Applying Security to the Web Service using Apache Axis 1.4

Hi All,
I am using Apache axis 1.4 for Web Services. I haven't found much information in apache axis documetation for Web Service Security.

Can some one please suggest me how to achieve the Web Service Security in Apache Axis.

Thanks

-Ajay

Hi Ajay,

Currently I am using Axis 1.3 for Webservices.
I too need information about Webservice security with Apache Axis.
Help me if you have solved the ways of implementing security.

Thanks,
Amutha

Have you seen this - http://ws.apache.org/axis/java/security.html. As mentioned here, if you are looking for XML level security then you will also have to use http://xml.apache.org/security/index.html. For transport level security you can use HTTPS.

Security has 2 parts Authentication & Authorization.
There are different ways of doing Authentication, but the most simple & secure way is to enable SSL for Axis servlet.
For Authorization you can use Handlers. Handlers are like servlet filter. You can read the SOAP message before it is reached to ultimate endpoint and apply Authorization rules.

Thankyou Rajneesh and Ashkrit for your useful information regarding security with Axis.

So

For Authentication - enabling SSL for Axis servlet
For Authorization - To use Handlers.

Since I am new to Axis I wish to know what would be the differnce between these two.

For Authorization do we need to use the classes from the below package

org.apache.axis.handlers

Could you please explain me little more.

With Regards,
Amutha

You can get some sample implementation from samples/handler folder of axis 1.4 installation.
Yopu will get fair idea about that .

Try looking at the WSS4J project from apache. There is a full description of how to use it.

http://ws.apache.org/wss4j/axis.html