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Encrypted API Requests & Responses

Our APIs support end-to-end encryption for sensitive data and file uploads using JWE (JSON Web Encryption) RFC 7516. This ensures that even over HTTPS, payloads remain confidential and tamper-proof.

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Key Details

  • Protected (protected): Base64URL-encoded JSON object containing the algorithm (alg) and encryption method (enc).
  • Algorithm (alg): Currently dir (direct mode, uses a shared symmetric key for encryption); other algorithms may be supported in the future
  • Encryption Method (enc): Currently A128CBC-HS256 (AES-128 CBC with PKCS7 padding); other methods may be supported in the future
  • IV: Random per request, Base64URL-encoded initialization vector
  • Ciphertext: Base64URL-encoded encrypted content
  • Tag: Authentication tag for integrity, Base64URL-encoded
  • Key (kid): Identifier for the shared AES key

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JSON API Requests

For APIs using Content-Type: application/json, encrypt the payload and send as JWE JSON serialization: 
{
  "protected": "eyJhbGciOiAiZGlyIiwgImVuYyI6ICJBMTI4Q0JDLUhTMjU2In0",
  "iv": "0--10mVIyBcO_0GO",
  "ciphertext": "U2FsdGVkX1+...",
  "tag": "QmFzZTY0VGVzdFRhZw",
  "kid": "client-key-1"
}

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Example cURL Request

curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.eka.care/abdm/na/v1/registration/aadhaar/init \
  --header 'Authorization: Bearer <token>' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --header 'X-Encryption: JWE' \
  --data '{
    "protected": "eyJhbGciOiAiZGlyIiwgImVuYyI6ICJBMTI4Q0JDLUhTMjU2In0",
    "iv": "0--10mVIyBcO_0GO",
    "ciphertext": "U2FsdGVkX1+...",
    "tag": "QmFzZTY0VGVzdFRhZw",
    "kid": "client-key-1"
  }'

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File Upload APIs

Without encryption 
curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.eka.care/mr/api/v2/docs \
  --header 'Authorization: Bearer <token>' \
  --header 'Content-Type: multipart/form-data' \
  --form file=@example-file
With encryption 
curl --location 'https://api.eka.care/mr/api/v2/docs' \
--header 'Authorization: Bearer <token>' \
--header 'X-Encryption: JWE' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data '{
"protected": "eyJhbGciOiJkaXIiLCJlbmMiOiJBMTI4Q0JDLUhTMjU2In0",
"iv": "o1jMW1CIrbEotbo6i1fdcg",
"ciphertext":"Aj_W1llT1pn6c_lWTMwSRcM5oKPsgqL_i2M3wr8UvI-HLxflxztqqDfiOqUtf7UWY7GGju1T2vUJ8S-O_pk6A2Q2k2LXgJ06YC4VUnMTe99_awFnekIOMbYX1T",
"tag": "o-Jx1iP8OWRhw9jAwcM3xQ",
"kid":"1"
}'
For tasks such as PII or SRP, make sure to include the appropriate query parameter as described in the Upload API.

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Encrypted API Responses

Server responses can also be encrypted. Clients must decrypt using the shared key: 
{
  "ciphertext": "SXNXEHqvd9PT15ELzuGScYNUS7RwXP9H3yqWl-Mml6bgwNdWoV3OdZ-Nuzz6C0tHX12Z82VnOL6q5_40vuIxDA",
  "iv": "oAvH6vVV_UYK7vrYsj2b8A",
  "tag": "kOLTuvgzaoxeN79DtGva_6Kf5FlpccclESO0XzoJZ2Y"
}
After decryption, the payload is your usual JSON object: 
{
  "id": "123",
  "name": "Rakesh",
  "dob": "1990-01-01",
  "gender": "male"
}

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Example: Encrypting a File (Python)

from jwcrypto import jwk, jwe
import base64
import json

def b64url(data: bytes) -> str:
    return base64.urlsafe_b64encode(data).rstrip(b"=").decode("utf-8")

def encrypt_file(file_path: str, key_str: str) -> dict:
    with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
        file_bytes = f.read()

    file_b64 = base64.b64encode(file_bytes).decode("utf-8")
    payload = {
        "file": file_b64
    }

    payload_json = json.dumps(payload).encode("utf-8")
    key_bytes = (key_str * 2).encode("utf-8")
    key_b64 = b64url(key_bytes)
    key = jwk.JWK(kty="oct", k=key_b64)
    header = {"alg": "dir", "enc": "A128CBC-HS256"}
    jwetoken = jwe.JWE(payload_json, protected=header)
    jwetoken.add_recipient(key)
    jwe_dict = json.loads(jwetoken.serialize(compact=False))
    return {
        "protected": jwe_dict["protected"],
        "iv": jwe_dict["iv"],
        "ciphertext": jwe_dict["ciphertext"],
        "tag": jwe_dict["tag"]
    }

encrypted_file = encrypt_file(
    "/Users/admin/Library/Application Support/JetBrains/PyCharm2024.2/scratches/Lab_Report_Sample.pdf",
    "YOUR_ENCRYPTION_KEY"
)

print(json.dumps(encrypted_file, indent=4))

{
    "protected": "eyJhbGciOiJkaXIiLCJlbmMiOiJBMTI4Q0JDLUhTMjU2In0",
    "iv": "oAvH6vVV_UYK7vrYsj2b8A",
    "ciphertext": "T0jZQGWh6WP+......",
    "tag": "LW3ikoOIGvtDY4TeH_ezfg"
}

