# PDF Digital Signature PAdES and Trust Chain Validator Audit PDF signatures, PAdES baseline evidence, certificate chains, DSS, revocation material and timestamps offline. > Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-digital-signature-pades-and-trust-chain-validator - **Category:** PDF Tools - **Keywords:** PDF, PAdES, digital signature, trust chain, X.509, CMS, OCSP, CRL, DSS, LTV, timestamp ## Overview Rebuilds PDF ByteRange bytes, verifies CMS signed attributes and messageDigest, inspects embedded X.509 chains, DSS Certs/OCSPs/CRLs/VRI and timestamp evidence. It never performs online OCSP/CRL/AIA requests or claims legal/eIDAS conformity. ## Inputs - **PDF File** (file) ## When to use - Check whether a PDF contains a digital signature and inspect its signed data. - Review embedded PAdES, DSS, OCSP, CRL, VRI, certificate-chain, or timestamp evidence. - Audit PDF signature evidence without making online OCSP, CRL, or AIA requests. ## How it works - Upload one PDF file up to the tool's supported file limit. - The validator rebuilds the PDF ByteRange bytes and checks CMS signed attributes and the messageDigest. - It inspects embedded X.509 certificates, certificate chains, DSS Certs, OCSPs, CRLs, VRI entries, and timestamp evidence. - The tool returns the audit findings as JSON, including explicit results for unsigned PDFs and detected validation evidence. ## Use cases - Review signed contracts and records for embedded signature and certificate evidence. - Inspect whether a PDF includes DSS and long-term validation material. - Create a repeatable offline audit report for unsigned or signed PDF files. ## Frequently asked questions ### What file can I upload? Upload one PDF file. ### Does the validator check PDF signatures offline? Yes. The audit is performed offline. ### Does it make OCSP, CRL, or AIA requests? No. It does not perform online OCSP, CRL, or AIA requests. ### What evidence does the audit inspect? It inspects ByteRange data, CMS attributes, messageDigest values, X.509 chains, DSS evidence, revocation material, VRI entries, and timestamps. ### Does the result prove legal or eIDAS compliance? No. The tool does not claim legal or eIDAS conformity. ## Related tools - [PDF Signature Verify](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-signature-verify): Verify digital signatures in PDF documents - [PDF PAdES Certificate Signer](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-pades-certificate-signer): Sign PDFs with a PKCS#12 certificate using an ETSI CAdES detached signature. - [PDF Logical Structure Tree WCAG Role Mapping Validator](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-logical-structure-tree-validator): Audit a tagged PDF's logical structure tree against PDF/UA-1 (ISO 14289-1) semantics: RoleMap termination, H1-H6 heading hierarchy, Alt text on Figure/Formula, RFC 3066 language tags, illegal nesting, and structure-vs-content MCID reading order — each finding labeled with its Matterhorn Protocol checkpoint. - [PDF Watermark Confidential](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-watermark-confidential): Generate dynamic confidential watermark with username and timestamp - [Formula / Chart Heavy PDF Analyzer](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/formula-chart-heavy-pdf-analyzer): Compare local and hybrid OpenDataLoader extraction to identify PDF pages where formulas, charts, or dense visuals may need AI-assisted parsing - [Convert GIF to PDF](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/gif-to-pdf): Convert GIF images to PDF format with support for both single-frame and multi-frame animations - [PDF Photo Contact Sheet](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-photo-contact-sheet): Generate paginated photo contact sheets with thumbnails, filenames, and EXIF lines - [PDF Storyboard Sheet](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-storyboard-sheet): Generate storyboard sheets with thumbnail frames and description areas ## Samples - [PDF Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/pdf-samples): Generated PDF samples from tools dated 2026-02-01 to 2026-02-10 - [Markdown Slide Deck Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/md-slide-deck-to-pdf): Remark/Marp style Markdown slide decks for testing PDF export layouts - [Zero Trust Architecture Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/zero-trust-samples): Comprehensive Zero Trust architecture samples covering identity authentication, network segmentation, micro-segmentation strategies, and secure access control - [Time Zone Workflow Scheduler ICS Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/time-zone-workflow-scheduler-ics-samples): ICS files generated in the same structure returned by the Time Zone Workflow Scheduler, with multiple VEVENT meeting candidates exported from overlap windows ## Related content - [PDF Signing, Stamping, and Distribution Tracing](https://elysiatools.com/en/hubs/pdf-signing-stamping-and-distribution-tracing): Send PDFs you can prove are yours — redact sensitive content permanently before sealing, add a visible signature block and a PAdES certificate signature, stamp the document status, embed invisible per-recipient tracking IDs, and audit incoming signatures down the certificate chain.