Java Keytool error after importing certificate , "keytool error: java.io.FileNotFoundException & Access Denied"

I'm trying to connect a Java Web API via HTTPS; however, an exception is thrown:

javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: sun.security.validator.ValidatorException

I followed these steps which I learned from online keytool & SSL cert tutorials:

1. I copied the HTTPS URL into the browser, downloaded the SSL certificates & Installed them in the browser using Internet Explorer.

2. Exported the certificates to a path on my computer, the certificates were saved as .cer

3. Used the keytool's import option. The command below executed without any errors.

   keytool -import -alias downloadedCertAlias -keystore C:\path\to\my\keystore\cacerts.file -file C:\path\of\exportedCert.cer
   

4. I was prompted for a password at the command prompt, which I entered then I was authenticated.

5. The cmd window printed some certificate data & signatures and I was prompted with the question:

   Trust this certificate?

   I answered yes.

6. The cmd prompt displayed

   Certificate was added to keystore

   However after that message, another exception was displayed:

   keytool error: java.io.FileNotFoundException: C:\Program files\...\cacerts <Access Denied>
   

Finally when I checked the keystore , the SSL certificate was not added and my application gives the same exception I was getting earlier when trying to connect:

(javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException:sun.security.validator.ValidatorException)

Solution 1:

This could happen if you are not running the command prompt in administrator mode. If you are using windows 7, you can go to run, type cmd and hit Ctrl+Shift+enter. This will open the command prompt in administrator mode. If not, you can also go to start -> all programs -> accessories -> right click command prompt and click 'run as administrator'.

Solution 2:

I was having the same problem while importing the certificate in local keystore. Whenever i issue the keytool command i got the following error.

Certificate was added to keystore keytool error: java.io.FileNotFoundException: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_151\jre\lib\security (Access is denied)

Following solution work for me.

1) make sure you are running command prompt in Rus as Administrator mode

2) Change your current directory to %JAVA_HOME%\jre\lib\security

3) then Issue the below command

keytool -import -alias "mycertificatedemo" -file "C:\Users\name\Downloads\abc.crt" -keystore cacerts

3) give the password changeit

4) enter y

5) you will see the following message on successful "Certificate was added to keystore"

Make sure you are giving the "cacerts" only in -keystore param value , as i was giving the full path like "C**:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_151\jre\lib\security**".

Hope this will work

Solution 3:

I had the same problem under Windows and could solve it by running cmd.exe as administrator (right-click in start menu, then "Run as administrator).

Solution 4:

Check the write permissions on the keystore.

Solution 5:

For Mac users make sure to sudo and when prompted first give your administrator password and that will be followed by keystore password which typically should be "changeit" unless you actually changed it.