com.pingidentity.pf.datastore an error occured while testing the connection Error PKIX path building failed

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The error you’re encountering, PKIX path building failed, is related to SSL certificate validation in PingIdentity while attempting to establish a connection. Specifically, it indicates that the system could not verify the certificate path back to a trusted root certificate authority (CA). This is a common issue when a server certificate is either self-signed or not recognized by the trust store.

Here’s a breakdown of the error:

  1. PKIX path building failed: This means that Java’s SSL/TLS system could not build a valid certificate chain back to a trusted root certificate authority.
  2. SunCertPathBuilderException: unable to find valid certification path to requested target: This suggests that the certificate presented by the remote system is not trusted by the client making the request. The client’s trust store (Java keystore) does not have the necessary CA certificates to validate the server certificate.

Causes:

  • Self-signed certificate: If the server you’re trying to connect to uses a self-signed certificate, it won’t be trusted automatically.
  • Untrusted CA: The certificate is signed by a CA that’s not included in the default trust store of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
  • Missing intermediate certificates: The certificate chain might be incomplete, missing intermediate certificates between the server’s certificate and the trusted root.
  • Expired or revoked certificates: The server certificate could be expired or revoked, leading to validation failure.

Solutions:

1. Import the Server’s Certificate to the Java Truststore

You need to import the server’s certificate (or the intermediate CA certificates) into the Java trust store to ensure it’s recognized as a trusted certificate.

Steps:

  • Obtain the server certificate:

openssl s_client -connect <server-host>:<port> -showcerts

This will return the server’s SSL certificate chain. Copy the relevant certificate (in PEM format).

  • Save the certificate as server.crt.
  • Import the certificate into the Java trust store:

keytool -import -alias <alias_name> -keystore <path_to_java_home>/lib/security/cacerts -file server.crt

The default password for the trust store is usually changeit, but this can vary.

  • Restart your PingFederate server or application to ensure the new trust store is loaded.

2. Use a Valid SSL Certificate

  • If the server is using a self-signed certificate, consider replacing it with one signed by a trusted public CA (e.g., Let’s Encrypt, GlobalSign, etc.).
  • Ensure the entire certificate chain, including intermediate certificates, is properly configured on the server.

3. Disable SSL Validation (Not Recommended in Production)

You can temporarily disable SSL validation to allow connections without certificate verification. This is usually done in testing environments or when working with self-signed certificates.

Example: In Java, you can disable SSL certificate validation by setting a custom trust manager, but this approach is not secure and should be avoided in production:

import javax.net.ssl.*;

import java.security.SecureRandom;

import java.security.cert.X509Certificate;

TrustManager[] trustAllCerts = new TrustManager[]{

    new X509TrustManager() {

        public X509Certificate[] getAcceptedIssuers() {

            return null;

        }

        public void checkClientTrusted(X509Certificate[] certs, String authType) {}

        public void checkServerTrusted(X509Certificate[] certs, String authType) {}

    }

};

SSLContext sc = SSLContext.getInstance(“SSL”);

sc.init(null, trustAllCerts, new SecureRandom());

HttpsURLConnection.setDefaultSSLSocketFactory(sc.getSocketFactory());

This solution is not recommended for production environments.

4. Verify the Server Certificate

Ensure that the certificate on the server is not expired, properly configured, and includes all intermediate certificates. You can use tools like:

openssl s_client -connect <server-host>:<port> -showcerts

5. Update the JVM Truststore (if outdated)

If you are using an old version of Java, the default trust store may not include modern root CAs. You can update your JVM or manually update the CA certificates:

  • Download a fresh version of the cacerts file from the latest JVM or a trusted source.
  • Replace your current cacerts file (located in JAVA_HOME/lib/security) with the new one.

6. Proxy Configuration

If you’re using a proxy, make sure the proxy server has the necessary CA certificates and that PingFederate is properly configured to connect through the proxy.

Conclusion

To resolve the PKIX path building failed error, you will likely need to add the server certificate (or its CA) to your Java trust store. Ensure the server’s certificate chain is correctly configured and, if using self-signed certificates, import them into the trust store. Avoid disabling SSL validation in production environments due to security risks.

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