Encrypt a Realm - Java SDK

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Overview

Considerations
Storing & Reusing Keys
Performance Impact
Encryption and Atlas Device Sync
Accessing an Encrypted Realm from Multiple Processes
Example
Generate and Store an Encryption Key
Access an Existing Encryption Key
Open an Encrypted Realm

Realm is now Atlas Device SDK – Learn More

Overview

You can encrypt your realms to ensure that the data stored to disk can't be read outside of your application. You encrypt the realm file on disk with AES-256 + SHA-2 by supplying a 64-byte encryption key when opening a realm.

Realm transparently encrypts and decrypts data with standard AES-256 encryption using the first 256 bits of the given 512-bit encryption key. Realm uses the other 256 bits of the 512-bit encryption key to validate integrity using a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC).

Warning

Do not use cryptographically-weak hashes for realm encryption keys. For optimal security, we recommend generating random rather than derived encryption keys.

Considerations

The following are key impacts to consider when encrypting a realm.

Storing & Reusing Keys

You must pass the same encryption key to RealmConfiguration.Builder.encryptionKey() each time you open the realm. If you don't provide a key or specify the wrong key for an encrypted realm, the Realm SDK throws an error.

Apps should store the encryption key in the Android KeyStore so that other apps cannot read the key.

Performance Impact

Reads and writes on encrypted realms can be up to 10% slower than unencrypted realms.

Encryption and Atlas Device Sync

You can encrypt a synced realm.

Realm only encrypts the data on the device and stores the data unencrypted in your Atlas data source. Any users with authorized access to the Atlas data source can read the data, but the following still applies:

Users must have the correct read permissions to read the synced data.
Data stored in Atlas is always encrypted at a volume (disk) level.
The transfer between client and server is always fully encrypted.

You can also enable Customer Key Management to encrypt stored Atlas data using your cloud provider's key (e.g. AWS KMS, Azure Key Vault, Google Cloud KMS).

If you need unique keys for each user of your application, you can use an OAuth provider or use one of the Realm authentication providers and an authentication trigger to create a 64-bit key and store that key in a user object.

Accessing an Encrypted Realm from Multiple Processes

Changed in version 10.14.0.

Starting with Realm Java SDK version 10.14.0, Realm supports opening the same encrypted realm in multiple processes.

If your app uses Realm Java SDK version 10.14.0 or earlier, attempting to open an encrypted realm from multiple processes throws this error: Encrypted interprocess sharing is currently unsupported.

Example

The following steps describe the recommended way to use the Android KeyStore for encryption with Realm:

Generate an asymmetric RSA key that Android can securely store and retrieve using the Android KeyStore.
Note
Android Version M and Above: Keystore Security
Versions M and above require user PIN or fingerprint to unlock the KeyStore.
Generate a symmetric key (AES) you can use to encrypt the realm.
Encrypt the symmetric AES key using your private RSA key.
Store the encrypted AES key on filesystem (in a SharedPreferences, for example).

When you need to use your encrypted realm:

Retrieve your encrypted AES key.
Decrypt your encrypted AES key using the public RSA key.
Use the decrypted AES key in the RealmConfiguration to open the encrypted realm.

Tip

Generate and Store an Encryption Key

The following code demonstrates how to securely generate and store an encryption key for a realm:

