PM74235: LOGIN FAILURE DUE TO SECJ0056E ERROR

PM74235; 8.0.0.5: login failure due to secj0056e error
8.5.0.2: WebSphere Application Server V8.5 Fix Pack 2
8.0.0.6: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 6
8.0.0.7: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 7
8.0.0.8: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 8
8.0.0.9: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 9
8.0.0.10: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 10
8.0.0.11: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 11
8.0.0.12: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 12
8.0.0.13: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 13
8.0.0.14: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 14
8.0.0.15: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 15

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• The customer is getting following message in SystemOut.log
  after moving to WebSphere 8.0.0.4 from 8.0.0.3. Once moving
  back to 8.0.0.3, problem is going away.
  .
  SECJ0056E: Authentication
  failed for reason appContext parameter is null
  

Local fix

• N/A
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  All users of IBM WebSphere Application      *
  *                  Server                                      *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: When webcontainer invokes security      *
  *                      code with null virtual host string,     *
  *                      login process fail.                     *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  The security code was not implmeneted to handle null string
  gracefully, since this condition should not happen. However,
  it was not the case. As a result, when null string is set as a
  virtual host name, the security code throws an exception. Thus,
  the whole login process fails.
  

Problem conclusion

• With this fix, the code was modified to handle null string
  properly.
  
  The fix for this APAR is currently targeted for inclusion in
  fix pack 8.0.0.6, and 8.5.0.2.  Please refer to the
  Recommended Updates page for delivery information:
  http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg27004980
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• 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

• R800 PSY

     UP

• R850 PSY

     UP