Change keystore password from no password to a non blank password

Question

I have a jks keystore with no password. When I run the command

keytool -list -keystore mykeystore.jks

And it prompts me for the keystore password, I simply hit 'enter'.

Please note that the keystore password IS NOT the default java password of 'changeit'. It is blank

When I try to run

keytool -storepasswd -keystore mykeystore.jks

to change the password to a non blank string. It firsts prompts me for the current password. Simply hitting enter since it is blank says

keytool -storepasswd -keystore mykeystore.jks
Enter keystore password:
Keystore password is too short - must be at least 6 characters 

Just to confirm with everyone that the password is not 'changeit'

keytool -storepasswd -keystore mykeystore.jks
Enter keystore password:  changeit
keytool error: java.io.IOException: Keystore was tampered with, or password was incorrect

Any idea how I can change the keystore password if the existing password is blank?

Solution 1

Add -storepass to keytool arguments.

keytool -storepasswd -storepass '' -keystore mykeystore.jks

But also notice that -list command does not always require a password. I could execute follow command in both cases: without password or with valid password

$JAVA_HOME/bin/keytool -list -keystore $JAVA_HOME/jre/lib/security/cacerts

Solution 2

If you're trying to do stuff with the Java default system keystore (cacerts), then the default password is changeit.

You can list keys without needing the password (even if it prompts you) so don't take that as an indication that it is blank.

(Incidentally who in the history of Java ever has changed the default keystore password? They should have left it blank.)

Solution 3

On my system the password is 'changeit'. On blank if I hit enter then it complains about short password. Hope this helps

Comments

[Matthew Kirkley]

Thanks for your response. The password indeed wasn't blank! I didn't know that about the -list command not requiring a password.

[the_marcelo_r]

That's not working for me 'keytool -storepasswd -storepass '' -keystore mykeystore.jks' = keytool error: java.io.IOException: Keystore was tampered with, or password was incorrect

[Alireza Fattahi]

"You can list keys without needing the password" saved my day :) I find that we can always read the Certificate Entry from any keystore file without entering keystore password

[duct_tape_coder]

@theMarceloR Your password probably isn't actually blank.

[JohannesB]

@theMarceloR and anyone else - on Windows command-line use "" (double quotes) for empty string instead of single-quotes.

[Snedden27]

when I enter blank the list works but not when I enter changeit, making me think what is the prompt asking me

[Mirko Cianfarani]

I love you!!! You saved me