attention toward the selected provider, policy, device, context, or transaction state. |
| Known-good input, failing path | For certificate-template minimum key size, failure suggests that the environment or selected object is independently unable to perform the operation. |
| Original path after one isolated change | For certificate-template minimum key size, this comparison demonstrates whether the proposed correction addresses the original condition. |
Nearby results and misleading fixes
The CA is rejecting policy at enrollment time, not reporting a broken certificate chain. Issuing from another template can make enrollment succeed while producing a certificate with different EKUs, key policy, subject rules, or lifetime. Treat it as a comparison, not the repair.
For certificate-template minimum key size, keep the original request and response pair; regenerating a key or submitting a new request may succeed while bypassing the policy or transaction state that produced this HRESULT.
What counts as a real resolution
The CA must accept a request that still uses the intended template and security policy, and the resulting certificate must contain the expected identity, usages, key, and lifetime in a certificate-template minimum key size investigation.
Technical references
These sources define the HRESULT and the relevant certificate-template minimum key size interface, protocol, or data format.
Looking for a different code? Search another status or error code.