Sun Java KeyManagerFactory and null passwords

Question

We are having a problem with the KeyManagerFactory in the Sun JRE 1.6. We are using code similar to the following to upload and use a certificate in p12 format:

KeyStore keyStore = KeyStore.getInstance(PKCS12);
KeyManagerFactory keyManagerFactory = KeyManagerFactory.getInstance(SUN_X509);

InputStream certificateFile = getSSLCertificate();
String certificatePassword = getSSLCertificatePassword();
keyStore.load(certificateFile, certificatePassword);
keyManagerFactory.init(keyStore, certificatePassword);

This code works correctly when the certificate password exists. But when the certificate password is null (so the certificate is not protected by a password) we get a divide by zero error from the keyManagerFactory.init line.

Does anyone know why this is happening? Is it not possible to use a certificate without a password? Thanks

Answer 1

This is a bug:

http://bugs.sun.com/bugdatabase/view_bug.do?bug_id=6415637

Workaround is to set a password.

Answer 2

Because PKCS12 contains private key, you should always have a password. I think Sun accidentally enforces this :)

For all Keystore API, password is required for the store and private keys. If you don't really want deal with the configuration or user-interaction, just use the default password "changeit" everywhere.