// Create a key to encrypt a realm and save it securely in the keystore
public byte[] getNewKey() {
    // open a connection to the android keystore
    KeyStore keyStore;
    try {
        keyStore = KeyStore.getInstance("AndroidKeyStore");
        keyStore.load(null);
    } catch (KeyStoreException | NoSuchAlgorithmException
            | CertificateException | IOException e) {
        Log.v("EXAMPLE", "Failed to open the keystore.");
        throw new RuntimeException(e);
    }
    // create a securely generated random asymmetric RSA key
    byte[] realmKey = new byte[Realm.ENCRYPTION_KEY_LENGTH];
    new SecureRandom().nextBytes(realmKey);
    // create a cipher that uses AES encryption -- we'll use this to encrypt our key
    Cipher cipher;
    try {
        cipher = Cipher.getInstance(KeyProperties.KEY_ALGORITHM_AES
                + "/" + KeyProperties.BLOCK_MODE_CBC
                + "/" + KeyProperties.ENCRYPTION_PADDING_PKCS7);
    } catch (NoSuchAlgorithmException | NoSuchPaddingException e) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE", "Failed to create a cipher.");
        throw new RuntimeException(e);
    }
    // generate secret key
    KeyGenerator keyGenerator;
    try {
        keyGenerator = KeyGenerator.getInstance(
                KeyProperties.KEY_ALGORITHM_AES,
                "AndroidKeyStore");
    } catch (NoSuchAlgorithmException | NoSuchProviderException e) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE", "Failed to access the key generator.");
        throw new RuntimeException(e);
    }
    KeyGenParameterSpec keySpec = new KeyGenParameterSpec.Builder(
            "realm_key",
            KeyProperties.PURPOSE_ENCRYPT | KeyProperties.PURPOSE_DECRYPT)
            .setBlockModes(KeyProperties.BLOCK_MODE_CBC)
            .setEncryptionPaddings(KeyProperties.ENCRYPTION_PADDING_PKCS7)
            .setUserAuthenticationRequired(true)
            .setUserAuthenticationValidityDurationSeconds(
                   AUTH_VALID_DURATION_IN_SECOND)
            .build();
    try {
        keyGenerator.init(keySpec);
    } catch (InvalidAlgorithmParameterException e) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE", "Failed to generate a secret key.");
        throw new RuntimeException(e);
    }
    keyGenerator.generateKey();
    // access the generated key in the android keystore, then
    // use the cipher to create an encrypted version of the key
    byte[] initializationVector;
    byte[] encryptedKeyForRealm;
    try {
        SecretKey secretKey =
                (SecretKey) keyStore.getKey("realm_key", null);
        cipher.init(Cipher.ENCRYPT_MODE, secretKey);
        encryptedKeyForRealm = cipher.doFinal(realmKey);
        initializationVector = cipher.getIV();
    } catch (InvalidKeyException | UnrecoverableKeyException
            | NoSuchAlgorithmException | KeyStoreException
            | BadPaddingException | IllegalBlockSizeException e) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE", "Failed encrypting the key with the secret key.");
        throw new RuntimeException(e);
    }
    // keep the encrypted key in shared preferences
    // to persist it across application runs
    byte[] initializationVectorAndEncryptedKey =
            new byte[Integer.BYTES +
                    initializationVector.length +
                    encryptedKeyForRealm.length];
    ByteBuffer buffer = ByteBuffer.wrap(initializationVectorAndEncryptedKey);
    buffer.order(ByteOrder.BIG_ENDIAN);
    buffer.putInt(initializationVector.length);
    buffer.put(initializationVector);
    buffer.put(encryptedKeyForRealm);
    activity.getSharedPreferences("realm_key", Context.MODE_PRIVATE).edit()
            .putString("iv_and_encrypted_key",
                    Base64.encodeToString(initializationVectorAndEncryptedKey, Base64.NO_WRAP))
            .apply();
    return realmKey; // pass to a realm configuration via encryptionKey()
}

