How to properly import a selfsigned certificate into Java keystore that is available to all Java applications by default?

Question

I do want to import a self signed certificate into Java so any Java application that will try to establish a SSL connection will trust this certificate.

So far, I managed to import it in

keytool -import -trustcacerts -noprompt -storepass changeit -alias $REMHOST -file $REMHOST.pem
keytool -import -trustcacerts -noprompt -keystore cacerts -storepass changeit -alias $REMHOST -file $REMHOST.pem

Still, when I try to run HTTPSClient.class I still get:

javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: sun.security.validator.ValidatorException: PKIX path building failed: sun.security.provider.certpath.SunCertPathBuilderException: unable to find valid certification path to requested target

Answer 1

On Windows the easiest way is to use the program portecle.

1. Download and install portecle.
2. First make 100% sure you know which JRE or JDK is being used to run your program. On a 64 bit Windows 7 there could be quite a few JREs. Process Explorer can help you with this or you can use: System.out.println(System.getProperty("java.home"));
3. Copy the file JAVA_HOME\lib\security\cacerts to another folder.
4. In Portecle click File > Open Keystore File
5. Select the cacerts file
6. Enter this password: changeit
7. Click Tools > Import Trusted Certificate
8. Browse for the file mycertificate.pem
9. Click Import
10. Click OK for the warning about the trust path.
11. Click OK when it displays the details about the certificate.
12. Click Yes to accept the certificate as trusted.
13. When it asks for an alias click OK and click OK again when it says it has imported the certificate.
14. Click save. Don’t forget this or the change is discarded.
15. Copy the file cacerts back where you found it.

On Linux:

You can download the SSL certificate from a web server that is already using it like this:

$ echo -n | openssl s_client -connect www.example.com:443 | \
   sed -ne '/-BEGIN CERTIFICATE-/,/-END CERTIFICATE-/p' > /tmp/examplecert.crt

Optionally verify the certificate information:

$ openssl x509 -in /tmp/examplecert.crt -text

Import the certificate into the Java cacerts keystore:

$ keytool -import -trustcacerts -keystore /opt/java/jre/lib/security/cacerts \
   -storepass changeit -noprompt -alias mycert -file /tmp/examplecert.crt