Sasl (Java SE 26 & JDK 26)
Description: declaration: module: java.security.sasl, package: javax.security.sasl, class: Sasl
Keywords: javax.security.sasl.Sasl class

# Class Sasl

java.lang.Object
javax.security.sasl.Sasl

public class Sasl extends Object
A static class for creating SASL clients and servers.

This class defines the policy of how to locate, load, and instantiate SASL clients and servers.

For example, an application or library gets a SASL client by doing something like:

>      SaslClient sc = Sasl.createSaslClient(mechanisms,
>          authorizationId, protocol, serverName, props, callbackHandler);

It can then proceed to use the instance to create an authentication connection.

Similarly, a server gets a SASL server by using code that looks as follows:

>      SaslServer ss = Sasl.createSaslServer(mechanism,
>          protocol, serverName, props, callbackHandler);

Since:
  1.5

- ## Field Summary

  Fields
  Modifier and Type
  Field
  Description
  `static final String`
  `BOUND_SERVER_NAME`
  The name of a property that specifies the bound server name for an unbound server.
  `static final String`
  `CREDENTIALS`
  The name of a property that specifies the credentials to use.
  `static final String`
  `MAX_BUFFER`
  The name of a property that specifies the maximum size of the receive buffer in bytes of `SaslClient`/`SaslServer`.
  `static final String`
  `POLICY_FORWARD_SECRECY`
  The name of a property that specifies whether mechanisms that implement forward secrecy between sessions are required.
  `static final String`
  `POLICY_NOACTIVE`
  The name of a property that specifies whether mechanisms susceptible to active (non-dictionary) attacks are not permitted.
  `static final String`
  `POLICY_NOANONYMOUS`
  The name of a property that specifies whether mechanisms that accept anonymous login are not permitted.
  `static final String`
  `POLICY_NODICTIONARY`
  The name of a property that specifies whether mechanisms susceptible to passive dictionary attacks are not permitted.
  `static final String`
  `POLICY_NOPLAINTEXT`
  The name of a property that specifies whether mechanisms susceptible to simple plain passive attacks (e.g., "PLAIN") are not permitted.
  `static final String`
  `POLICY_PASS_CREDENTIALS`
  The name of a property that specifies whether mechanisms that pass client credentials are required.
  `static final String`
  `QOP`
  The name of a property that specifies the quality-of-protection to use.
  `static final String`
  `RAW_SEND_SIZE`
  The name of a property that specifies the maximum size of the raw send buffer in bytes of `SaslClient`/`SaslServer`.
  `static final String`
  `REUSE`
  The name of a property that specifies whether to reuse previously authenticated session information.
  `static final String`
  `SERVER_AUTH`
  The name of a property that specifies whether the server must authenticate to the client.
  `static final String`
  `STRENGTH`
  The name of a property that specifies the cipher strength to use.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `static SaslClient`
  `createSaslClient(String[] mechanisms, String authorizationId, String protocol, String serverName, Map<String,?> props, CallbackHandler cbh)`
  Creates a `SaslClient` using the parameters supplied.
  `static SaslServer`
  `createSaslServer(String mechanism, String protocol, String serverName, Map<String,?> props, CallbackHandler cbh)`
  Creates a `SaslServer` for the specified mechanism.
  `static Enumeration<SaslClientFactory>`
  `getSaslClientFactories()`
  Gets an enumeration of known factories for producing `SaslClient`.
  `static Enumeration<SaslServerFactory>`
  `getSaslServerFactories()`
  Gets an enumeration of known factories for producing `SaslServer`.

  ### Methods declared in class Object

  `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `protected Object`
  `clone()`
  Creates and returns a copy of this object.
  `boolean`
  `equals(Object obj)`
  Indicates whether some other object is "equal to" this one.
  `protected void`
  `finalize()`
  Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
  Finalization is deprecated and subject to removal in a future release.
  `final Class<?>`
  `getClass()`
  Returns the runtime class of this `Object`.
  `int`
  `hashCode()`
  Returns a hash code value for this object.
  `final void`
  `notify()`
  Wakes up a single thread that is waiting on this object's monitor.
  `final void`
  `notifyAll()`
  Wakes up all threads that are waiting on this object's monitor.
  `String`
  `toString()`
  Returns a string representation of the object.
  `final void`
  `wait()`
  Causes the current thread to wait until it is awakened, typically by being notified or interrupted.
  `final void`
  `wait(long timeoutMillis)`
  Causes the current thread to wait until it is awakened, typically by being notified or interrupted, or until a certain amount of real time has elapsed.
  `final void`
  `wait(long timeoutMillis, int nanos)`
  Causes the current thread to wait until it is awakened, typically by being notified or interrupted, or until a certain amount of real time has elapsed.

