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How to send encrypted connection string #9738


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thaisonsoft.ios created

Dear guys,

I have been encrypted the connection string based on IStringEncryptionService (from external application) and updated to appsettings.json looks like this: "ConnectionStrings": { // "Default": "Server=192.168.0.1;Database=AbpTemplate;User=sa; Password=123xxx;TrustServerCertificate=true" "Default": "ENC_5W8PezYlu1g+VaIc/XzdKRGabzhpT8aAbk7R2Irkt8AhOpODisXIK4SMQEmd4EuT91Y....." },

Then, I decrypted:

AbpTemplateDbContext.cs `public class AbpTemplateDbContextFactory : IDesignTimeDbContextFactory

    AbpTemplateEfCoreEntityExtensionMappings.Configure();
    // This line to decrypted the connection string in appsettings.json
    var connectionString = configuration.GetConnectionString("Default").DecryptConnectionString();
    
    var builder = new DbContextOptionsBuilder<AbpTemplateDbContext>()
        .UseSqlServer(connectionString);
    
    return new AbpTemplateDbContext(builder.Options);
}

private static IConfigurationRoot BuildConfiguration()
{
    var builder = new ConfigurationBuilder()
        .SetBasePath(Path.Combine(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory(), "../AbpTemplate.DbMigrator/"))
        .AddJsonFile("appsettings.json", optional: false);

    return builder.Build();
}

}`

I got this error while running app:

An unhandled exception occurred while processing the request. ArgumentException: Format of the initialization string does not conform to specification starting at index 0. System.Data.Common.DbConnectionOptions.GetKeyValuePair(string connectionString, int currentPosition, StringBuilder buffer, bool useOdbcRules, out string keyname, out string keyvalue).

System.ArgumentException: Format of the initialization string does not conform to specification starting at index 0. at System.Data.Common.DbConnectionOptions.GetKeyValuePair(String connectionString, Int32 currentPosition, StringBuilder buffer, Boolean useOdbcRules, String& keyname, String& keyvalue) at System.Data.Common.DbConnectionOptions.ParseInternal(Dictionary2 parsetable, String connectionString, Boolean buildChain, Dictionary2 synonyms, Boolean firstKey) at System.Data.Common.DbConnectionOptions..ctor(String connectionString, Dictionary2 synonyms, Boolean useOdbcRules) at System.Data.Common.DbConnectionStringBuilder.set_ConnectionString(String value) at Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnectionStringBuilder..ctor(String connectionString) at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer.Storage.Internal.SqlServerConnection.<>c.<get_IsMultipleActiveResultSetsEnabled>b__7_0(String cs) at System.Collections.Concurrent.ConcurrentDictionary2.GetOrAdd(TKey key, Func2 valueFactory) at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer.Storage.Internal.SqlServerConnection.get_IsMultipleActiveResultSetsEnabled() at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer.Query.Internal.SqlServerCompiledQueryCacheKeyGenerator.GenerateCacheKey(Expression query, Boolean async) at Volo.Abp.EntityFrameworkCore.GlobalFilters.AbpCompiledQueryCacheKeyGenerator.GenerateCacheKey(Expression query, Boolean async) at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Query.Internal.QueryCompiler.ExecuteCore[TResult](Expression query, Boolean async, CancellationToken cancellationToken) at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Query.Internal.QueryCompiler.ExecuteAsync[TResult](Expression query, CancellationToken cancellationToken) at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Query.Internal.EntityQueryProvider.ExecuteAsync[TResult](Expression expression, CancellationToken cancellationToken) at Volo.Abp.EntityFrameworkCore.AbpEntityQueryProvider.ExecuteAsync[TResult](Expression expression, CancellationToken cancellationToken) at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Query.Internal.EntityQueryable1.GetAsyncEnumerator(CancellationToken cancellationToken) at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.ConfiguredCancelableAsyncEnumerable1.GetAsyncEnumerator() at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.EntityFrameworkQueryableExtensions.ToListAsync[TSource](IQueryable1 source, CancellationToken cancellationToken) at Volo.Abp.LanguageManagement.EntityFrameworkCore.EfCoreLanguageRepository.GetListByIsEnabledAsync(Boolean isEnabled, CancellationToken cancellationToken) at Castle.DynamicProxy.AsyncInterceptorBase.ProceedAsynchronous[TResult](IInvocation invocation, IInvocationProceedInfo proceedInfo) at Volo.Abp.Castle.DynamicProxy.CastleAbpMethodInvocationAdapterWithReturnValue1.ProceedAsync() at Volo.Abp.Uow.UnitOfWorkInterceptor.InterceptAsync(IAbpMethodInvocation invocation) at Volo.Abp.Castle.DynamicProxy.CastleAsyncAbpInterceptorAdapter1.InterceptAsync[TResult](IInvocation invocation, IInvocationProceedInfo proceedInfo, Func3 proceed) at Volo.Abp.LanguageManagement.DatabaseLanguageProvider.sCL3k4CHf() at Volo.Abp.Caching.DistributedCache2.GetOrAddAsync(TCacheKey key, Func1 factory, Func1 optionsFactory, Nullable`1 hideErrors, Boolean considerUow, CancellationToken token) at Volo.Abp.LanguageManagement.DatabaseLanguageProvider.GetLanguagesAsync() at Microsoft.AspNetCore.RequestLocalization.DefaultAbpRequestLocalizationOptionsProvider.GetLocalizationOptionsAsync() at Microsoft.AspNetCore.RequestLocalization.AbpRequestLocalizationMiddleware.InvokeAsync(HttpContext context, RequestDelegate next) at Microsoft.AspNetCore.Builder.UseMiddlewareExtensions.InterfaceMiddlewareBinder.<>c__DisplayClass2_0.<

