Secure Java Applications against Quantum Threats

Secure Java Applications
Against Quantum Threats
Ana-Maria Mihalceanu
Senior Java Developer Advocate @ Oracle
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Goals
Understand the urgency
for advancing quantum
cryptography
Explore solutions and
standards
Leverage JDK security to
build resilient applications
2 Copyright © 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates

Why Quantum Cryptography
Matters Now ?

Data Incident Involving Your Personal Information
“ We’re writing to inform you that some of your personal data shared with one of our contractors was involved in a recent
security incident.
The data was encrypted using industry-standard cryptographic methods. While the encrypted files were accessed by an
unauthorized party, they remain undecipherable.
We are actively investigating and reinforcing our systems for added protection.
You do not need to take any action at this time, but we remain available for any questions.”

The Math Behind ECC Standard
Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is a modern
cryptographic approach based on the algebraic structure
of elliptic curves over finite fields.
y2=x3+ax+b mod p where a,b∈𝐹p and 4a3+27b2≠0
Finite Fields (Fp)
Finite Fields operations are done modulo a prime p.
Elliptic Curve Equation

Copyright © 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates
6
Smaller Keys
256-bit ECC ≈ 3072-bit
RSA
Fast Calculations
Faster computations and
reduced resource usage.
ECDSA
Elliptic Curve Digital
Signature Algorithm
ECDH
Elliptic Curve Diffie-
Hellman for Secure Key
Exchange
Cryptographic Applications

Harvest now, Decrypt Later
Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/keyboard-hands-hacker-hack-4356763/

The Power of Quantum Computers
https://www.quantamagazine.org/john-preskill-explains-
quantum-supremacy-20191002
https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/research/working-
groups/quantum-safe-security
8 Copyright © 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates | Confidential: Internal/Restricted/Highly Restricted

A New Mathematical Approach
9 Copyright © 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates | Confidential: Internal/Restricted/Highly Restricted
L={a⋅b1+b⋅b2 ∣ a,b ∈ 𝕫 }

10
Lattice
A lattice is a discrete grid
of points in ℝn, defined as
integer combinations of
linearly independent
vectors.
Module Lattice
A module
lattice generalizes this
over polynomial rings.
Lattice-Based KEMs
Lattice-based KEMs rely
on mathematical
problems such as
Learning With Errors or
Ring Learning With
Errors.
NP-Hard
These are NP-
hard problems
for quantum computers.
Math Behind Module-Lattice Based Cryptography

Growing Interest for Quantum
Resistant Cryptography
Source: https://media.defense.gov/2022/Sep/07/2003071836/-1/-1/0/CSI_CNSA_2.0_FAQ_.PDF

Towards (Post) Quantum
Cryptography

Hybrid Public Key Encryption (HPKE)
A new standard for public-key encryption that lets a sender
encrypt arbitrary-length messages under a receiver’s public
key.
Can be either for pre-quantum or post-quantum secure
communication.

“HPKE works for any combination
of an asymmetric KEM, key
derivation function (KDF), and
authenticated encryption with
additional data (AEAD) encryption
function.”
RFC 9180 on Hybrid Public Key Encryption

Forward Thinking Security Standards
FIPS 203
A standard for general encryption, based on ML-KEM.
FIPS 204
The primary standard for protecting digital signatures,
based on ML-DSA.
FIPS 205
Stateless Hash-Based Digital Signature Standard
15 Copyright © 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2024/08/nist-releases-first-3-finalized-post-quantum-encryption-standards

Advancing JDK Security
16
JEP 452: Key Encapsulation Mechanism API
JDK 21
• JEP 478: Key Derivation Function API (Preview)
• JEP 496: Quantum-Resistant Module-Lattice-Based Key Encapsulation Mechanism
• JEP 497: Quantum-Resistant Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm
JEP 510: Key Derivation Function API
JDK 25
JDK 24

Generate ML-KEM Key Pairs with Keytool (Example)
# generates a certificate signed with EC
keytool -genkeypair
-alias $SERVER_ALIAS
-keyalg ec
-validity 365
-keystore server.p12
-storepass $PASSWORD
-keypass $PASSWORD
# generate the ML-KEM key pair
keytool -keystore server.p12
-genkeypair -alias server-mlkem
-keyalg ML-KEM-768
-signer $SERVER_ALIAS

Generate ML-DSA Key Pairs with Keytool (Example)
keytool -genkeypair
-alias server-mldsa
-keyalg ML-DSA-44
-validity 365
-keypass $PASSWORD
# or provide the parameter-set name, ML-DSA-44, directly via the -keyalg option:
keytool -genkeypair
-alias server-mldsa
-keyalg ML-DSA
-groupname ML-DSA-44
-validity 365
-keypass $PASSWORD

Capture Relevant Details About X.509 Certificates with JFR
# enable jdk.X509Certificate and jdk.X509Validation options in your JFR config file
<event name="jdk.X509Certificate">
<setting name="enabled">true</setting>
<setting name="stackTrace">true</setting>
</event>
<event name="jdk.X509Validation">
<setting name="enabled">true</setting>
<setting name="stackTrace">true</setting>
</event>
# or run jfr configure command in a terminal window
$JAVA_HOME/bin/jfr configure jdk.X509Certificate#enabled=true jdk.X509Validation#enabled=true

Inspect Successful TLS Handshakes
# start a recording
jcmd llvmid JFR.start duration=60s filename=/tmp/TLS.jfr
# use jfr print command
$JAVA_HOME/bin/jfr print --events "TLS*" /tmp/TLS.jfr
jdk.TLSHandshake {
...
peerHost = "google.com"
peerPort = 8443
protocolVersion = "TLSv1.3"
cipherSuite = "TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256"
...
}

Don’t Forget to Scrub Sensitive Data
# Filter data from the specified recording file.
jfr scrub [filters] [recording-file] [output-file]
# Supply which events to include.
jfr scrub --include-events jdk.X509Certificate,jdk.X509Validation rec.jfr
# Include a category and exclude events.
jfr scrub --include-categories Security --exclude-events jdk.X509Validation rec.jfr
# Remove all events by category
jfr scrub --exclude-categories Security rec.jfr

What’s Next for You?
Audit your encrypted
assets. Take care of your
application by updating it
to a recent JDK.
Don’t assume encrypted =
safe (forever).

Stay Tuned For More!
inside.java youtube.com/java
dev.java

Demo Code

Thank you
26

Secure Java Applications against Quantum Threats

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