com.wm.util.security
Class WmSecureString

java.lang.Object
  com.wm.util.security.WmSecureString

All Implemented Interfaces:

java.io.Serializable

public class WmSecureString
extends java.lang.Object
implements java.io.Serializable

A simple wrapper for character array.

This class addresses security concerns related to String storage in memory, specifically the immutable string issue that prevents explicit erasure of string characters. This class is a mutable alternative to String, allowing characters to be removed from memory. The stored characters are kept in memory as clear text until erased.

See Also:

Serialized Form

Constructor Summary

WmSecureString(byte[] inArray)
Constructs WmSecureString from a byte array, using the default encoding.

WmSecureString(byte[] inArray, java.lang.String inEncoding)
Constructs WmSecureString from a byte array, using a specified encoding.

WmSecureString(char[] inArray)
Constructs WmSecureString from a character array.

WmSecureString(java.lang.String inStr)
Constructs WmSecureString from a string.

WmSecureString(WmSecureString inBuff)
Constructs WmSecureString from another secure string buffer.

Method Summary

boolean	equals(java.lang.Object inObj) Overrides java.lang.Object.equals() to compare chars.
void	erase() Erases the buffer contents.
char[]	getChars() Creates a byte array from the buffer contents, using the input encoding.
int	hashCode() Overrides java.lang.Object.hashCode().
void	initFromByteArray(byte[] inArray, java.lang.String inEncoding) Initializes the buffer with a byte array.
int	length() Returns the number of characters in the buffer.
byte[]	toByteArray() Creates a byte array from the buffer contents, using the default encoding.
byte[]	toByteArray(java.lang.String inEnc) Creates a byte array from the buffer contents, using a specified encoding.
java.lang.String	toString() Creates a string from the buffer contents.
boolean	wasErased() Returns true if the secure string buffer is currently empty.

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

clone, finalize, getClass, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait

Constructor Detail

WmSecureString

public WmSecureString(char[] inArray)

Constructs WmSecureString from a character array.

Parameters:

inArray - Character array from which to populate the buffer.

WmSecureString

public WmSecureString(byte[] inArray)

Constructs WmSecureString from a byte array, using the default encoding.

Parameters:

inArray - Byte array from which to populate the buffer.

WmSecureString

public WmSecureString(byte[] inArray,
                      java.lang.String inEncoding)
               throws java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException

Constructs WmSecureString from a byte array, using a specified encoding.

Parameters:

inArray - Byte array from which to populate the buffer.

inEncoding - Identifier for the encoding to be used for conversion.

Throws:

java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException - Thrown if the specified encoding is not supported.

WmSecureString

public WmSecureString(java.lang.String inStr)

Constructs WmSecureString from a string.

Parameters:

inStr - String from which to populate the buffer.

WmSecureString

public WmSecureString(WmSecureString inBuff)

Constructs WmSecureString from another secure string buffer.

Parameters:

inBuff - WmSecureString from which to populate the buffer.

Method Detail

length

public int length()

Returns the number of characters in the buffer.

Returns:

Character count.

toByteArray

public byte[] toByteArray()

Creates a byte array from the buffer contents, using the default encoding.

Returns:

Byte array containing buffer characters.

toByteArray

public byte[] toByteArray(java.lang.String inEnc)
                   throws java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException

Creates a byte array from the buffer contents, using a specified encoding.

Parameters:

inEnc - Identifier for the encoding to be used for the conversion.

Returns:

Byte array containing buffer characters.

Throws:

java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException - Thrown if the specified encoding is not supported.

getChars

public char[] getChars()

Creates a byte array from the buffer contents, using the input encoding.

Returns:

Byte array containing buffer characters.

toString

public java.lang.String toString()

Creates a string from the buffer contents.

Overrides:

toString in class java.lang.Object

Returns:

String containing buffer characters.

erase

public void erase()

Erases the buffer contents.

equals

public boolean equals(java.lang.Object inObj)

Overrides java.lang.Object.equals() to compare chars.

Overrides:

equals in class java.lang.Object

Parameters:

inObj - Target object for comparison.

Returns:

true if and only if input object has identical contents.

hashCode

public int hashCode()

Overrides java.lang.Object.hashCode().

Overrides:

hashCode in class java.lang.Object

Returns:

A hash code.

wasErased

public boolean wasErased()

Returns true if the secure string buffer is currently empty.

initFromByteArray

public void initFromByteArray(byte[] inArray,
                              java.lang.String inEncoding)
                       throws java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException

Initializes the buffer with a byte array.

Parameters:

inArray - Byte array to replace the current buffer contents.

inEncoding - Identifier for the encoding to be used for the conversion.

Throws:

java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException - Thrown if the specified encoding is not supported.