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StoreFront 1912
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ICA file signing

January 21, 2025
Contributed by: 
N C S

StoreFront provides the option to digitally sign ICA files so that versions of Citrix Workspace app that support this feature can verify that the file originates from a trusted source. When file signing is enabled in StoreFront, the ICA file generated when a user starts an application is signed using a certificate from the personal certificate store of the StoreFront server. ICA files can be signed using any hash algorithm supported by the operating system running on the StoreFront server. The digital signature is ignored by clients that do not support the feature or are not configured for ICA file signing. If the signing process fails, the ICA file is generated without a digital signature and sent to Citrix Workspace app, the configuration of which determines whether the unsigned file is accepted.

To be used for ICA file signing with StoreFront, certificates must include the private key and be within the allowed validity period. If the certificate contains a key usage extension, this must allow the key to be used for digital signatures. Where an extended key usage extension is included, it must be set to code signing or server authentication.

For ICA file signing, Citrix recommends using a code signing or SSL signing certificate obtained from a public certification authority or from your organization’s private certification authority. If you are unable to obtain a suitable certificate from a certification authority, you can either use an existing SSL certificate, such as a server certificate, or create a new root certification authority certificate and distribute it to users’ devices.

ICA file signing is disabled by default. To enable ICA file signing, you must install a certificate and configure the store to use that certificate. Signing the ICA file has no effect unless you also configure Citrix Workspace app for Windows to require a certificate, for more information see ICA File Signing.

Note:

The StoreFront and PowerShell consoles cannot be open at the same time. Always close the StoreFront management console before using the PowerShell console to administer your StoreFront configuration. Likewise, close all instances of PowerShell before opening the StoreFront console.

  1. On your StoreFront server, open Manage computer certificates.

  2. Add your certificate to the Citrix Delivery Services certificate store.

  3. Open the certificate, go to the Details tab and record the thumbprint.

  4. Enable signing for a store using the Set-STFStoreService PowerShell cmdlet:

    $storeService = Get-STFStoreService
Set-STFStoreService $storeService -IcaFileSigning $true -IcaFileSigningCertificateThumbprint [certificatethumbprint]
$certificate = Get-DSCertificate "[certificatethumbprint]"
. "C:\Program Files\Citrix\Receiver StoreFront\Scripts\ImportModules.ps1"
Add-DSCertificateKeyReadAccess -certificate $certificates[0] -accountName “IIS APPPOOL\Citrix Delivery Services Resources”
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    Where [certificatethumbprint] is the digest (or thumbprint) of the certificate data produced by the hash algorithm.

    If you want to use a hash algorithm other than SHA-1, add a parameter -IcaFileSigningHashAlgorithm set to sha256, sha384, or sha512, as required.

ICA file signing
January 21, 2025
Contributed by: 
N C S
January 21, 2025
Contributed by: 
N C S

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