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Apache Commons Crypto is a Java library for AES encryption and decryption that delegates cryptographic work to OpenSSL or Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) providers rather than implementing AES itself. It offers both cipher-level and stream-level APIs. Apache’s official project pages identify version 1.2.0, published 23 January 2023; check the official download page for the version currently available.
What is Apache Commons Crypto?
Commons Crypto is an open-source Apache Commons library designed to provide high-performance encryption and decryption in Java applications. It exposes APIs for working directly with ciphers and for encrypting or decrypting data through Java streams. Its native implementation uses JNI to connect Java code with OpenSSL; it can also use JCE.
The Apache project describes its implementation as aiming for performance comparable to native C or C++ code based on OpenSSL. The project supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, with native library selection based on machine properties such as os.name and os.arch. Actual compatibility depends on the JDK, OpenSSL availability, operating system, and architecture in the deployment environment.
Does Commons Crypto implement AES?
No. Commons Crypto provides Java interfaces around underlying cryptographic providers, including OpenSSL and JCE. It does not implement the AES algorithm itself. That distinction matters operationally: the provider and deployment environment affect which implementation is used and whether native acceleration is available.
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The cipher API supports low-level encryption and decryption. The CryptoRandom API supplies cryptographically strong random numbers; the user guide says its default implementation can use Intel DRNG where available.
Stream APIs
The stream API encrypts data written through an output stream and decrypts data read through an input stream. Documented classes include CryptoInputStream, CTRCryptoInputStream, PositionedCryptoInputStream, CryptoOutputStream, and CTRCryptoOutputStream. Choose a stream abstraction when it fits the application’s data flow; use the cipher API when the application needs lower-level control.
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Is Commons Crypto faster than JCE?
The Apache PlusOne description for Xianda Ke’s 2017 ApacheCon session states that the library “outperformed JCE by an order of magnitude,” citing hardware acceleration and an optimized native implementation. The session description does not provide a benchmark protocol, hardware configuration, or workload, so this is an attributed historical claim—not a general performance guarantee.
Apache’s project summary reports throughput of 1400–1700 MB/s on modern Xeon processors. This is an Apache project claim, not an independently verified result, and the page does not establish that the figure applies to every cipher mode, workload, machine, or deployment. Compare providers with the same application workload, cipher configuration, data sizes, and hardware before choosing on speed alone.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesRelevant comparison factors include whether OpenSSL or JCE is used, whether the application uses cipher or stream APIs, hardware support for AES-NI or DRNG, JDK and OpenSSL compatibility, measured throughput, and the maintenance of the cryptographic components in production.
What Java and OpenSSL versions does it require?
Apache’s user guide lists JDK 1.8 or later and OpenSSL 1.1.1 for production deployment. It lists Linux, macOS, and Windows as supported operating systems. Treat these as the documented prerequisites, and verify compatibility against the official guide and the exact release you plan to deploy.
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How do I add Commons Crypto to Maven?
The Apache user guide gives this Maven coordinate pattern; its example uses version 1.1.0:
<dependency>
<groupId>org.apache.commons</groupId>
<artifactId>commons-crypto</artifactId>
<version>1.1.0</version>
</dependency>Apache’s official overview and download pages identify 1.2.0 as the release published on 23 January 2023. Because the guide’s dependency example is older, confirm the version you want on the official download page before adding it to a new project. That page provides Java 8 binary and source archives and recommends verifying downloads with PGP signatures, or SHA-512 checksums when necessary.
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Is Apache Commons Crypto still maintained?
The official Apache project pages identify 1.2.0 as the release and show a publication date of 23 January 2023. That establishes the release information shown on those pages, but does not by itself establish whether a newer release or active development is available now. Check the official project pages for current release information before adopting it.
Apache’s security page directs users to its security reporting process and the public user mailing list. It says binary patches are not provided; users who need a source-code mitigation must follow the component’s build instructions. For production use, include provider and dependency updates in your security-maintenance process.
What does “Another Wheel of Apache Commons” mean?
“Apache Commons Crypto: Another Wheel of Apache Commons – Xianda Ke” is the title of an ApacheCon session archive entry published by Apache PlusOne on 16 March 2017. The description presents Commons Crypto as a cross-platform cryptographic library optimized with AES-NI and a hardware random-number generator, and says the session covered the project’s origin, community improvements, encryption acceleration, and future plans. Here, “another wheel” refers to adding a project to the Apache Commons family; it is not a separate cryptographic feature or product.
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