SSL¶

Client truststore¶

This is required for client-to-node encryption.

If you’re using self-signed certificates, you need to export the public part of each node’s certificate from that node’s keystore:

keytool -export -alias cassandra -file cassandranode0.cer -keystore .keystore

Then add all public certificates to the client truststore:

keytool -import -v -trustcacerts -alias <cassandra_node0> -file cassandranode0.cer -keystore client.truststore
keytool -import -v -trustcacerts -alias <cassandra_node1> -file cassandranode1.cer -keystore client.truststore
...

If you’re using a Certificate Authority, the client truststore only needs to contain the CA’s certificate:

keytool -import -v -trustcacerts -alias CARoot -file ca.cer -keystore client.truststore

Client keystore¶

If you also intend to use client certificate authentication, generate the public and private key pair for the client:

keytool -genkey -keyalg RSA -alias client -keystore client.keystore

If you’re using self-signed certificates, extract the public part of the client certificate, and import it in the truststore of each Cassandra node:

keytool -export -alias client -file client.cer -keystore client.keystore
keytool -import -v -trustcacerts -alias client -file client.cer -keystore server.truststore

If you’re using a CA, sign the client certificate with it (see the blog post linked at the top of this page). Then the nodes’ truststores only need to contain the CA’s certificate (which should already be the case if you’ve followed the steps for inter-node encryption).

JSSE, Property-based¶

withSSL() gives you a basic JSSE configuration:

Cluster cluster = Cluster.builder()
  .addContactPoint("127.0.0.1")
  .withSSL()
  .build();

You can then use JSSE system properties for specific details, like keystore locations and passwords:

-Djavax.net.ssl.trustStore=/path/to/client.truststore
-Djavax.net.ssl.trustStorePassword=password123
# If you're using client authentication:
-Djavax.net.ssl.keyStore=/path/to/client.keystore
-Djavax.net.ssl.keyStorePassword=password123

JSSE, programmatic¶

If you need more control than what system properties allow, you can configure SSL programmatically with RemoteEndpointAwareJdkSSLOptions:

SSLContext sslContext = ... // create and configure SSL context

RemoteEndpointAwareJdkSSLOptions sslOptions = RemoteEndpointAwareJdkSSLOptions.builder()
  .withSSLContext(context)
  .build();

Cluster cluster = Cluster.builder()
  .addContactPoint("127.0.0.1")
  .withSSL(sslOptions)
  .build();

Note that you can also extend the class and override newSSLEngine(SocketChannel,InetSocketAddress) if you need specific configuration on the SSLEngine. For example, to enable hostname verification:

SSLContext sslContext = ... // create and configure SSL context

RemoteEndpointAwareJdkSSLOptions sslOptions = new RemoteEndpointAwareJdkSSLOptions(sslContext, null) {
    protected SSLEngine newSSLEngine(SocketChannel channel, InetSocketAddress remoteEndpoint) {
        SSLEngine engine = super.newSSLEngine(channel, remoteEndpoint);
        SSLParameters parameters = engine.getSSLParameters();
        // HTTPS endpoint identification includes hostname verification against certificate's common name.
        // This API is only available for JDK7+.
        parameters.setEndpointIdentificationAlgorithm("HTTPS");
        engine.setSSLParameters(parameters);
        return engine;
    }
};

Cluster cluster = Cluster.builder()
  .addContactPoint("127.0.0.1")
  .withSSL(sslOptions)
  .build();

Netty¶

RemoteEndpointAwareNettySSLOptions allows you to use Netty’s SslContext instead of the JDK directly. The advantage is that Netty can use OpenSSL directly, which provides better performance and generates less garbage. A disadvantage of using the OpenSSL provider is that it requires platform-specific dependencies, unlike the JDK provider.

KeyStore ks = KeyStore.getInstance("JKS");
// make sure you close this stream properly (not shown here for brevity)
InputStream trustStore = new FileInputStream("client.truststore");
ks.load(trustStore, "password123".toCharArray());
TrustManagerFactory tmf = TrustManagerFactory.getInstance(TrustManagerFactory.getDefaultAlgorithm());
tmf.init(ks);

SslContextBuilder builder = SslContextBuilder
  .forClient()
  .sslProvider(SslProvider.OPENSSL)
  .trustManager(tmf);
  // only if you use client authentication
  .keyManager(new File("client.crt"), new File("client.key"));

SSLOptions sslOptions = new RemoteEndpointAwareNettySSLOptions(builder.build());

Cluster cluster = Cluster.builder()
  .addContactPoint("127.0.0.1")
  .withSSL(sslOptions)
  .build();