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Example: Encrypting a Payload (Python)

from jwcrypto import jwk, jwe
import json
import base64

def b64url(data: bytes) -> str:
    return base64.urlsafe_b64encode(data).rstrip(b"=").decode("utf-8")

def encrypt_jwe(payload: dict, key_str: str) -> dict:
    payload_json = json.dumps(payload).encode('utf-8')
    key_bytes = (key_str * 2).encode('utf-8')
    key_b64 = b64url(key_bytes)
    key = jwk.JWK(kty='oct', k=key_b64)

    header = {"alg": "dir", "enc": "A128CBC-HS256"}
    jwetoken = jwe.JWE(payload_json, protected=header)
    jwetoken.add_recipient(key)

    jwe_json = json.loads(jwetoken.serialize(compact=False))
    return {
        "protected": jwe_json["protected"],
        "iv": jwe_json["iv"],
        "ciphertext": jwe_json["ciphertext"],
        "tag": jwe_json["tag"]
    }

payload = {"aadhaar_number": "123456789012"}
encrypted_jwe = encrypt_jwe(payload, "YOUR_ENCRYPTION_KEY")
print(encrypted_jwe)

{
    "protected": "eyJhbGciOiJkaXIiLCJlbmMiOiJBMTI4Q0JDLUhTMjU2In0",
    "iv": "oAvH6vVV_UYK7vrYsj2b8A",
    "ciphertext": "T0jZQGWh6WP_TMz_1aUyqm06FGxi8FdQVK-0eleFDD7OBhxr3Bt2a1gt4OtbpuSn",
    "tag": "LW3ikoOIGvtDY4TeH_ezfg"
}

​
Example: Encrypting a Payload (.net)

using System;
using System.Text;
using Jose;
using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;

public class Program
{
    public static JObject EncryptJwe(JObject payload, string keyStr)
    {
        string payloadJson = payload.ToString(Newtonsoft.Json.Formatting.None);

        string doubled = keyStr + keyStr;
        byte[] key = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(doubled);

        string jweCompact = JWT.Encode(payloadJson, key, JweAlgorithm.DIR, JweEncryption.A128CBC_HS256);

        string[] parts = jweCompact.Split('.');

        return new JObject
        {
            ["protected"] = parts[0],
            ["iv"] = parts[2],
            ["ciphertext"] = parts[3],
            ["tag"] = parts[4]
        };
    }

    public static void Main()
    {
        var payload = new JObject
        {
            ["aadhaar_number"] = "123456789012"
        };

        var encrypted_jwe = EncryptJwe(payload, "YOUR_ENCRYPTION_KEY");
        Console.WriteLine(encrypted_jwe);
    }
}

{
  "protected": "eyJhbGciOiJkaXIiLCJlbmMiOiJBMTI4Q0JDLUhTMjU2In0",
  "iv": "-xRt08Nui-LIEUhYMaAODg",
  "ciphertext": "IMCGMlpPmV2DMkYJMeqLqlGj4pL74OZn-koLVNyDESrJU_LE6fnJJhrorRwBoIyh",
  "tag": "TAi3Yok9KU0FLTSL0WEWnQ"
}

​
Example: Decrypting a Payload (Python)

from jwcrypto import jwk, jwe
import json, base64

def b64url(data: bytes) -> str:
    return base64.urlsafe_b64encode(data).rstrip(b"=").decode("utf-8")

def decrypt_jwe(jwe_dict: dict, key_str: str) -> dict:
    key_bytes = (key_str * 2).encode('utf-8')
    key_b64 = b64url(key_bytes)
    key = jwk.JWK(kty='oct', k=key_b64)
    token = jwe.JWE()
    token.deserialize(json.dumps(jwe_dict))
    token.decrypt(key)
    return json.loads(token.payload.decode())

encrypted_jwe = {
    "protected": "eyJhbGciOiJkaXIiLCJlbmMiOiJBMTI4Q0JDLUhTMjU2In0",
    "iv": "oAvH6vVV_UYK7vrYsj2b8A",
    "ciphertext": "T0jZQGWh6WP_TMz_1aUyqm06FGxi8FdQVK-0eleFDD7OBhxr3Bt2a1gt4OtbpuSn",
    "tag": "LW3ikoOIGvtDY4TeH_ezfg"
}

print(decrypt_jwe(encrypted_jwe, "YOUR_ENCRYPTION_KEY"))

{"aadhaar_number": "123456789012"}

​
Example: Decrypting a Payload (.net)

using System;
using System.Text;
using Jose;
using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;

public class Program
{
    public static JObject DecryptJwe(JObject jweDict, string keyStr)
    {
        string doubled = keyStr + keyStr;
        byte[] key = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(doubled);

        string jweCompact = $"{jweDict["protected"]}..{jweDict["iv"]}.{jweDict["ciphertext"]}.{jweDict["tag"]}";

        string decryptedJson = JWT.Decode(jweCompact, key);

        return JObject.Parse(decryptedJson);
    }

    public static void Main()
    {
        var encrypted_jwe = new JObject
        {
            ["protected"] = "eyJhbGciOiJkaXIiLCJlbmMiOiJBMTI4Q0JDLUhTMjU2In0",
            ["iv"] = "oAvH6vVV_UYK7vrYsj2b8A",
            ["ciphertext"] = "T0jZQGWh6WP_TMz_1aUyqm06FGxi8FdQVK-0eleFDD7OBhxr3Bt2a1gt4OtbpuSn",
            ["tag"] = "LW3ikoOIGvtDY4TeH_ezfg"
        };

        Console.WriteLine(DecryptJwe(encrypted_jwe, "YOUR_ENCRYPTION_KEY"));
    }
}

{"aadhaar_number": "123456789012"}
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