c# - ASP.NET - The specified network password is not correct

Question

I have in my dev machine a WCF Client which requires certificate and it is working fine.
After the deployment to production server I get the following Error:

[CryptographicException: The specified network password is not correct.]

DEV - Win7 32BIT IIS 7.5
PRODUCTION - Win SERVER 64BIT 2008 IIS 7.5

Even though there is no password between the networks and there is not certificate password. (I know because the dev works with no password). The only password that I have is the WCF one that is the same as the DEV.

CrmServiceClient crm = new CrmServiceClient("CrmServiceEndpoint");
crm.ClientCredentials.UserName.UserName = CrmConfigRepository.CrmUserName;//fine
crm.ClientCredentials.UserName.Password = CrmConfigRepository.CrmPassword;//fine
crm.ClientCredentials.ClientCertificate.Certificate = new X509Certificate2(Path);
///THIS WONT WORK AS WELL
crm.ClientCredentials.ClientCertificate.Certificate = new X509Certificate2(Path, "", X509KeyStorageFlags.Exportable); 

this is the full stack

[CryptographicException: The specified network password is not correct. ]
   System.Security.Cryptography.CryptographicException.ThrowCryptographicException(Int32 hr) +41
   System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates.X509Utils._LoadCertFromFile(String fileName, IntPtr password, UInt32 dwFlags, Boolean persistKeySet, SafeCertContextHandle& pCertCtx) +0
   System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates.X509Certificate.LoadCertificateFromFile(String fileName, Object password, X509KeyStorageFlags keyStorageFlags) +372
   System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates.X509Certificate2..ctor(String fileName) +101
   Externals.CrmConnection.Get() in C:UsersaviDocumentsVisual Studio 2010ProjectsExpressBrokerExternalsCrmConnection.cs:31
   ExpressBroker.Models.ActionsMetadata.Handlers.LeadAccountHandler.Handle(BrokerAction brokerAction, ActionStep step, Dictionary`2 httpPostDataCollection) in C:UsersaviDocumentsVisual Studio 2010ProjectsExpressBrokerExpressBrokerModelsActionsMetadataHandlersLeadAccountHandler.cs:45
   ExpressBroker.Models.ActionsMetadata.Handlers.BaseStepHandler.SecuredHandle(BrokerAction brokerAction, ActionStep step, Dictionary`2 httpPostDataCollection) in C:UsersaviDocumentsVisual Studio 2010ProjectsExpressBrokerExpressBrokerModelsActionsMetadataHandlersBaseStepHandler.cs:49
   ExpressBroker.Models.ActionsMetadata.Handlers.HandlerInvoker.Invoke(BrokerAction brokerAction, ActionStep actionStep, Dictionary`2 stepValues) in C:UsersaviDocumentsVisual Studio 2010ProjectsExpressBrokerExpressBrokerModelsActionsMetadataHandlersStepServerInoker.cs:29
   ExpressBroker.Controllers.LeadAccountController.Register(String step) in C:UsersaviDocumentsVisual Studio 2010ProjectsExpressBrokerExpressBrokerControllersLeadAccountController.cs:28
   lambda_method(Closure , ControllerBase , Object[] ) +127
   System.Web.Mvc.ReflectedActionDescriptor.Execute(ControllerContext controllerContext, IDictionary`2 parameters) +264
   System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionMethod(ControllerContext controllerContext, ActionDescriptor actionDescriptor, IDictionary`2 parameters) +39
   System.Web.Mvc.<>c__DisplayClass15.<InvokeActionMethodWithFilters>b__12() +129
   System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionMethodFilter(IActionFilter filter, ActionExecutingContext preContext, Func`1 continuation) +784922
   System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionMethodWithFilters(ControllerContext controllerContext, IList`1 filters, ActionDescriptor actionDescriptor, IDictionary`2 parameters) +314
   System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeAction(ControllerContext controllerContext, String actionName) +784976
   System.Web.Mvc.Controller.ExecuteCore() +159
   System.Web.Mvc.ControllerBase.Execute(RequestContext requestContext) +335
   System.Web.Mvc.<>c__DisplayClassb.<BeginProcessRequest>b__5() +62
   System.Web.Mvc.Async.<>c__DisplayClass1.<MakeVoidDelegate>b__0() +20
   System.Web.Mvc.<>c__DisplayClasse.<EndProcessRequest>b__d() +54
   System.Web.CallHandlerExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute() +453
   System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously) +371

Thanks

Answer 1

Try this:

new X509Certificate2(Path, "", X509KeyStorageFlags.MachineKeySet); 

It appears that the X509Certificate2 constructor tries to access the private key store of the local user (even when loading a PFX and the private key is in the PFX). With asp.net, the user profile typically isn't loaded, so the user key store doesn't exist. Specifying MachineKeySet tells the constructor to look at the Local Computer key store which always exists.