This is a basic constraints extension, which is marked as critical. $ openssl asn1parse -i < [EXTENSION] 0:d=0 hl=2 l= 12 cons: SEQUENCE 2:d=1 hl=2 l= 3 prim: OBJECT :X509v3 Basic Constraints 7:d=1 hl=2 l= 1 prim: BOOLEAN :255 10:d=1 hl=2 l= 2 prim: OCTET STRING [HEX DUMP]:3000 -----BEGIN EXTENSION----- MAwGA1UdEwEB/wQCMAA= -----END EXTENSION-----