- ## Field Details

  - ### QOP

    public static final String QOP
    The name of a property that specifies the quality-of-protection to use. The property contains a comma-separated, ordered list of quality-of-protection values that the client or server is willing to support. A qop value is one of
    - `"auth"` - authentication only
    - `"auth-int"` - authentication plus integrity protection
    - `"auth-conf"` - authentication plus integrity and confidentiality protection
    The order of the list specifies the preference order of the client or server. If this property is absent, the default qop is `"auth"`. The value of this constant is `"javax.security.sasl.qop"`.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### STRENGTH

    public static final String STRENGTH
    The name of a property that specifies the cipher strength to use. The property contains a comma-separated, ordered list of cipher strength values that the client or server is willing to support. A strength value is one of
    - `"low"`
    - `"medium"`
    - `"high"`
    The order of the list specifies the preference order of the client or server. An implementation should allow configuration of the meaning of these values. An application may use the Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) with JCE-aware mechanisms to control the selection of cipher suites that match the strength values.
    If this property is absent, the default strength is `"high,medium,low"`. The value of this constant is `"javax.security.sasl.strength"`.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### SERVER_AUTH

    public static final String SERVER_AUTH
    The name of a property that specifies whether the server must authenticate to the client. The property contains `"true"` if the server must authenticate the to client; `"false"` otherwise. The default is `"false"`.
    The value of this constant is `"javax.security.sasl.server.authentication"`.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### BOUND_SERVER_NAME

    public static final String BOUND_SERVER_NAME
    The name of a property that specifies the bound server name for an unbound server. A server is created as an unbound server by setting the `serverName` argument in `createSaslServer(String, String, String, Map, CallbackHandler)` as null. The property contains the bound host name after the authentication exchange has completed. It is only available on the server side.
    The value of this constant is `"javax.security.sasl.bound.server.name"`.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### MAX_BUFFER

    public static final String MAX_BUFFER
    The name of a property that specifies the maximum size of the receive buffer in bytes of `SaslClient`/`SaslServer`. The property contains the string representation of an integer.
    If this property is absent, the default size is defined by the mechanism.
    The value of this constant is `"javax.security.sasl.maxbuffer"`.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### RAW_SEND_SIZE

    public static final String RAW_SEND_SIZE
    The name of a property that specifies the maximum size of the raw send buffer in bytes of `SaslClient`/`SaslServer`. The property contains the string representation of an integer. The value of this property is negotiated between the client and server during the authentication exchange.
    The value of this constant is `"javax.security.sasl.rawsendsize"`.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### REUSE

    public static final String REUSE
    The name of a property that specifies whether to reuse previously authenticated session information. The property contains "true" if the mechanism implementation may attempt to reuse previously authenticated session information; it contains "false" if the implementation must not reuse previously authenticated session information. A setting of "true" serves only as a hint: it does not necessarily entail actual reuse because reuse might not be possible due to a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, lack of mechanism support for reuse, expiration of reusable information, and the peer's refusal to support reuse. The property's default value is "false". The value of this constant is "javax.security.sasl.reuse". Note that all other parameters and properties required to create a SASL client/server instance must be provided regardless of whether this property has been supplied. That is, you cannot supply any less information in anticipation of reuse. Mechanism implementations that support reuse might allow customization of its implementation, for factors such as cache size, timeouts, and criteria for reusability. Such customizations are implementation-dependent.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### POLICY_NOPLAINTEXT

    public static final String POLICY_NOPLAINTEXT
    The name of a property that specifies whether mechanisms susceptible to simple plain passive attacks (e.g., "PLAIN") are not permitted. The property contains `"true"` if such mechanisms are not permitted; `"false"` if such mechanisms are permitted. The default is `"false"`.
    The value of this constant is `"javax.security.sasl.policy.noplaintext"`.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### POLICY_NOACTIVE

    public static final String POLICY_NOACTIVE
    The name of a property that specifies whether mechanisms susceptible to active (non-dictionary) attacks are not permitted. The property contains `"true"` if mechanisms susceptible to active attacks are not permitted; `"false"` if such mechanisms are permitted. The default is `"false"`.
    The value of this constant is `"javax.security.sasl.policy.noactive"`.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### POLICY_NODICTIONARY

    public static final String POLICY_NODICTIONARY
    The name of a property that specifies whether mechanisms susceptible to passive dictionary attacks are not permitted. The property contains `"true"` if mechanisms susceptible to dictionary attacks are not permitted; `"false"` if such mechanisms are permitted. The default is `"false"`.
    The value of this constant is `"javax.security.sasl.policy.nodictionary"`.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### POLICY_NOANONYMOUS

