Java Security: Illegal key size or default paramet

Question

I had asked a question about this earlier, but it didn't get answered right and led nowhere.

So I've clarified few details on the problem and I would really like to hear your ideas on how could I fix this or what should I try.

I have Java 1.6.0.12 installed on my Linux server and the code below runs just perfectly.

String key = "av45k1pfb024xa3bl359vsb4esortvks74sksr5oy4s5serondry84jsrryuhsr5ys49y5seri5shrdliheuirdygliurguiy5ru";
try {
    Cipher c = Cipher.getInstance("ARCFOUR");

    SecretKeySpec secretKeySpec = new SecretKeySpec(key.getBytes("UTF-8"), "ARCFOUR");
    c.init(Cipher.DECRYPT_MODE, secretKeySpec);

    return new String(c.doFinal(Hex.decodeHex(data.toCharArray())), "UTF-8");

} catch (InvalidKeyException e) {
    throw new CryptoException(e);
}

Today I installed Java 1.6.0.26 on my server user and when I try to run my application, I get the following exception. My guess would be that it has something to do with the Java installation configuration because it works in the first one, but doesn't work in the later version.

Caused by: java.security.InvalidKeyException: Illegal key size or default parameters
    at javax.crypto.Cipher.a(DashoA13*..) ~[na:1.6]
    at javax.crypto.Cipher.a(DashoA13*..) ~[na:1.6]
    at javax.crypto.Cipher.a(DashoA13*..) ~[na:1.6]
    at javax.crypto.Cipher.init(DashoA13*..) ~[na:1.6]
    at javax.crypto.Cipher.init(DashoA13*..) ~[na:1.6]
    at my.package.Something.decode(RC4Decoder.java:25) ~[my.package.jar:na]
    ... 5 common frames omitted

Line 25 is: c.init(Cipher.DECRYPT_MODE, secretKeySpec);

Notes:
* java.security on server's 1.6.0.12 java directory matches almost completely with the 1.6.0.26 java.security file. There are no additional providers in the first one.
* The previous question is here.

Answer 1

The JRE/JDK/Java 8 jurisdiction files can be found here:

Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) Unlimited Strength Jurisdiction Policy Files 8 Download

Like James said above:
Install the files in ${java.home}/jre/lib/security/.

Answer 2

By default, Java only supports AES 128 bit (16 bytes) key sizes for encryption. If you do not need more than default supported, you can trim the key to the proper size before using Cipher. See javadoc for default supported keys.

This is an example of generating a key that would work with any JVM version without modifying the policy files. Use at your own discretion.

Here is a good article on whether key 128 to 256 key sizes matter on AgileBits Blog

SecretKeySpec getKey() {
    final pass = "47e7717f0f37ee72cb226278279aebef".getBytes("UTF-8");
    final sha = MessageDigest.getInstance("SHA-256");

    def key = sha.digest(pass);
    // use only first 128 bit (16 bytes). By default Java only supports AES 128 bit key sizes for encryption.
    // Updated jvm policies are required for 256 bit.
    key = Arrays.copyOf(key, 16);
    return new SecretKeySpec(key, AES);
}

Answer 3

there are two options to solve this issue

option number 1 : use certificate with less length RSA 2048

option number 2 : you will update two jars in jre\lib\security whatever you use java http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jce-6-download-429243.html

or you use IBM websphere or any application server that use its java . the main problem that i faced i used certification with maximum length ,when i deployed ears on websphere the same exception is thrown

Java Security: Illegal key size or default parameters?

i updated java intsalled folder in websphere with two jars https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/iwm/web/reg/pick.do?source=jcesdk&lang=en_US

you can check reference in link https://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21663373

Answer 4

There's a short discussion of what appears to be this issue here. The page it links to appears to be gone, but one of the responses might be what you need:

Indeed, copying US_export_policy.jar and local_policy.jar from core/lib/jce to $JAVA_HOME/jre/lib/security helped. Thanks.

Answer 5

Default JDK supports encryption only through 128 bit keys becuase of American restrictions. So to support encryption from 256 bit long key we have to replace local_policy.jar and US_export_policy.jars in $JAVA_HOME/java-8-oracle/jre/lib/security folder otherwise it will give:

java.security.InvalidKeyException: Illegal key size or default

Both jars and detailed concept can be understand from the link:

easybook4u.com

Answer 6

I also got the issue but after replacing existing one with the downloaded (from JCE) one resolved the issue. New crypto files provided unlimited strength.