I found this code but it only allows pass connection key, how can I add the connection string encrypted value? [ReplaceDbContext(typeof(IIdentityProDbContext))] [ReplaceDbContext(typeof(ISaasDbContext))] [ConnectionStringName("Default")] public class AbpTemplateDbContext : AbpDbContext

Thank you.


15 Answer(s)
  • User Avatar
    0
    AI-Bot created
    Support Team ABP Agent

    To use an encrypted connection string in ABP Framework, you must ensure that the connection string is decrypted before it is passed to Entity Framework Core or any database provider. The connection string in appsettings.json can be stored encrypted, but the framework and EF Core expect a plain (decrypted) connection string at runtime.

    Here's how you can achieve this:

    1. Store the Encrypted Connection String:
      • In your appsettings.json, store the encrypted value as you have done:
    "ConnectionStrings": {
           "Default": "ENC_5W8PezYlu1g+VaIc/XzdKRGabzhpT8aAbk7R2Irkt8AhOpODisXIK4SMQEmd4EuT91Y....."
         }
    
    1. Decrypt the Connection String at Runtime:
      • You need to decrypt the connection string before it is used by EF Core. The recommended way is to use ABP's IStringEncryptionService in your application's startup or DbContext factory.

      • Example for a design-time DbContext factory:

    public class AbpTemplateDbContextFactory : IDesignTimeDbContextFactory<AbpTemplateDbContext>
         {
             public AbpTemplateDbContext CreateDbContext(string[] args)
             {
                 var configuration = BuildConfiguration();
    
                 AbpTemplateEfCoreEntityExtensionMappings.Configure();
    
                 // Get the encrypted connection string
                 var encryptedConnectionString = configuration.GetConnectionString("Default");
    
                 // Decrypt using the same passphrase as in production
                 var stringEncryptionService = new StringEncryptionService(
                     new AbpStringEncryptionOptions
                     {
                         DefaultPassPhrase = "YourPassPhrase" // Must match the one used for encryption
                     }
                 );
                 var connectionString = stringEncryptionService.Decrypt(encryptedConnectionString);
    
                 var builder = new DbContextOptionsBuilder<AbpTemplateDbContext>()
                     .UseSqlServer(connectionString);
    
                 return new AbpTemplateDbContext(builder.Options);
             }
    
             private static IConfigurationRoot BuildConfiguration()
             {
                 var builder = new ConfigurationBuilder()
                     .SetBasePath(Path.Combine(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory(), "../AbpTemplate.DbMigrator/"))
                     .AddJsonFile("appsettings.json", optional: false);
    
                 return builder.Build();
             }
         }
    
    • If you are using dependency injection (in runtime, not design-time), you can inject IStringEncryptionService and decrypt the connection string before passing it to EF Core.
    1. Important Notes:

      • The connection string must be decrypted before it is used by EF Core. If you pass the encrypted value directly, you will get the "Format of the initialization string does not conform to specification" error.
      • Make sure the passphrase and encryption options used for decryption match those used for encryption.
      • For production, do not store the passphrase in source control. Use environment variables or user secrets.
    2. Configuring String Encryption Options:

      • In your module or startup, configure the encryption options:
    Configure<AbpStringEncryptionOptions>(options =>
         {
             options.DefaultPassPhrase = "YourPassPhrase";
         });
    

    References:

    This approach ensures that your connection string is always decrypted before being used by the database provider, resolving the error you encountered.