// Create a key to encrypt a realm and save it securely in the keystore
fun getNewKey(): ByteArray {
    // open a connection to the android keystore
    val keyStore: KeyStore
    try {
        keyStore = KeyStore.getInstance("AndroidKeyStore")
        keyStore.load(null)
    } catch (e: Exception) {
        Log.v("EXAMPLE", "Failed to open the keystore.")
        throw RuntimeException(e)
    }
    // create a securely generated random asymmetric RSA key
    val realmKey = ByteArray(Realm.ENCRYPTION_KEY_LENGTH)
    SecureRandom().nextBytes(realmKey)
    // create a cipher that uses AES encryption -- we'll use this to encrypt our key
    val cipher: Cipher
    cipher = try {
        Cipher.getInstance(KeyProperties.KEY_ALGORITHM_AES
                + "/" + KeyProperties.BLOCK_MODE_CBC
                + "/" + KeyProperties.ENCRYPTION_PADDING_PKCS7)
    } catch (e: Exception) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE", "Failed to create a cipher.")
        throw RuntimeException(e)
    }
    // generate secret key
    val keyGenerator: KeyGenerator
    keyGenerator = try {
        KeyGenerator.getInstance(
                KeyProperties.KEY_ALGORITHM_AES,
                "AndroidKeyStore")
    } catch (e: NoSuchAlgorithmException) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE", "Failed to access the key generator.")
        throw RuntimeException(e)
    }
    val keySpec = KeyGenParameterSpec.Builder(
            "realm_key",
            KeyProperties.PURPOSE_ENCRYPT or KeyProperties.PURPOSE_DECRYPT)
            .setBlockModes(KeyProperties.BLOCK_MODE_CBC)
            .setEncryptionPaddings(KeyProperties.ENCRYPTION_PADDING_PKCS7)
            .setUserAuthenticationRequired(true)
            .setUserAuthenticationValidityDurationSeconds(
                   AUTH_VALID_DURATION_IN_SECOND)
            .build()
    try {
        keyGenerator.init(keySpec)
    } catch (e: InvalidAlgorithmParameterException) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE", "Failed to generate a secret key.")
        throw RuntimeException(e)
    }
    keyGenerator.generateKey()
    // access the generated key in the android keystore, then
    // use the cipher to create an encrypted version of the key
    val initializationVector: ByteArray
    val encryptedKeyForRealm: ByteArray
    try {
        val secretKey = keyStore.getKey("realm_key", null) as SecretKey
        cipher.init(Cipher.ENCRYPT_MODE, secretKey)
        encryptedKeyForRealm = cipher.doFinal(realmKey)
        initializationVector = cipher.iv
    } catch (e: Exception) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE", "Failed encrypting the key with the secret key.")
        throw RuntimeException(e)
    }
    // keep the encrypted key in shared preferences
    // to persist it across application runs
    val initializationVectorAndEncryptedKey = ByteArray(Integer.BYTES +
            initializationVector.size +
            encryptedKeyForRealm.size)
    val buffer = ByteBuffer.wrap(initializationVectorAndEncryptedKey)
    buffer.order(ByteOrder.BIG_ENDIAN)
    buffer.putInt(initializationVector.size)
    buffer.put(initializationVector)
    buffer.put(encryptedKeyForRealm)
    activity!!.getSharedPreferences("realm_key", Context.MODE_PRIVATE).edit()
            .putString("iv_and_encrypted_key",
                    Base64.encodeToString(initializationVectorAndEncryptedKey, Base64.NO_WRAP))
            .apply()
    return realmKey // pass to a realm configuration via encryptionKey()
}

Access an Existing Encryption Key

The following code demonstrates how to access and decrypt a securely stored encryption key for a realm:

// Access the encrypted key in the keystore, decrypt it with the secret,
// and use it to open and read from the realm again
public byte[] getExistingKey() {
    // open a connection to the android keystore
    KeyStore keyStore;
    try {
        keyStore = KeyStore.getInstance("AndroidKeyStore");
        keyStore.load(null);
    } catch (KeyStoreException | NoSuchAlgorithmException
            | CertificateException | IOException e) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE", "Failed to open the keystore.");
        throw new RuntimeException(e);
    }
    // access the encrypted key that's stored in shared preferences
    byte[] initializationVectorAndEncryptedKey = Base64.decode(activity
            .getSharedPreferences("realm_key", Context.MODE_PRIVATE)
            .getString("iv_and_encrypted_key", null), Base64.DEFAULT);
    ByteBuffer buffer = ByteBuffer.wrap(initializationVectorAndEncryptedKey);
    buffer.order(ByteOrder.BIG_ENDIAN);
    // extract the length of the initialization vector from the buffer
    int initializationVectorLength = buffer.getInt();
    // extract the initialization vector based on that length
    byte[] initializationVector = new byte[initializationVectorLength];
    buffer.get(initializationVector);
    // extract the encrypted key
    byte[] encryptedKey = new byte[initializationVectorAndEncryptedKey.length
            - Integer.BYTES
            - initializationVectorLength];
    buffer.get(encryptedKey);
    // create a cipher that uses AES encryption to decrypt our key
    Cipher cipher;
    try {
        cipher = Cipher.getInstance(KeyProperties.KEY_ALGORITHM_AES
                + "/" + KeyProperties.BLOCK_MODE_CBC
                + "/" + KeyProperties.ENCRYPTION_PADDING_PKCS7);
    } catch (NoSuchAlgorithmException | NoSuchPaddingException e) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE", "Failed to create cipher.");
        throw new RuntimeException(e);
    }
    // decrypt the encrypted key with the secret key stored in the keystore
    byte[] decryptedKey;
    try {
        final SecretKey secretKey =
                (SecretKey) keyStore.getKey("realm_key", null);
        final IvParameterSpec initializationVectorSpec =
                new IvParameterSpec(initializationVector);
        cipher.init(Cipher.DECRYPT_MODE, secretKey, initializationVectorSpec);
        decryptedKey = cipher.doFinal(encryptedKey);
    } catch (InvalidKeyException e) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE", "Failed to decrypt. Invalid key.");
        throw new RuntimeException(e);
    } catch (UnrecoverableKeyException | NoSuchAlgorithmException
            | BadPaddingException | KeyStoreException
            | IllegalBlockSizeException | InvalidAlgorithmParameterException e) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE",
                "Failed to decrypt the encrypted realm key with the secret key.");
        throw new RuntimeException(e);
    }
    return decryptedKey; // pass to a realm configuration via encryptionKey()
}

// Access the encrypted key in the keystore, decrypt it with the secret,
// and use it to open and read from the realm again
fun getExistingKey(): ByteArray {
    // open a connection to the android keystore
    val keyStore: KeyStore
    try {
        keyStore = KeyStore.getInstance("AndroidKeyStore")
        keyStore.load(null)
    } catch (e: Exception) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE", "Failed to open the keystore.")
        throw RuntimeException(e)
    }
    // access the encrypted key that's stored in shared preferences
    val initializationVectorAndEncryptedKey = Base64.decode(activity
            ?.getSharedPreferences("realm_key", Context.MODE_PRIVATE)
            ?.getString("iv_and_encrypted_key", null), Base64.DEFAULT)
    val buffer = ByteBuffer.wrap(initializationVectorAndEncryptedKey)
    buffer.order(ByteOrder.BIG_ENDIAN)
    // extract the length of the initialization vector from the buffer
    val initializationVectorLength = buffer.int
    // extract the initialization vector based on that length
    val initializationVector = ByteArray(initializationVectorLength)
    buffer[initializationVector]
    // extract the encrypted key
    val encryptedKey = ByteArray(initializationVectorAndEncryptedKey.size
            - Integer.BYTES
            - initializationVectorLength)
    buffer[encryptedKey]
    // create a cipher that uses AES encryption to decrypt our key
    val cipher: Cipher
    cipher = try {
        Cipher.getInstance(KeyProperties.KEY_ALGORITHM_AES
                + "/" + KeyProperties.BLOCK_MODE_CBC
                + "/" + KeyProperties.ENCRYPTION_PADDING_PKCS7)
    } catch (e: Exception) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE", "Failed to create cipher.")
        throw RuntimeException(e)
    }
    // decrypt the encrypted key with the secret key stored in the keystore
    val decryptedKey: ByteArray
    decryptedKey = try {
        val secretKey = keyStore.getKey("realm_key", null) as SecretKey
        val initializationVectorSpec = IvParameterSpec(initializationVector)
        cipher.init(Cipher.DECRYPT_MODE, secretKey, initializationVectorSpec)
        cipher.doFinal(encryptedKey)
    } catch (e: InvalidKeyException) {
        Log.e("EXAMPLE", "Failed to decrypt. Invalid key.")
        throw RuntimeException(e)
    } catch (e: Exception ) {
                Log.e("EXAMPLE",
                        "Failed to decrypt the encrypted realm key with the secret key.")
                throw RuntimeException(e)
    }
    return decryptedKey // pass to a realm configuration via encryptionKey()
}

