How do ensure that Apache AJP to Tomcat connection is secure/encrypted?

BestPractices picture BestPractices · Sep 17, 2012 · Viewed 12.2k times · Source

We want to front-end our Tomcat instance with an Apache instance (running on the same machine) that will be serving everything on HTTPS and connect Apache to Tomcat using AJP. When using AJP, do we need to do anything to make sure that the connection between Apache and Tomcat is secure? (We dont want passwords to be sniffable on the network between Apache and Tomcat). The O/S is Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.3

Answer

mindas picture mindas · Sep 17, 2012

You are saying

Tomcat instance with an Apache instance (running on the same machine)

and later you are saying

We dont want passwords to be sniffable on the network between Apache and Tomcat

This just contradicts each other.

EDIT: AJP is not designed to be secure, if you need security, use mod_proxy_http and proxy over https, or create SSH tunnel. Needless to say, you will have to pay for this overhead.