    public static final String POLICY_NOANONYMOUS
    The name of a property that specifies whether mechanisms that accept anonymous login are not permitted. The property contains `"true"` if mechanisms that accept anonymous login are not permitted; `"false"` if such mechanisms are permitted. The default is `"false"`.
    The value of this constant is `"javax.security.sasl.policy.noanonymous"`.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### POLICY_FORWARD_SECRECY

    public static final String POLICY_FORWARD_SECRECY
    The name of a property that specifies whether mechanisms that implement forward secrecy between sessions are required. Forward secrecy means that breaking into one session will not automatically provide information for breaking into future sessions. The property contains `"true"` if mechanisms that implement forward secrecy between sessions are required; `"false"` if such mechanisms are not required. The default is `"false"`.
    The value of this constant is `"javax.security.sasl.policy.forward"`.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### POLICY_PASS_CREDENTIALS

    public static final String POLICY_PASS_CREDENTIALS
    The name of a property that specifies whether mechanisms that pass client credentials are required. The property contains `"true"` if mechanisms that pass client credentials are required; `"false"` if such mechanisms are not required. The default is `"false"`.
    The value of this constant is `"javax.security.sasl.policy.credentials"`.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### CREDENTIALS

    public static final String CREDENTIALS
    The name of a property that specifies the credentials to use. The property contains a mechanism-specific Java credential object. Mechanism implementations may examine the value of this property to determine whether it is a class that they support. The property may be used to supply credentials to a mechanism that supports delegated authentication.
    The value of this constant is `"javax.security.sasl.credentials"`.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

- ## Method Details

  - ### createSaslClient

    public static SaslClient createSaslClient(String[] mechanisms, String authorizationId, String protocol, String serverName, Map<String,?> props, CallbackHandler cbh) throws SaslException
    Creates a `SaslClient` using the parameters supplied. This method uses the JCA Security Provider Framework, described in the "Java Cryptography Architecture (JCA) Reference Guide", for locating and selecting a `SaslClient` implementation. First, it obtains an ordered list of `SaslClientFactory` instances from the registered security providers for the "SaslClientFactory" service and the specified SASL mechanism(s). It then invokes `createSaslClient()` on each factory instance on the list until one produces a non-null `SaslClient` instance. It returns the non-null `SaslClient` instance, or null if the search fails to produce a non-null `SaslClient` instance.

    A security provider for SaslClientFactory registers with the JCA Security Provider Framework keys of the form
    `SaslClientFactory.` `mechanism_name`
    and values that are class names of implementations of `javax.security.sasl.SaslClientFactory`. For example, a provider that contains a factory class, `com.wiz.sasl.digest.ClientFactory`, that supports the "DIGEST-MD5" mechanism would register the following entry with the JCA: `SaslClientFactory.DIGEST-MD5 com.wiz.sasl.digest.ClientFactory`

    See the "Java Cryptography Architecture API Specification & Reference" for information about how to install and configure security service providers.

    Implementation Note:
      The JDK Reference Implementation additionally uses the `jdk.security.provider.preferred` `Security` property to determine the preferred provider order for the specified algorithm. This may be different than the order of providers returned by `Security.getProviders()`.

      If a mechanism is listed in the `jdk.sasl.disabledMechanisms` security property, it will be ignored and won't be negotiated.

    Parameters:
      `mechanisms` - The non-null list of mechanism names to try. Each is the IANA-registered name of a SASL mechanism. (e.g. "GSSAPI", "CRAM-MD5").
      `authorizationId` - The possibly null protocol-dependent identification to be used for authorization. If null or empty, the server derives an authorization ID from the client's authentication credentials. When the SASL authentication completes successfully, the specified entity is granted access.
      `protocol` - The non-null string name of the protocol for which the authentication is being performed (e.g., "ldap").
      `serverName` - The non-null fully-qualified host name of the server to authenticate to.
      `props` - The possibly null set of properties used to select the SASL mechanism and to configure the authentication exchange of the selected mechanism. For example, if `props` contains the `Sasl.POLICY_NOPLAINTEXT` property with the value `"true"`, then the selected SASL mechanism must not be susceptible to simple plain passive attacks. In addition to the standard properties declared in this class, other, possibly mechanism-specific, properties can be included. Properties not relevant to the selected mechanism are ignored, including any map entries with non-String keys.
      `cbh` - The possibly null callback handler to used by the SASL mechanisms to get further information from the application/library to complete the authentication. For example, a SASL mechanism might require the authentication ID, password and realm from the caller. The authentication ID is requested by using a `NameCallback`. The password is requested by using a `PasswordCallback`. The realm is requested by using a `RealmChoiceCallback` if there is a list of realms to choose from, and by using a `RealmCallback` if the realm must be entered.
    Returns:
      A possibly null `SaslClient` created using the parameters supplied. If null, cannot find a `SaslClientFactory` that will produce one.
    Throws:
      `SaslException` - If cannot create a `SaslClient` because of an error.

