PK68318: Inconsistent Character Encoding for spnegoNotSupportedPage, NTLMTokenReceivedPage

Fixes are available

APAR status

Closed as program error.

Error description

Inconsistent Character Encoding for spnegoNotSupportedPage,
NTLMTokenReceivedPage

When either of these server properties are used to specify a
file URL:

    * com.ibm.ws.security.spnego.SPN1.spnegoNotSupportedPage
    * com.ibm.ws.security.spnego.SPN1.NTLMTokenReceivedPage

and the WebSphere Application Server's locale is not
simplistic, for example the file encoding/locale is GB18030,
the replacement file URL contents get garbled when the page is
read and transmitted.

This is because the page loading function is not honoring the
JRE's default file.encoding when loading a file URL.  As a
result, files become garbled on systems in DBCS locales, systems
with non-ASCII native character encodings (EBCDIC), and possibly
systems with other non-US locales.

The spnego TAI URL handling for the spnegoNotSupportPage and
NTLMTokenReceivedPage overrides must be improved to take
character encoding into account.

There is no specific trace string to search for in this case.
The clearest way is to look for familiar mojibake (character
changing) patterns in the page as it is displayed or traced.
The changes to the characters are introduced when the page is
displayed via the spnego TAI override mechanism, but not when
the page is displayed by directly referencing it through
WebSphere Application Server.

Local fix

```
none at this time
```

Problem summary

****************************************************************
* USERS AFFECTED:  WebSphere Application Server users of       *
*                  SPNEGO TAI page URL overrides               *
****************************************************************
* PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Inconsistent Character Encoding for     *
*                      spnegoNotSupportedPage,                 *
*                      NTLMTokenReceivedPage                   *
****************************************************************
* RECOMMENDATION:  Apply this APAR or use the default page.    *
****************************************************************
When either of these server properties are used to specify a
file URL:

* com.ibm.ws.security.spnego.SPN1.spnegoNotSupportedPage
* com.ibm.ws.security.spnego.SPN1.NTLMTokenReceivedPage

and the WebSphere Application Server's locale is not
simplistic, for example the file encoding/locale is GB18030,
the replacement file URL contents get garbled when the page
is read and transmitted.

There is no specific trace string to search for in this
case.  The clearest way is to look for familiar mojibake
(character changing) patterns in the page as it is displayed or
traced.  The changes to the characters are introduced when the
page is displayed via the spnego TAI override mechanism, but
not when the page is displayed by directly referencing it
through WebSphere Application Server.

Problem conclusion

The problem was fixed by supplying the charSetName when
constructing the InputStreamReader on top of the URL's
InputStream.  The charSetName is obtained from the JRE's
file.encoding system property if a file:// URL is used, or
from the ContentType ;charset attribute if present on an
http:// URL.

The fix for this APAR is currently targeted for inclusion in
fixpack 6.1.0.21.  Please refer to the Recommended Updates
page for delivery information:
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg27004980

Temporary fix

Contact IBM Support for a temporary fix.

Comments

APAR Information

APAR number
PK68318
Reported component name
WEBS APP SERV N
Reported component ID
5724H8800
Reported release
61W
Status
CLOSED PER
PE
NoPE
HIPER
NoHIPER
Special Attention
NoSpecatt
Submitted date
2008-06-30
Closed date
2008-09-03
Last modified date
2008-10-01

APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:
APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

Fixed component name
WEBS APP SERV N
Fixed component ID
5724H8800

Applicable component levels

R61A PSY
UP
R61H PSY
UP
R61I PSY
UP
R61P PSY
UP
R61S PSY
UP
R61W PSY
UP
R61Z PSY
UP

[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU059","label":"IBM Software w\/o TPS"},"Product":{"code":"SSEQTP","label":"WebSphere Application Server"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"6.1","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB45","label":"Automation"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
28 December 2021

Tips

PK68318: Inconsistent Character Encoding for spnegoNotSupportedPage, NTLMTokenReceivedPage

Fixes are available

Subscribe

APAR status

Closed as program error.

Error description

Local fix

Problem summary

Problem conclusion

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

APAR number

Reported component name

Reported component ID

Reported release

Status

PE

HIPER

Special Attention

Submitted date

Closed date

Last modified date

APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

Fixed component name

Fixed component ID

Applicable component levels

R61A PSY

R61H PSY

R61I PSY

R61P PSY

R61S PSY

R61W PSY

R61Z PSY

Document Information

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