    This response was generated by AI. If it didn’t solve your problem, feel free to post a new answer — our support team will jump in to help you soon.

  • User Avatar
    0
    thaisonsoft.ios created

    Actually, my way same with your answer. Where I need to update connection string value? There is all my code:

    AbpTemplateDomainModule.cs Configure<AbpStringEncryptionOptions>(opts => { var configuration = context.Services.GetConfiguration(); var securityConfig = configuration.GetSection("App:Security"); var configure = new SettingsDto() { EnabledEncryption = bool.Parse(securityConfig["EnabledEncryption"]), EncryptionKey = securityConfig["EncryptionKey"], EncryptionIv = securityConfig["EncryptionIv"], EncryptedPrefix = securityConfig["EncryptedPrefix"] };

    if (configure.EnabledEncryption)
    {
        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(configure.EncryptionKey) || string.IsNullOrEmpty(configure.EncryptionIv))
            throw new Exception("EncryptionKey or EncryptionIv is missing");
    
        var key = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(configure.EncryptionKey);
        var iv = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(configure.EncryptionIv);
    
        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(key) || string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(iv))
        {
            throw new Exception($"{configure.EncryptionKey} or {configure.EncryptionIv} environment variable is missing.");
        }
        if (key.Length != 44 || iv.Length != 24)
        {
            throw new Exception();
        }
    
        try
        {
            var keyBytes = Convert.FromBase64String(key);
            var ivBytes = Convert.FromBase64String(iv);
            if (keyBytes.Length != 32 || ivBytes.Length != 16)
            {
                throw new Exception();
            }
    
            opts.DefaultPassPhrase = key;
            opts.DefaultSalt = keyBytes;
            opts.InitVectorBytes = ivBytes;
        }
        catch (FormatException)
        {
            throw new Exception();
        }
    }
    

    });

    EncryptedConnectionStringResolver.cs public class EncryptedConnectionStringResolver { public IAbpLazyServiceProvider LazyServiceProvider { get; set; } = default!; protected IStringEncryptionService StringEncryptionService => LazyServiceProvider.LazyGetService<IStringEncryptionService>();

    public EncryptedConnectionStringResolver()
    {
    }
    
    public string EncryptConnectionString(string connectionString)
    {
        var configure = LoadEncryptionConfig();
    
        if (configure.EnabledEncryption && !connectionString.StartsWith(configure.EncryptedPrefix))
        {
            var key = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(configure.EncryptionKey);
            var iv = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(configure.EncryptionIv);
            var keyBytes = Convert.FromBase64String(key);
            var ivBytes = Convert.FromBase64String(iv);
    
            ValidateEnvironmentVariables(configure.EncryptionKey, configure.EncryptionIv, key, iv, keyBytes, ivBytes);
    
            var encryptedValue = StringEncryptionService.Encrypt(connectionString);
            return $"{configure.EncryptedPrefix}{encryptedValue}";
        }
    
        return connectionString;
    }
    
    // Send all text of the encrypted connection string
    public string DecryptConnectionString(string encryptedConnectionString)
    {
        var configure = LoadEncryptionConfig();
        if (configure.EnabledEncryption && encryptedConnectionString.StartsWith(configure.EncryptedPrefix))
        {
            var key = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(configure.EncryptionKey);
            var iv = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(configure.EncryptionIv);
            var keyBytes = Convert.FromBase64String(key);
            var ivBytes = Convert.FromBase64String(iv);
    
            ValidateEnvironmentVariables(configure.EncryptionKey, configure.EncryptionIv, key, iv, keyBytes, ivBytes);
    
            return StringEncryptionService.Decrypt(encryptedConnectionString.Substring(configure.EncryptedPrefix.Length));
        }
    
        return encryptedConnectionString;
    }
    
    private SettingsDto LoadEncryptionConfig()
    {
        var configurationRoot = AppConfigurations.Get(WebContentDirectoryFinder.CalculateContentRootFolder());
        var securityConfig = configurationRoot.GetSection("App:Security");
    
        var configure = new SettingsDto()
        {
            EnabledEncryption = bool.Parse(securityConfig["EnabledEncryption"]),
            EncryptionKey = securityConfig["EncryptionKey"],
            EncryptionIv = securityConfig["EncryptionIv"],
            EncryptedPrefix = securityConfig["EncryptedPrefix"]
        };
    
        if (!configure.EnabledEncryption)
            return configure;
    
