IBM Support

IJ56810: KERBEROS ILLEGALARGUMENTEXCEPTION: ENCRYPTIONKEY: KEY BYTES CANNOT BE NULL! READING VERSION 4 CREDENTIALS CACHE FILE

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APAR status

  • Closed as program error.

Error description

  • Error Message: Caused by: org.ietf.jgss.GSSException, major
    code: 13, minor code: -1
                    major string: Invalid credentials
                    minor string: Attempt to obtain new INITIATE
    credentials failed! (null)
    .
    Stack Trace: Exception in thread "main"
    java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: EncryptionKey: Key bytes
    cannot be null!
                        at
    com.ibm.security.krb5.EncryptionKey.<init>(EncryptionKey.java:25
    9)
                        at
    com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.ccache.a.j(a.java:154)
                        at
    com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.ccache.a.q(a.java:39)
                        at
    com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.ccache.d.a(d.java:12)
                        at
    com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.ccache.e.c(e.java:43)
                        at
    com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.ccache.d.a(d.java:26)
    .
    

Local fix

  • Use only IBM Java to create and manage the credentials cache
    file.
    

Problem summary

  • Loading a version 4 format credentials cache file which contains
    "config entries" data results in an
                java.lang.IllegalArgumentException.  Version 4
    format files may contain "Credential cache configuration
    entries" with
                a ticket field that is not (usually) a valid
    encoding of a Kerberos ticket.
                An implementation must not treat the cache file as
    malformed if it cannot decode the ticket field.
                Refer to
    https://web.mit.edu/kerberos/krb5-devel/doc/formats/ccache_file_
    format.html#credential-cache-configuration-entries
                for information on "Credential cache configuration
    entries".
    

Problem conclusion

  • A fix is made to IBMJGSS/ibmjgssprovider.jar
                The associated Hursley RTC Problem Report is 153351
                The associated Austin git issue IBMJGSS#142
                JVMs affected: Java 8
                The fix was delivered for Java 8SR8FP60 The affected
    jar is "ibmjgssprovider.jar".
                The build level of this jar for the affected
    releases is "20251119-561"
    
    .
    This APAR will be fixed in the following Releases:
    .
    IBM Semeru Runtimes
    IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition
       8    SR8 FP60  (8.0.8.60)
    .
    Downloads and supplementary documentation can be found at the
    following locations:
    - For non z/OS operating systems:
      - IBM Semeru Runtimes, Version 11 and later
        https://www.ibm.com/semeru-runtimes/downloads/
      - IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 8
        https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/java-sdk-downloads/
    - For the z/OS operating system:
      - Java SDK Products on z/OS
        https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/java-sdk-products-zos
    

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

  • APAR number

    IJ56810

  • Reported component name

    SECURITY

  • Reported component ID

    620700125

  • Reported release

    270

  • Status

    CLOSED PER

  • PE

    NoPE

  • HIPER

    NoHIPER

  • Special Attention

    NoSpecatt / Xsystem

  • Submitted date

    2025-11-21

  • Closed date

    2025-11-21

  • Last modified date

    2025-11-21

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

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

Fix information

  • Fixed component name

    SECURITY

  • Fixed component ID

    620700125

Applicable component levels

[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU054","label":"Systems w\/TPS"},"Product":{"code":"SSNVBF","label":"Runtimes for Java Technology"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"270","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB08","label":"Cognitive Systems"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
21 November 2025