Class KeyTab

java.lang.Object
javax.security.auth.kerberos.KeyTab
public final class KeyTab extends Object
This class encapsulates a keytab file.

A Kerberos JAAS login module that obtains long term secret keys from a keytab file should use this class. The login module will store an instance of this class in the private credential set of a Subject during the commit phase of the authentication process.

If a KeyTab object is obtained from getUnboundInstance() or getUnboundInstance(java.io.File), it is unbound and thus can be used by any service principal. Otherwise, if it's obtained from getInstance(KerberosPrincipal) or getInstance(KerberosPrincipal, java.io.File), it is bound to the specific service principal and can only be used by it.

Please note the constructors getInstance() and getInstance(java.io.File) were created when there was no support for unbound keytabs. These methods should not be used anymore. An object created with either of these methods are considered to be bound to an unknown principal, which means, its isBound() returns true and getPrincipal() returns null.

It might be necessary for the application to be granted a PrivateCredentialPermission if it needs to access the KeyTab instance from a Subject. This permission is not needed when the application depends on the default JGSS Kerberos mechanism to access the KeyTab. In that case, however, the application will need an appropriate ServicePermission.

The keytab file format is described at http://www.ioplex.com/utilities/keytab.txt.

Since:
1.7

Method Summary

Modifier and Type Method Description
boolean equals(Object other)
Compares the specified object with this KeyTab for equality.
boolean exists()
Checks if the keytab file exists.
static KeyTab getInstance()
Returns the default KeyTab instance that is bound to an unknown service principal.
static KeyTab getInstance(File file)
Returns a KeyTab instance from a File object that is bound to an unknown service principal.
static KeyTab getInstance(KerberosPrincipal princ)
Returns the default KeyTab instance that is bound to the specified service principal.
static KeyTab getInstance(KerberosPrincipal princ, File file)
Returns a KeyTab instance from a File object that is bound to the specified service principal.
KerberosKey[] getKeys(KerberosPrincipal principal)
Returns fresh keys for the given Kerberos principal.
KerberosPrincipal getPrincipal()
Returns the service principal this KeyTab object is bound to.
static KeyTab getUnboundInstance()
Returns the default unbound KeyTab instance.
static KeyTab getUnboundInstance(File file)
Returns an unbound KeyTab instance from a File object.
int hashCode()
Returns a hash code for this KeyTab.
boolean isBound()
Returns if the keytab is bound to a principal
String toString()
Returns an informative textual representation of this KeyTab.

Methods declared in class java.lang.Object

clone, finalize, getClass, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait

Method Details

getInstance

public static KeyTab getInstance(File file)
Returns a KeyTab instance from a File object that is bound to an unknown service principal.

The result of this method is never null. This method only associates the returned KeyTab object with the file and does not read it.

Developers should call getInstance(KerberosPrincipal,File) when the bound service principal is known.

Parameters:
file - the keytab File object, must not be null
Returns:
the keytab instance
Throws:
NullPointerException - if the file argument is null

getUnboundInstance

public static KeyTab getUnboundInstance(File file)
Returns an unbound KeyTab instance from a File object.

The result of this method is never null. This method only associates the returned KeyTab object with the file and does not read it.

Parameters:
file - the keytab File object, must not be null
Returns:
the keytab instance
Throws:
NullPointerException - if the file argument is null
Since:
1.8

getInstance

public static KeyTab getInstance(KerberosPrincipal princ, File file)
Returns a KeyTab instance from a File object that is bound to the specified service principal.

The result of this method is never null. This method only associates the returned KeyTab object with the file and does not read it.

Parameters:
princ - the bound service principal, must not be null
file - the keytab File object, must not be null
Returns:
the keytab instance
Throws:
NullPointerException - if either of the arguments is null
Since:
1.8

getInstance

public static KeyTab getInstance()
Returns the default KeyTab instance that is bound to an unknown service principal.

The result of this method is never null. This method only associates the returned KeyTab object with the default keytab file and does not read it.

Developers should call getInstance(KerberosPrincipal) when the bound service principal is known.

Returns:
the default keytab instance.

getUnboundInstance

public static KeyTab getUnboundInstance()
Returns the default unbound KeyTab instance.

The result of this method is never null. This method only associates the returned KeyTab object with the default keytab file and does not read it.

Returns:
the default keytab instance
Since:
1.8

getInstance

public static KeyTab getInstance(KerberosPrincipal princ)
Returns the default KeyTab instance that is bound to the specified service principal.

The result of this method is never null. This method only associates the returned KeyTab object with the default keytab file and does not read it.

Parameters:
princ - the bound service principal, must not be null
Returns:
the default keytab instance
Throws:
NullPointerException - if princ is null
Since:
1.8

getKeys

public KerberosKey[] getKeys(KerberosPrincipal principal)
Returns fresh keys for the given Kerberos principal.

Implementation of this method should make sure the returned keys match the latest content of the keytab file. The result is a newly created copy that can be modified by the caller without modifying the keytab object. The caller should destroy the result keys after they are used.

Please note that the keytab file can be created after the KeyTab object is instantiated and its content may change over time. Therefore, an application should call this method only when it needs to use the keys. Any previous result from an earlier invocation could potentially be expired.

If there is any error (say, I/O error or format error) during the reading process of the keytab file, a saved result should be returned. If there is no saved result (say, this is the first time this method is called, or, all previous read attempts failed), an empty array should be returned. This can make sure the result is not drastically changed during the (probably slow) update of the keytab file.

Each time this method is called and the reading of the file succeeds with no exception (say, I/O error or file format error), the result should be saved for principal. The implementation can also save keys for other principals having keys in the same keytab object if convenient.

Any unsupported key read from the keytab is ignored and not included in the result.

If this keytab is bound to a specific principal, calling this method on another principal will return an empty array.

Parameters:
principal - the Kerberos principal, must not be null.
Returns:
the keys (never null, may be empty)
Throws:
NullPointerException - if the principal argument is null
SecurityException - if a security manager exists and the read access to the keytab file is not permitted

exists

public boolean exists()
Checks if the keytab file exists. Implementation of this method should make sure that the result matches the latest status of the keytab file.
Returns:
true if the keytab file exists; false otherwise.
Throws:
SecurityException - if a security manager exists and the read access to the keytab file is not permitted

toString

public String toString()
Returns an informative textual representation of this KeyTab.
Overrides:
toString in class Object
Returns:
an informative textual representation of this KeyTab.

hashCode

public int hashCode()
Returns a hash code for this KeyTab.
Overrides:
hashCode in class Object
Returns:
a hash code for this KeyTab.
See Also:

equals

public boolean equals(Object other)
Compares the specified object with this KeyTab for equality. Returns true if the given object is also a KeyTab and the two KeyTab instances are equivalent.
Overrides:
equals in class Object
Parameters:
other - the object to compare to
Returns:
true if the specified object is equal to this KeyTab
See Also:

getPrincipal

public KerberosPrincipal getPrincipal()
Returns the service principal this KeyTab object is bound to. Returns null if it's not bound.

Please note the deprecated constructors create a KeyTab object bound for some unknown principal. In this case, this method also returns null. User can call isBound() to verify this case.

Returns:
the service principal
Since:
1.8

isBound

public boolean isBound()
Returns if the keytab is bound to a principal
Returns:
if the keytab is bound to a principal
Since:
1.8

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https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/17/docs/api/java.security.jgss/javax/security/auth/kerberos/KeyTab.html