How to Fix Javax.Net.SSL.SSLHandShakeException: Remote Host Closed Connection During Handshake

1. What Is javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException
2. How to Troubleshoot javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException

In this article, we will learn about javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: Remote host closed connection during handshake in Java and some possible ways to troubleshoot this exception.

What Is javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException

The javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException is one of the common errors in a client-server application. Whenever we try to connect to a server or a website using SSL, we need to have the certificates, i.e., the public keys to validate the certificates sent by the website to which we are trying to connect.

In a nutshell, an exception is thrown when there is an error in the SSL/TLS handshake, specifically when the remote host (server) closes the connection during the handshake process.

There might be several reasons for this exception, such as:

1. Incorrect SSL/TLS configurations on the client or server side.
2. A certificate not trusted by the client (e.g., a self-signed certificate).
3. A mismatch between the SSL/TLS versions supported by the client and server.
4. Incorrect cipher suites being used.
5. The remote host is blocking the SSL/TLS traffic.

How to Troubleshoot javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException

To troubleshoot this issue, you can try the following.

1. Verify that the SSL/TLS configurations on the client and server are correct.

   

2. Check that the client trusts the certificate being used.

3. Ensure that the SSL/TLS versions supported by the client and server match.

4. Verify that the correct cipher suites are being used.

5. Check for any firewall or network configurations that might block the SSL/TLS traffic.

   

6. Contact the administrator of the remote host to check if there are any issues on the server side.