  - ### createSaslServer

    public static SaslServer createSaslServer(String mechanism, String protocol, String serverName, Map<String,?> props, CallbackHandler cbh) throws SaslException
    Creates a `SaslServer` for the specified mechanism. This method uses the JCA Security Provider Framework, described in the "Java Cryptography Architecture (JCA) Reference Guide", for locating and selecting a `SaslClient` implementation. First, it obtains an ordered list of `SaslServerFactory` instances from the registered security providers for the "SaslServerFactory" service and the specified mechanism. It then invokes `createSaslServer()` on each factory instance on the list until one produces a non-null `SaslServer` instance. It returns the non-null `SaslServer` instance, or null if the search fails to produce a non-null `SaslServer` instance.

    A security provider for SaslServerFactory registers with the JCA Security Provider Framework keys of the form
    `SaslServerFactory.` `mechanism_name`
    and values that are class names of implementations of `javax.security.sasl.SaslServerFactory`. For example, a provider that contains a factory class, `com.wiz.sasl.digest.ServerFactory`, that supports the "DIGEST-MD5" mechanism would register the following entry with the JCA: `SaslServerFactory.DIGEST-MD5 com.wiz.sasl.digest.ServerFactory`

    See the "Java Cryptography Architecture API Specification & Reference" for information about how to install and configure security service providers.

    Implementation Note:
      The JDK Reference Implementation additionally uses the `jdk.security.provider.preferred` `Security` property to determine the preferred provider order for the specified algorithm. This may be different than the order of providers returned by `Security.getProviders()`.

      If `mechanism` is listed in the `jdk.sasl.disabledMechanisms` security property, it will be ignored and this method returns `null`.

    Parameters:
      `mechanism` - The non-null mechanism name. It must be an IANA-registered name of a SASL mechanism. (e.g. "GSSAPI", "CRAM-MD5").
      `protocol` - The non-null string name of the protocol for which the authentication is being performed (e.g., "ldap").
      `serverName` - The fully qualified host name of the server, or null if the server is not bound to any specific host name. If the mechanism does not allow an unbound server, a `SaslException` will be thrown.
      `props` - The possibly null set of properties used to select the SASL mechanism and to configure the authentication exchange of the selected mechanism. For example, if `props` contains the `Sasl.POLICY_NOPLAINTEXT` property with the value `"true"`, then the selected SASL mechanism must not be susceptible to simple plain passive attacks. In addition to the standard properties declared in this class, other, possibly mechanism-specific, properties can be included. Properties not relevant to the selected mechanism are ignored, including any map entries with non-String keys.
      `cbh` - The possibly null callback handler to used by the SASL mechanisms to get further information from the application/library to complete the authentication. For example, a SASL mechanism might require the authentication ID, password and realm from the caller. The authentication ID is requested by using a `NameCallback`. The password is requested by using a `PasswordCallback`. The realm is requested by using a `RealmChoiceCallback` if there is a list of realms to choose from, and by using a `RealmCallback` if the realm must be entered.
    Returns:
      A possibly null `SaslServer` created using the parameters supplied. If null, cannot find a `SaslServerFactory` that will produce one.
    Throws:
      `SaslException` - If cannot create a `SaslServer` because of an error.

  - ### getSaslClientFactories

    public static Enumeration<SaslClientFactory> getSaslClientFactories()
    Gets an enumeration of known factories for producing `SaslClient`. This method uses the same algorithm for locating factories as `createSaslClient()`.
    Returns:
      A non-null enumeration of known factories for producing `SaslClient`.
    See Also:
      - `createSaslClient(String[], String, String, String, Map, CallbackHandler)`

  - ### getSaslServerFactories

    public static Enumeration<SaslServerFactory> getSaslServerFactories()
    Gets an enumeration of known factories for producing `SaslServer`. This method uses the same algorithm for locating factories as `createSaslServer()`.
    Returns:
      A non-null enumeration of known factories for producing `SaslServer`.
    See Also:
      - `createSaslServer(String, String, String, Map, CallbackHandler)`