        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(configure.EncryptionKey) || string.IsNullOrEmpty(configure.EncryptionIv))
            throw new Exception();
    
        var key = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(configure.EncryptionKey);
        var iv = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(configure.EncryptionIv);
    
        try
        {
            var keyBytes = Convert.FromBase64String(key);
            var ivBytes = Convert.FromBase64String(iv);
            if (keyBytes.Length != 32 || ivBytes.Length != 16)
            {
                throw new Exception();
            }
        }
        catch (FormatException)
        {
            throw new Exception();
        }
        return configure;
    }
    
    private void ValidateEnvironmentVariables(string encryptionKey, string encryptionIv, string key, string iv, byte[] keyBytes, byte[] ivBytes)
    {
        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(encryptionKey) || string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(encryptionIv))
        {
            throw new Exception();
        }
        if (key.Length != 44 || iv.Length != 24)
        {
            throw new Exception();
        }
    
        try
        {
            if (keyBytes.Length != 32 || ivBytes.Length != 16)
            {
                throw new Exception();
            }
        }
        catch (FormatException)
        {
            throw new Exception();
        }
    }
    

    }

    AbpTemplateDbContextFactory.cs public class AbpTemplateDbContextFactory : IDesignTimeDbContextFactory<AbpTemplateDbContext> { public AbpTemplateDbContext CreateDbContext(string[] args) { var configuration = BuildConfiguration();

        AbpTemplateEfCoreEntityExtensionMappings.Configure();
    
        var encryptionResolver = new EncryptedConnectionStringResolver();
        var connectionString = encryptionResolver.DecryptConnectionString(configuration.GetConnectionString("Default"));
        var builder = new DbContextOptionsBuilder&lt;AbpTemplateDbContext&gt;()
            .UseSqlServer(connectionString);
        
        return new AbpTemplateDbContext(builder.Options);
    }
    
    private static IConfigurationRoot BuildConfiguration()
    {
        var builder = new ConfigurationBuilder()
            .SetBasePath(Path.Combine(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory(), "../AbpTemplate.DbMigrator/"))
            .AddJsonFile("appsettings.json", optional: false);
    
        return builder.Build();
    }
    

    }

  • User Avatar
    0
    maliming created
    Support Team Fullstack Developer

    hi

    Can you try to override the default MultiTenantConnectionStringResolver?

    https://github.com/abpframework/abp/blob/dev/framework/src/Volo.Abp.MultiTenancy/Volo/Abp/MultiTenancy/MultiTenantConnectionStringResolver.cs#L27-L82

    Then decrypt the value in it.

    Thanks.

  • User Avatar
    0
    thaisonsoft.ios created

    I was override MultiTenantConnectionStringResolver but when debugging, it always goes into if (_currentTenant.Id == null) condition and same error.

    public class MultiTenantConnectionStringResolver : DefaultConnectionStringResolver { private readonly ICurrentTenant _currentTenant; private readonly IServiceProvider _serviceProvider;

    public MultiTenantConnectionStringResolver(
        IOptionsMonitor&lt;AbpDbConnectionOptions&gt; options,
        ICurrentTenant currentTenant,
        IServiceProvider serviceProvider)
        : base(options)
    {
        _currentTenant = currentTenant;
        _serviceProvider = serviceProvider;
    }
    
    public override async Task&lt;string&gt; ResolveAsync(string? connectionStringName = null)
    {
        if (_currentTenant.Id == null)
        {
            //No current tenant, fallback to default logic
            return await base.ResolveAsync(connectionStringName);
        }
        
        // ...
    }
    

    }

  • User Avatar
    0
    maliming created
    Support Team Fullstack Developer

    hi

    Continue to override more base class methods.

    https://github.com/abpframework/abp/blob/dev/framework/src/Volo.Abp.Data/Volo/Abp/Data/DefaultConnectionStringResolver.cs#L18-L44

  • User Avatar
    0
    thaisonsoft.ios created

    Yeah, after check MultiTenantConnectionStringResolver, I found DefaultConnectionStringResolver need to override also. It's ok for me now.

    I registered DI EncryptedConnectionStringResolver.cs public class EncryptedConnectionStringResolver { public IAbpLazyServiceProvider LazyServiceProvider { get; set; } = default!; protected IStringEncryptionService StringEncryptionService => LazyServiceProvider.LazyGetService<IStringEncryptionService>();

    public EncryptedConnectionStringResolver()
    {
    }
    

    }

    LazyServiceProvider is null, what wrong maliming?

  • User Avatar
    0
    maliming created
    Support Team Fullstack Developer

    hi

    Please share the full code.

