This error typically arises when a Java application attempts to establish a secure connection (HTTPS) with a server, but the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) cannot validate the server’s SSL certificate. The certificate might be self-signed, expired, issued by an untrusted Certificate Authority (CA), or the required intermediate certificates might be missing from the JVM’s truststore. For instance, an application trying to connect to a web service secured with a certificate signed by a CA not recognized by the JVM would trigger this error.
Secure communication is paramount in protecting sensitive data exchanged between applications and servers. A robust certificate validation process safeguards against man-in-the-middle attacks and ensures data integrity. Historically, handling certificates within Java applications has evolved, leading to improved security practices and more sophisticated trust management tools. Addressing this issue prevents connection failures and maintains a strong security posture.