Module java.base
Package javax.crypto

Class SealedObject

java.lang.Object
javax.crypto.SealedObject
All Implemented Interfaces:
Serializable
public class SealedObject extends Object implements Serializable
This class enables a programmer to create an object and protect its confidentiality with a cryptographic algorithm.

Given any Serializable object, one can create a SealedObject that encapsulates the original object, in serialized format (i.e., a "deep copy"), and seals (encrypts) its serialized contents, using a cryptographic algorithm such as AES, to protect its confidentiality. The encrypted content can later be decrypted (with the corresponding algorithm using the correct decryption key) and de-serialized, yielding the original object.

Note that the Cipher object must be fully initialized with the correct algorithm, key, padding scheme, etc., before being applied to a SealedObject.

The original object that was sealed can be recovered in two different ways:

  • by using the getObject method that takes a Cipher object.

    This method requires a fully initialized Cipher object, initialized with the exact same algorithm, key, padding scheme, etc., that were used to seal the object.

    This approach has the advantage that the party who unseals the sealed object does not require knowledge of the decryption key. For example, after one party has initialized the cipher object with the required decryption key, it could hand over the cipher object to another party who then unseals the sealed object.

  • by using one of the getObject methods that take a Key object.

    In this approach, the getObject method creates a cipher object for the appropriate decryption algorithm and initializes it with the given decryption key and the algorithm parameters (if any) that were stored in the sealed object.

    This approach has the advantage that the party who unseals the object does not need to keep track of the parameters (e.g., an IV) that were used to seal the object.

Since:
1.4
See Also: