IV84093: IBMPKCS11IMPL: NULL POINTER FROM SECRETKEY GETFORMAT() CAUSES NU LLPOINTEREXCEPTION

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• Error Message: This is a problem when initializing a cipher
  object using the IBMPKCS11Impl security provider and a SecretKey
  from another provider. If the key was created as an object that
  returns a null pointer for the getFormat() method IBMPKCS11Impl
  will throw a NullPointerException, instead of the intended
  InvalidKeyException.
  .
  Stack Trace: N/A
  .
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• This is a problem when initializing a cipher object using the
  IBMPKCS11Impl security provider and a SecretKey from another
  provider. If the key was created as an object that returns a
  null pointer for the getFormat() method IBMPKCS11Impl will throw
  a NullPointerException, instead of the intended
  InvalidKeyException.
  

Problem conclusion

• The method which translates the SecretKey from the other
  provider contains the following line of code within an if
  clause:
  && key.getFormat().equalsIgnoreCase("RAW")) {
  This line of code has been changed to:
  && ("RAW".equalsIgnoreCase(key.getFormat()))) {
  .
  This APAR will be fixed in the following Java Releases:
   6 SR16 FP30 (6.0.16.30)
   8 SR3 FP10 (8.0.3.10)
   7 R1 SR3 FP50 (7.1.3.50)
   7 SR9 FP50 (7.0.9.50)
   6 R1 SR8 FP30 (6.1.8.30)
  .
  Contact your IBM Product's Service Team for these Service
  Refreshes and Fix Packs.
  For those running stand-alone, information about the available
  Service Refreshes and Fix Packs can be found at:
   https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/jdk/
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

• Fixed component name

  SECURITY

• Fixed component ID

  620700125

Applicable component levels

• R600 PSY

     UP

• R270 PSY

     UP

• R260 PSY

     UP