diff --git a/lib/asn1/der_copy.c b/lib/asn1/der_copy.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0c202aa07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/asn1/der_copy.c
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#include "asn1_locl.h"
+
+RCSID("$Id$");
+
+void
+copy_general_string (char **from, char **to)
+{
+    *to = malloc(strlen(*from) + 1);
+    strcpy(*to, *from);
+}
+
+void
+copy_octet_string (krb5_data *from, krb5_data *to)
+{
+    to->len = from->len;
+    to->data = malloc(to->len);
+    memcpy(to->data, from->data, to->len);
+}