    Thanks.

  • User Avatar
    0
    thaisonsoft.ios created

    My code here, please help to check.

    public class EncryptedConnectionStringResolver : ITransientDependency
    {
        public IAbpLazyServiceProvider LazyServiceProvider { get; set; } = default!;
        protected IStringEncryptionService StringEncryptionService => LazyServiceProvider.LazyGetService<IStringEncryptionService>();
    
        public EncryptedConnectionStringResolver()
        {
        }
    
        public string EncryptConnectionString(string connectionString)
        {
            var configure = LoadEncryptionConfig();
    
            if (configure.EnabledEncryption && !connectionString.StartsWith(configure.EncryptedPrefix))
            {
                var key = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(configure.EncryptionKey);
                var iv = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(configure.EncryptionIv);
                var keyBytes = Convert.FromBase64String(key);
                var ivBytes = Convert.FromBase64String(iv);
    
                ValidateEnvironmentVariables(configure.EncryptionKey, configure.EncryptionIv, key, iv, keyBytes, ivBytes);
    
                var encryptedValue = StringEncryptionService.Encrypt(connectionString);
                return $"{configure.EncryptedPrefix}{encryptedValue}";
            }
    
            return connectionString;
        }
    
        // Send all text of the encrypted connection string
        public string DecryptConnectionString(string encryptedConnectionString)
        {
            var configure = LoadEncryptionConfig();
            
            return encryptedConnectionString;
        }
    
        private SettingsDto LoadEncryptionConfig()
        {
            var configurationRoot = AppConfigurations.Get(WebContentDirectoryFinder.CalculateContentRootFolder());
            var securityConfig = configurationRoot.GetSection("App:Security");
    
            var configure = new SettingsDto()
            {
                EnabledEncryption = bool.Parse(securityConfig["EnabledEncryption"]),
                EncryptionKey = securityConfig["EncryptionKey"],
                EncryptionIv = securityConfig["EncryptionIv"],
                EncryptedPrefix = securityConfig["EncryptedPrefix"]
            };
    
            return configure;
        }
    
        private void ValidateEnvironmentVariables(string encryptionKey, string encryptionIv, string key, string iv, byte[] keyBytes, byte[] ivBytes)
        {
            // ...
        }
    }
    
    
  • User Avatar
    0
    maliming created
    Support Team Fullstack Developer

    Have you integrated AutoFac?

  • User Avatar
    0
    thaisonsoft.ios created

    I have.

    public class Program { public async static Task<int> Main(string[] args) { Log.Logger = new LoggerConfiguration() .WriteTo.Async(c => c.File("Logs/logs.txt")) .WriteTo.Async(c => c.Console()) .CreateBootstrapLogger();

        try
        {
            Log.Information("Starting web host.");
            var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
            builder.Host
                .AddAppSettingsSecretsJson()
                .UseAutofac()
                .UseSerilog((context, services, loggerConfiguration) =>
                {
                    loggerConfiguration
                    #if DEBUG
                        .MinimumLevel.Debug()
                    #else
                        .MinimumLevel.Information()
                    #endif
                        .MinimumLevel.Override("Microsoft", LogEventLevel.Information)
                        .MinimumLevel.Override("Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore", LogEventLevel.Warning)
                        .Enrich.FromLogContext()
                        .WriteTo.Async(c => c.File("Logs/logs.txt"))
                        .WriteTo.Async(c => c.Console())
                        .WriteTo.Async(c => c.AbpStudio(services));
                });
            await builder.AddApplicationAsync&lt;AbpTemplateWebModule&gt;();
            var app = builder.Build();
            await app.InitializeApplicationAsync();
            await app.RunAsync();
            return 0;
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            Log.Fatal(ex, "Host terminated unexpectedly!");
            return 1;
        }
        finally
        {
            Log.CloseAndFlush();
        }
    }
    

    }

  • User Avatar
    0
    maliming created
    Support Team Fullstack Developer

    Thanks. Can you share a simple project?

    liming.ma@volosoft.com

  • User Avatar
    0
    thaisonsoft.ios created

    Please check your email.

  • User Avatar
    0
    maliming created
    Support Team Fullstack Developer

    hi

    Try to inject the EncryptedConnectionStringResolver or get it from IServiceProvider

  • User Avatar
    0
    thaisonsoft.ios created

    @maliming: Thank you for your support. I was resolve my problem.

  • User Avatar
    0
    maliming created
    Support Team Fullstack Developer

    Great

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Made with ❤️ on ABP v10.0.0-preview. Updated on September 01, 2025, 08:37