Understanding Algorithm Negotiation Failures

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 102 views

Introduction

ColdFusion 2021 is a powerful web application server that provides a robust set of features for building scalable and secure web applications. One of the key features of ColdFusion is its ability to connect to secure FTP servers using the CFFTP/SFTP protocol. However, with the recent upgrade to ColdFusion 2021 Update 17, some users have reported issues with connecting to secure FTP servers that use older algorithms. In this article, we will explore the issue of algorithm negotiation failures in ColdFusion 2021 and provide a solution to enable the algorithms required by the server.

Understanding Algorithm Negotiation Failures

Algorithm negotiation failures occur when the client and server cannot agree on a common encryption algorithm. In the case of ColdFusion 2021 and jsch, the error message indicates that the algorithm negotiation failed due to a mismatch between the client's proposal and the server's proposal. The error message provides the following details:

ErrorCode: 82
ErrorText: Algorithm negotiation fail: algorithmName="cipher.c2s" jschProposal="aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-gcm@openssh.com ,aes256-gcm@openssh.com" serverProposal="aes128-cbc,3des-cbc,blowfish-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc"
ReturnValue: 82 Algorithm negotiation fail: algorithmName="cipher.c2s" jschProposal="aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-gcm@openssh.com ,aes256-gcm@openssh.com" serverProposal="aes128-cbc,3des-cbc,blowfish-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc"
Succeeded: NO

The error message indicates that the server is proposing the following algorithms: aes128-cbc, 3des-cbc, blowfish-cbc, aes192-cbc, and aes256-cbc. However, the client (jsch) is proposing the following algorithms: aes128-ctr, aes192-ctr, aes256-ctr, aes128-gcm@openssh.com, and aes256-gcm@openssh.com.

Enabling Older Algorithms in ColdFusion 2021

To resolve the algorithm negotiation failure, we need to enable the older algorithms required by the server. In ColdFusion 2021, we can achieve this by modifying the jsch configuration file. The jsch configuration file is located at <CFusion Root>\jsch\config.

Modifying the jsch Configuration File

To modify the jsch configuration file, follow these steps:

Open the jsch configuration file in a text editor.
Locate the cipher.c2s section and modify the cipher.s2c and cipher.c2s properties to include the older algorithms required by the server.
Save the changes to the jsch configuration file.

Example Configuration File

Here is an example of the modified jsch configuration file:

cipher.s2c=aes128-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc
cipher.c2s=aes128-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc

Enabling Older Algorithms in ColdFusion

In addition to modifying the jsch configuration file, we also need to enable the older algorithms in ColdFusion. We can achieve this by modifying the cfftp configuration file.

Modifying the cfftp Configuration File

To modify the cfftp configuration file, follow these steps:

Open the cfftp configuration file in a text editor.
Locate the cipher section and modify the cipher property to include the older algorithms required by the server.
Save the changes to the cfftp configuration file.

Example Configuration File

Here is an example of the modified cfftp configuration file:

cipher=aes128-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc

Conclusion

In this article, we explored the issue of algorithm negotiation failures in ColdFusion 2021 and provided a solution to enable the algorithms required by the server. By modifying the jsch configuration file and enabling the older algorithms in ColdFusion, we can resolve the algorithm negotiation failure and connect to secure FTP servers that use older algorithms. We hope this article has been helpful in resolving your issue with ColdFusion 2021 and jsch.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you are still experiencing issues with algorithm negotiation failures, here are some troubleshooting tips to help you resolve the issue:

Check the server's proposal: Verify that the server's proposal includes the algorithms required by the server.
Check the client's proposal: Verify that the client's proposal includes the algorithms required by the server.
Check the jsch configuration file: Verify that the jsch configuration file includes the older algorithms required by the server.
Check the cfftp configuration file: Verify that the cfftp configuration file includes the older algorithms required by the server.

Q: What is the cause of the algorithm negotiation failure in ColdFusion 2021?

A: The algorithm negotiation failure in ColdFusion 2021 is caused by a mismatch between the client's proposal and the server's proposal. The client (jsch) is proposing newer algorithms such as aes128-ctr, aes192-ctr, aes256-ctr, aes128-gcm@openssh.com, and aes256-gcm@openssh.com, while the server is proposing older algorithms such as aes128-cbc, 3des-cbc, blowfish-cbc, aes192-cbc, and aes256-cbc.

Q: How can I resolve the algorithm negotiation failure in ColdFusion 2021?

A: To resolve the algorithm negotiation failure in ColdFusion 2021, you need to enable the older algorithms required by the server. You can achieve this by modifying the jsch configuration file and enabling the older algorithms in ColdFusion.

Q: How do I modify the jsch configuration file to enable older algorithms?

A: To modify the jsch configuration file, follow these steps:

Open the jsch configuration file in a text editor.
Locate the cipher.c2s section and modify the cipher.s2c and cipher.c2s properties to include the older algorithms required by the server.
Save the changes to the jsch configuration file.

Q: What is the format of the modified jsch configuration file?

A: The modified jsch configuration file should have the following format:

cipher.s2c=aes128-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc
cipher.c2s=aes128-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc

Q: How do I modify the cfftp configuration file to enable older algorithms?

A: To modify the cfftp configuration file, follow these steps:

Open the cfftp configuration file in a text editor.
Locate the cipher section and modify the cipher property to include the older algorithms required by the server.
Save the changes to the cfftp configuration file.

Q: What is the format of the modified cfftp configuration file?

A: The modified cfftp configuration file should have the following format:

cipher=aes128-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc

Q: What are some troubleshooting tips to resolve algorithm negotiation failures?

A: Here are some troubleshooting tips to help you resolve algorithm negotiation failures:

Check the server's proposal: Verify that the server's proposal includes the algorithms required by the server.
Check the client's proposal: Verify that the client's proposal includes the algorithms required by the server.
Check the jsch configuration file: Verify that the jsch configuration file includes the older algorithms required by the server.
Check the cfftp configuration file: Verify that the cfftp configuration file includes the older algorithms required by the server.

Q: What are some common issues that can cause algorithm negotiation failures?

A: Some common issues that can cause algorithm negotiation failures include:

Mismatch between client and server proposals: The client and server proposals should match to avoid algorithm negotiation failures.
Incorrect configuration files: The jsch and cfftp configuration files should be modified correctly to include the older algorithms required by the server.
Server-side issues: Server-side issues such as incorrect configuration or outdated software can cause algorithm negotiation failures.

Q: How can I prevent algorithm negotiation failures in the future?

A: To prevent algorithm negotiation failures in the future, you can:

Regularly update your ColdFusion and jsch software: Regular updates can ensure that you have the latest features and security patches.
Verify the server's proposal: Verify that the server's proposal includes the algorithms required by the server.
Verify the client's proposal: Verify that the client's proposal includes the algorithms required by the server.
Check the configuration files: Verify that the jsch and cfftp configuration files are modified correctly to include the older algorithms required by the server.