I've blogged about Self-signed Server Certificates and how they can cause havoc with client java applications. We'll I put the call out there to provide solutions and a very slick one has arrived!

XTrustProvider.java:

/*
 * The contents of this file are subject to the "END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR F5
 * Software Development Kit for iControl"; you may not use this file except in
 * compliance with the License. The License is included in the iControl
 * Software Development Kit.
 *
 * Software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS"
 * basis, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See
 * the License for the specific language governing rights and limitations
 * under the License.
 *
 * The Original Code is iControl Code and related documentation
 * distributed by F5.
 *
 * Portions created by F5 are Copyright (C) 1996-2004 F5 Networks
 * Inc. All Rights Reserved.  iControl (TM) is a registered trademark of
 * F5 Networks, Inc.
 *
 * Alternatively, the contents of this file may be used under the terms
 * of the GNU General Public License (the "GPL"), in which case the
 * provisions of GPL are applicable instead of those above.  If you wish
 * to allow use of your version of this file only under the terms of the
 * GPL and not to allow others to use your version of this file under the
 * License, indicate your decision by deleting the provisions above and
 * replace them with the notice and other provisions required by the GPL.
 * If you do not delete the provisions above, a recipient may use your
 * version of this file under either the License or the GPL.
 */
import java.security.AccessController; 
import java.security.InvalidAlgorithmParameterException; 
import java.security.KeyStore; 
import java.security.KeyStoreException; 
import java.security.PrivilegedAction; 
import java.security.Security; 
import java.security.cert.X509Certificate; 
  
import javax.net.ssl.ManagerFactoryParameters; 
import javax.net.ssl.TrustManager; 
import javax.net.ssl.TrustManagerFactorySpi; 
import javax.net.ssl.X509TrustManager; 
  
public final class XTrustProvider extends java.security.Provider
{ 
    private final static String NAME = "XTrustJSSE"; 
    private final static String INFO =
        "XTrust JSSE Provider (implements trust factory with truststore validation disabled)"; 
    private final static double VERSION = 1.0D; 
     
    public XTrustProvider()
   { 
       super(NAME, VERSION, INFO); 
        
       AccessController.doPrivileged(new PrivilegedAction()
      { 
         public Object run()
         { 
                 put("TrustManagerFactory." + TrustManagerFactoryImpl.getAlgorithm(),  
                                               TrustManagerFactoryImpl.class.getName()); 
                 return null; 
             } 
       }); 
    } 
     
    public static void install()
   { 
       if(Security.getProvider(NAME) == null)
      { 
          Security.insertProviderAt(new XTrustProvider(), 2); 
          Security.setProperty("ssl.TrustManagerFactory.algorithm",
              TrustManagerFactoryImpl.getAlgorithm()); 
       } 
    } 
     
    public final static class TrustManagerFactoryImpl extends TrustManagerFactorySpi
   { 
       public TrustManagerFactoryImpl() { } 
       public static String getAlgorithm() { return "XTrust509"; } 
       protected void engineInit(KeyStore keystore) throws KeyStoreException { } 
       protected void engineInit(ManagerFactoryParameters mgrparams)
         throws InvalidAlgorithmParameterException
      { 
          throw new InvalidAlgorithmParameterException(
              XTrustProvider.NAME + " does not use ManagerFactoryParameters"); 
       } 
        
       protected TrustManager[] engineGetTrustManagers()
      { 
            return new TrustManager[] { new X509TrustManager()
         { 
             public X509Certificate[] getAcceptedIssuers() { return null; } 
             public void checkClientTrusted(X509Certificate[] certs, String authType) { } 
             public void checkServerTrusted(X509Certificate[] certs, String authType) { } 
            }}; 
        } 
    } 
 } 

Calling Application:

...
XTrustProvider.install();
...

This file is up in CodeShare for those who are cut+paste challenged B-).

Hat tip to Exnihilo for posting this solution!

-Joe