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# FIPS 140 Compliant Mode for SunJSSE

In Sun's Java SE implementation version 6 or later, the SunJSSE provider, which contains the SSL/TLS implementation, can be configured to operate in a FIPS 140 compliant mode instead of its default mode. This document describes the FIPS 140 compliant mode (subsequently called "FIPS mode").

## Configuring SunJSSE for FIPS Mode

SunJSSE is configured in FIPS mode by associating it with an appropriate FIPS 140 certified cryptographic provider that supplies the implementations for all cryptographic algorithms required by SunJSSE. This can be done in one of the following ways:

1. edit the file `${java.home}/lib/security/java.security` and modify the line that lists `com.sun.net.ssl.internal.ssl.Provider` to list the provider name of the FIPS 140 certified cryptographic provider. For example if the name of the cryptographic provider is `SunPKCS11-NSS`, change the line from

         security.provider.4=com.sun.net.ssl.internal.ssl.Provider

   to

         security.provider.4=com.sun.net.ssl.internal.ssl.Provider SunPKCS11-NSS

   The class for the provider of the given name must also be listed as a security provider in the `java.security` file.

2. at runtime, call the constructor of the SunJSSE provider that takes a `java.security.Provider` object as a parameter. For example, if the variable `cryptoProvider` is a reference to the cryptographic provider, call `new com.sun.net.ssl.internal.ssl.Provider(cryptoProvider)`.

3. at runtime, call the constructor of the SunJSSE provider that takes a String object as a parameter. For example if the cryptographic provider is called `SunPKCS11-NSS` call `new com.sun.net.ssl.internal.ssl.Provider("SunPKCS11-NSS")`. A provider with the specified name must be one of the configured security providers.

Within a given Java process, SunJSSE can be used either in FIPS mode or in default mode, but not both at the same time. Once SunJSSE has been initialized, it is not possible to change the mode. This means that if one of the runtime configuration options is used (option 2 or 3), the configuration must take place before any SSL/TLS operation.

Note that only the specified configured provider will be used by the SunJSSE for any and all cryptographic operations. All other cryptographic providers including those included with the Java SE implementation will be ignored and not used.

## Difference Between FIPS Mode and Default Mode

In FIPS mode, SunJSSE behaves in a way identical to default mode, except for the following differences.

In FIPS mode:

- SunJSSE will perform all cryptographic operations using the cryptographic provider that was configured as described above. This includes symmetric and asymmetric encryption, signature generation and verification, message digests and message authentication codes, key generation and key derivation, random number generation, etc.

- If the configured cryptographic provider reports any error by throwing an exception, SunJSSE will abort the current operation and propagate the exception to the application.

- If the configured cryptographic provider believes it had a critical error such as a self test failure per FIPS guidelines, it needs to remain in an error state until it is re-initialized. The application using the SunJSSE configured with the FIPS cryptographic module will have to be restarted. This ensures that the FIPS module will not allow critical errors to compromise security.

- Only TLS 1.0 and later can be used. SSL 2.0 and SSL 3.0 are not available. Any attempt to enable SSL 2.0 or 3.0 will fail with an exception.

- The list of ciphersuites is limited to those that utilize appropriate algorithms. The current list of possible ciphersuites is given below. Any attempt to enable a ciphersuite not on the list will fail with an exception.

### Ciphersuites Usable in FIPS Mode

The following is the current list of ciphersuites which can be used by SunJSSE in FIPS mode with their names and the id as assigned in the TLS protocol provided that the configured cryptographic FIPS module supports the necessary algorithms. Note that although SunJSSE uses the prefix `SSL_` in the name of some of these ciphersuites, this is for compatibility with earlier versions of the specification only. In FIPS mode, SunJSSE will always use TLS 1.0 or later and implement the ciphersuites as required by those specifications.

  Name | Id
  --- | ---
  SSL_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA | 0x000a
  SSL_DHE_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA | 0x0016
  TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA | 0x002f
  TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA | 0x0032
  TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA | 0x0033
  TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA | 0x0035
  TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA | 0x0038
  TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA | 0x0039
  TLS_ECDH_ECDSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA | 0xC003
  TLS_ECDH_ECDSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA | 0xC004
  TLS_ECDH_ECDSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA | 0xC005
  TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA | 0xC008
  TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA | 0xC009
  TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA | 0xC00A
  TLS_ECDH_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA | 0xC00D
  TLS_ECDH_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA | 0xC00E
  TLS_ECDH_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA | 0xC00F
  TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA | 0xC012
  TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA | 0xC013
  TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA | 0xC014
  TLS_ECDH_anon_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA | 0xC017
  TLS_ECDH_anon_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA | 0xC018
  TLS_ECDH_anon_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA | 0xC019

## Conclusion

When SunJSSE is configured in FIPS 140 compliant mode together with an appropriate FIPS 140 certified cryptographic provider, for example Network Security Services (NSS) in its FIPS mode, SunJSSE is FIPS 140 compliant.

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