How to Update Java Version in RSA Web Threat Detection 5.1.2

3 years ago

Originally Published: 2016-10-12

Article Number

000065233

Applies To

RSA Product Set: Web Threat Detection
RSA Product/Service Type: Mitigator
RSA Version/Condition: 5.1.2
Platform: Linux

Issue

A customer who is using Web Threat Detection may want to know what version is supported and if they may update the Java version (to meet security mandates for Java vulnerabilities, enterprise wide updates, etc.)

Tasks

Obtain the release notes for the current version of WTD and look at version specific statements on Java version compatibility. For this article we are going to provide an example since this was an actual Customer case and question.

You can ask the Customer to run the following command to get the actual installed version on their WTD system.

# java -version

Ask the Customer why they need to update the java version. What is the version to which they want to update? Is this to meet security vulnerability compliance or for some other purpose?

Resolution

WTD 5.1.2 and Java version:

See page 23 of the Release Notes for version 5.1.2. In the release notes Java version 1.8 is already specified.

If you want to use the Profile Timeline feature, you will need to install the Cassandra database as part of the installation. The Cassandra database has a dependency on Oracle JRE. If you are working in closed environment, you'll need to install this dependency before you begin installation. Consult the Oracle Java website for specific details about installing dependences.

At the time of this writing, the JRE can be found at the following location: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jre8-downloads-2133155.html.

Depending on the nature of your website traffic, you may also need the Unlimited Strength Encryption (JCE) policy files. As of the time of this writing, these files can be found at the following location: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jce8-download-2133166.html.
Instructions for how to install the JRE and policy files are included with the JRE and policy files.

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If you go to the above URLs you will have a choice of JRE 8 downloads. You should upgrade to the latest build of the 1.8 version, which is 102. You should make sure to upgrade the JCE policy jar files to ones provided specifically for version 8.

At present Cassandra and CProfilerUpdater are the only components using Java. In future versions, however, the direction for development will convert more components to using Java, as stated by Engineering.

Installation instructions that are recommended --

There are no specific upgrade instructions for upgrading only the Java JRE (or JCE policy jars, if required).
However, as a good practice this is recommended.

1. Stop all the services ,
2. Upgrade Java,
3. Restart the services in the proper order.
4. Monitor var/log/messages and Cprofilerupdater and Cassandra logs for errors.
5. Make sure the Profiler timeline is working in the Forensics User Interface (FUI).

Notes

The approach of this article can be applied to other versions of WTD. It maybe more difficult if the Customer wants to upgrade to a whole new number version (i.e., Java 1.7 to Java 1.8). Test or Development systems from lower environments should be used to test compatibility with Customers WTD implementation.

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