Setting validity dates

[Robert Moskowitz]

In using openssl req command line,

I want complete control over the start and stop dates.

In my

[ CA_default ]

I have

default_startdate = 230501000000Z
default_enddate   = 240601000000Z

My openssl command is:

openssl req -config $dir/openssl-root.cnf\
      -set_serial 0x$(openssl rand -hex $sn)\
      -keyform $format -outform $format\
      -key $dir/private/ca.key.$format -subj "$DN"\
      -new -x509 -extensions v3_ca\
      -out $dir/certs/ca.cert.$format

$format = pem; $dir is my working dir for this; $sn=8

But the dates show up as:

         Validity
             Not Before: May 11 14:14:55 2023 GMT
             Not After : Jun 10 14:14:55 2023 GMT

using the default of 30 days.

What am I missing here?

thanks

Oh here is my config file for reference:

# OpenSSL root CA configuration file.
# Copy to `$dir/openssl-root.cnf`.

[ ca ]
# `man ca`
default_ca = CA_default

[ CA_default ]
# Directory and file locations.
dir               = $ENV::dir
cadir             = $ENV::cadir
format            = $ENV::format

certs             = $dir/certs
crl_dir           = $dir/crl
new_certs_dir     = $dir/newcerts
database          = $dir/index.txt
serial            = $dir/serial
RANDFILE          = $dir/private/.rand

# The root key and root certificate.
private_key       = $cadir/private/ca.key.$format
certificate       = $cadir/certs/ca.cert.$format

# For certificate revocation lists.
crlnumber         = $dir/crlnumber
crl               = $dir/crl/ca.crl.pem
crl_extensions    = crl_ext
default_crl_days  = 30

# SHA-1 is deprecated, so use SHA-2 instead.
default_md        = sha256

name_opt          = ca_default
cert_opt          = ca_default
#default_startdate = $ENV::startdate
#default_enddate   = $ENV::enddate
default_startdate = 230501000000Z
default_enddate   = 240601000000Z
preserve          = no
policy            = policy_strict
copy_extensions   = copy

[ policy_strict ]
# The root CA should only sign intermediate certificates that match.
# See the POLICY FORMAT section of `man ca`.
countryName             = match
stateOrProvinceName     = match
organizationName        = match
organizationalUnitName  = optional
commonName              = optional

[ policy_loose ]
# Allow the intermediate CA to sign a more
#   diverse range of certificates.
# See the POLICY FORMAT section of the `ca` man page.
countryName             = optional
stateOrProvinceName     = optional
localityName            = optional
organizationName        = optional
organizationalUnitName  = optional
commonName              = optional

[ req ]
# Options for the `req` tool (`man req`).
default_bits        = 2048
distinguished_name  = req_distinguished_name
string_mask         = utf8only
req_extensions      = req_ext

# SHA-1 is deprecated, so use SHA-2 instead.
default_md          = sha256

# Extension to add when the -x509 option is used.
x509_extensions     = v3_ca

[ req_distinguished_name ]
# See <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certificate_signing_request>.
countryName                     = Country Name (2 letter code)
stateOrProvinceName             = State or Province Name
localityName                    = Locality Name
0.organizationName              = Organization Name
organizationalUnitName          = Organizational Unit Name
commonName                      = Common Name

# Optionally, specify some defaults.
# countryName_default             = US
# stateOrProvinceName_default     = MI
# localityName_default            = Oak Park
# 0.organizationName_default      = HTT Consulting
# organizationalUnitName_default  =

[ req_ext ]
# subjectAltName = $ENV::subjectAltName

[ v3_ca ]
# Extensions for a typical CA (`man x509v3_config`).
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid:always,issuer
basicConstraints = critical, CA:true
# keyUsage = critical, digitalSignature, cRLSign, keyCertSign
keyUsage = critical, cRLSign, keyCertSign
# subjectAltName = $ENV::subjectAltName

[ v3_intermediate_ca ]
# Extensions for a typical intermediate CA (`man x509v3_config`).
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid:always,issuer
basicConstraints = critical, CA:true, pathlen:0
# keyUsage = critical, digitalSignature, cRLSign, keyCertSign
keyUsage = critical, cRLSign, keyCertSign

[ crl_ext ]
# Extension for CRLs (`man x509v3_config`).
authorityKeyIdentifier=keyid:always

[ ocsp ]
# Extension for OCSP signing certificates (`man ocsp`).
basicConstraints = CA:FALSE
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid,issuer
keyUsage = critical, digitalSignature
extendedKeyUsage = critical, OCSPSigning