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Configure encryption using JAX-RPC to protect message confidentiality at the server or cell level

We can configure the encryption information for the generator binding on the server or cell level.

The encryption information for the default generator specifies how to encrypt the information on the sender side if these bindings are not defined at the application level. WebSphere Application Server provides default values for the bindings. However, an administrator must modify the defaults for a production environment.

We can configure the encryption information for the generator binding on the server level and the cell level. In the following steps, use the first step to configure the encryption information for the server level and use the second step to configure the encryption information for the cell level:

  1. Access the default bindings for the server level.

    1. Click Servers > Server Types > WebSphere application servers > server_name.

    2. Under Security, click JAX-WS and JAX-RPC security runtime.

      In a mixed node cell with a server using WAS v6.1 or earlier, click Web services: Default bindings for Web Services Security.

  2. Click Security > Web services to access the default bindings on the cell level.

  3. Under Default generator bindings, click Encryption information.

  4. Click New to create an encryption information configuration, click Delete to delete an existing configuration, or click the name of an existing encryption information configuration to edit the settings. For a new configuration, enter a unique name for the encryption configuration in the Encryption information name field. For example, you might specify gen_encinfo.

    Avoid trouble: If we create more than one encryption information configuration, the WS-Security runtime environment only honors the first configuration listed in the bindings file.gotcha

  5. Select a data encryption algorithm from the Data encryption algorithm field. This algorithm is used to encrypt the data. WebSphere Application Server supports the following pre-configured algorithms:

    • http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#tripledes-cbc

    • http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#aes128-cbc

    • http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#aes256-cbc

      To use this algorithm, download the unrestricted Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) policy file from the following website: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/jdk/security/index.html.

    • http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#aes192-cbc

      To use this algorithm, download the unrestricted Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) policy file from the following website: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/jdk/security/index.html.

      Restriction: Do not use this algorithm, the 192-bit key encryption algorithm, if we want the configured application to be in compliance with the Basic Security Profile (BSP).

    Important: Your country of origin might have restrictions on the import, possession, use, or re-export to another country, of encryption software. Before downloading or using the unrestricted policy files, check the laws of your country, its regulations, and its policies concerning the import, possession, use, and re-export of encryption software, to determine if it is permitted.

    The data encryption algorithm selected for the generator side must match the data encryption algorithm selected for the consumer side.

  6. Select a key encryption algorithm from the Key encryption algorithm field. This algorithm is used to encrypt the key. WebSphere Application Server supports the following pre-configured algorithms:

    • http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#rsa-oaep-mgf1p.

      When running with JDK 1.4, the list of supported key transport algorithms will not include this one. This algorithm will appear in the list of supported key transport algorithms when running with JDK 1.5.

      Restriction: This algorithm is not supported when the WAS is running in FIPS mode.

      By default, the RSA-OAEP algorithm uses the SHA1 message digest algorithm to compute a message digest as part of the encryption operation. Optionally, we can use the SHA256 or SHA512 message digest algorithm by specifying a key encryption algorithm property. The property name is: com.ibm.wsspi.wssecurity.enc.rsaoaep.DigestMethod. The property value is one of the following URIs of the digest method:

      • http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#sha256

      • http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#sha512

      By default, the RSA-OAEP algorithm uses a null string for the optional encoding octet string for the OAEPParams. We can provide an explicit encoding octet string by specifying a key encryption algorithm property. For the property name, we can specify com.ibm.wsspi.wssecurity.enc.rsaoaep.OAEPparams. The property value is the base 64-encoded value of the octet string.

      Important: We can set these digest method and OAEPParams properties on the generator side only. On the consumer side, these properties are read from the incoming SOAP message.

    • http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#rsa-1_5

    • http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#kw-tripledes

    • http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#kw-aes128

    • http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#kw-aes256

      To use this algorithm, download the unrestricted Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) policy file from the following website: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/jdk/security/index.html.

    • http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#kw-aes192

      To use this algorithm, download the unrestricted Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) policy file from the following website: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/jdk/security/index.html.

      Restriction: Do not use this algorithm, the 192-bit key encryption algorithm, if we want the configured application to be in compliance with the Basic Security Profile (BSP).

    If we select None, the key is not encrypted.

    The key encryption algorithm selected for the generator side must match the key encryption algorithm selected for the consumer side.

  7. Select a encryption key configuration from the Encryption key information field. This attribute specifies the name of the key used to encrypt the message. To configure the key information, see Configure the key information for the generator binding using JAX-RPC on the server or cell level.

  8. Click OK and then click Save to save the configuration.


Results

You have configured the encryption information for the generator binding at the server or cell level.


What to do next

Specify a similar encryption information configuration for the consumer.


Related concepts

  • Basic Security Profile compliance tips


    Related tasks

  • Configure encryption to protect message confidentiality at the server or cell level
  • Configure the key information for the generator binding using JAX-RPC on the server or cell level