How to configure Strong Encryption for Website deployed on Weblogic Server?

Assumption: HTTPS is already configured and its using default SSL Version 3 and default Ciphers.

Newer versions of web browsers (e.g. Chrome) are now configured with policies which only allow websites or portal which enforce the strongest encryption technology to be viewed. SSL version 3 is no more secure due to POODLE attack. Most of the browser disabled support for SSL Version 3 by default. 

Google chrome (version 40+) will throw following error if Weblogic server is configured (by default) to use SSL Version 3.

SSL server probably obsolete.

ERR_SSL_FALLBACK_BEYOND_MINIMUM_VERSION

Firefox Version 34+ throw following error in case website is using SSL Version 3:-

Secure Connection Failed

An error occurred during a connection to <DNS>. Cannot communicate securely with peer: no common encryption algorithm(s). (Error code: ssl_error_no_cypher_overlap)

SSL Lab report will show following results if you are using SSLV3:-

Solution:

We need to disable SSL Version 3 and enable TLS protocol. We also need to enable strong ciphers. We can set either of the following system properties in the command-line argument that starts WebLogic Server:

·         weblogic.security.SSL.protocolVersion=TLS1

·         weblogic.security.SSL.minimumProtocolVersion=TLS1

I would suggest to use 2^nd option. This property value enables any protocol starting with "TLS" for messages that are sent and accepted; for example, TLS V1.0, TLS V1.1, and TLS V1.2.

Implementation in Weblogic Server:-

1.     Enable “Use JSSE SSL” option from WLS Console. For this purpsoe go to Servers> AdminServer or Managed Server >>Configuration>>SSL [Advance Tab]

2.     Now Shutdown domain

3.     Create a custom environment setting file “setCustomEnv.sh” with following lines:-

JAVA_OPTIONS="${JAVA_OPTIONS} -Dweblogic.security.SSL.minimumProtocolVersion=TLSv1.0"

export JAVA_OPTIONS

4.     Include setCustomEnv.sh file into $DOMAIN_HOME/bin/setDomainEnv.sh file:-

if [ "${WEBLOGIC_EXTENSION_DIRS}" != "" ] ; then

                JAVA_OPTIONS="${JAVA_OPTIONS} -Dweblogic.ext.dirs=${WEBLOGIC_EXTENSION_DIRS}"

                export JAVA_OPTIONS

fi

. ${DOMAIN_HOME}/bin/setCustomEnv.sh

JAVA_OPTIONS="${JAVA_OPTIONS}"

export JAVA_OPTIONS

5.     Add following lines in $DOMAIN_HOME/config/config.xml
<server>

<name>AdminServer</name>
<ssl>

      <enabled>true</enabled>

      <ciphersuite>TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA</ciphersuite>

      <ciphersuite>TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA</ciphersuite>

      <ciphersuite>TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA</ciphersuite>

      <ciphersuite>TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA</ciphersuite>

      <ciphersuite>TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA</ciphersuite>

      <ciphersuite>TLS_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA</ciphersuite>

      <ciphersuite>TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA256</ciphersuite>

      <ciphersuite>TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA256</ciphersuite>          

      <hostname-verifier xsi:nil="true"></hostname-verifier>

6.     In order to support strong ciphers (AES 256), we need to download install JCE package for JDK. Download the JCE package from the following location:
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jce-7-download-432124.html

7.     Extract the downloaded zip and place the two .jar files US_export_policy.jar and local_policy.jar into your $JDK_HOME/jre/lib/security folder and overwrite old files.

8.     Start the domain

9.     Once server started, verify the site on different browser. I tested on Chrome version 45

10.  Clear the cache of the SSL lab site and scan the website again. You will see A-. Not bad J

You can configure strong ciphers using above method in any oracle product as far its using Weblogic Server.

Note: Starting with the January 20, 2015 Critical Patch Update releases (JDK 8u31, JDK 7u75, JDK 6u91 and above) the Java Runtime Environment has SSLv3 disabled by default.

Reference: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/documentation/cve-2014-3566-2342133.html