Open an Encrypted Realm

The following code demonstrates how to open an encrypted realm with the encryptionKey() method:

// use a new encryption key to write and read from a realm
byte[] realmKey = getNewKey();
// use the key to configure a realm
final SyncConfiguration realmConfig =
        new SyncConfiguration.Builder(user, PARTITION)
        .allowQueriesOnUiThread(true)
        .allowWritesOnUiThread(true)
        .encryptionKey(realmKey)
        .build();
// once we've used the key to generate a config, erase it in memory manually
Arrays.fill(realmKey, (byte) 0);
// open and write and read from the realm
Realm encryptedRealm = Realm.getInstance(realmConfig);
ObjectId id = new ObjectId();
encryptedRealm.executeTransaction(eR -> {
    eR.createObject(Frog.class, id);
});
Frog frog = encryptedRealm.where(Frog.class).findFirst();
ObjectId written_id = frog.get_id();
Log.v("EXAMPLE", "generated id: " + id
        + ", written frog id: " + written_id);
encryptedRealm.close();
// get the encryption key from the key store a second time
byte[] decryptedKey = getExistingKey();
// configure a realm with the key
final SyncConfiguration realmConfigDecrypt =
        new SyncConfiguration.Builder(user, PARTITION)
        .allowQueriesOnUiThread(true)
        .allowWritesOnUiThread(true)
        .encryptionKey(decryptedKey)
        .build();
// once we've used the key to generate a config, erase it in memory manually
Arrays.fill(decryptedKey, (byte) 0);
// note: realm is encrypted, this variable just demonstrates that we've
// decrypted the contents with the key in memory
Realm decryptedRealm = Realm.getInstance(realmConfigDecrypt);
Frog frogDecrypt = decryptedRealm.where(Frog.class).findFirst();
Log.v("EXAMPLE", "generated id: " + id
        + ", decrypted written frog id: " + frogDecrypt.get_id());
decryptedRealm.close();

// use a new encryption key to write and read from a realm
val realmKey = getNewKey()
// use the key to configure a realm
val realmConfig = SyncConfiguration.Builder(user, PARTITION)
        .allowQueriesOnUiThread(true)
        .allowWritesOnUiThread(true)
        .encryptionKey(realmKey)
        .build()
// once we've used the key to generate a config, erase it in memory manually
Arrays.fill(realmKey, 0.toByte())
// open and write and read from the realm
val encryptedRealm = Realm.getInstance(realmConfig)
val id = ObjectId()
encryptedRealm.executeTransaction {
    eR: Realm -> eR.createObject(Frog::class.java, id)
}
val frog = encryptedRealm.where(Frog::class.java).findFirst()
val written_id = frog!!._id
Log.v("EXAMPLE", "generated id: " + id
        + ", written frog id: " + written_id)
encryptedRealm.close()
// get the encryption key from the key store a second time
val decryptedKey = getExistingKey()
// configure a realm with the key
val realmConfigDecrypt = SyncConfiguration.Builder(user, PARTITION)
        .allowQueriesOnUiThread(true)
        .allowWritesOnUiThread(true)
        .encryptionKey(decryptedKey)
        .build()
// once we've used the key to generate a config, erase it in memory manually
Arrays.fill(decryptedKey, 0.toByte())
// note: realm is encrypted, this variable just demonstrates that we've
// decrypted the contents with the key in memory
val decryptedRealm = Realm.getInstance(realmConfigDecrypt)
val frogDecrypt = decryptedRealm.where(Frog::class.java).findFirst()
Log.v("EXAMPLE", "generated id: " + id
        + ", decrypted written frog id: " + frogDecrypt!!._id)
decryptedRealm.close()

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