ROR 1.65.1 + Java -17

Enterprise Support
1

ROR Version: 1.65.1

Kibana Version: 8.18.3

Elasticsearch Version: 8.18.3

Steps to reproduce the issue
file: /etc/sysconfig/elasticsearch
ES_JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-17-openjdk

Expected result:

Plugins do not work on java version 17

java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: org/elasticsearch/entitlement/runtime/policy/PolicyParser has been compiled by a more recent version of the Java Runtime (class file version 66.0), this version of the Java Runtime only recognizes class file versions up to 61.0

**
Actual Result**:
Elasticsearch should start.

{“customer_id”: “6c4a385b-2ae8-4f02-a9cd-ef24addfb5b3”, “subscription_id”: “32d4073f-dc2f-4056-a868-842727c637cd”}

2

Maybe I’m patching the plugin incorrectly?

3

I see that the Docker image of Elasticsearch 8.18.3 is bundled with Java 24.
Are you able to check this Java version?

$ docker run -ti -u root -p 9202:9200 -e “discovery.type=single-node” -e “ES_JAVA_OPTS=-Xms512m -Xmx512m” ``docker.elastic.co/elasticsearch/elasticsearch:8.18.3`` 

bashroot@ab269cc6cb4b:/usr/share/elasticsearch# jdk/bin/java -version
openjdk version “24” 2025-03-18
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 24+36-3646)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 24+36-3646, mixed mode, sharing)
4

We use our own version of java 17.
We are not ready to switch to version 24 yet.

5

Ok, got it.
Could you please show me the whole exception stack?

6

Elasticsearch 8.18.3 works fine without plugin.

7

only java java-17-openjdk-17.0.15.0.6
Running multiple nodes on one server.

Or do you need java parameters specifically?
If so, it would be better if you tell me the output of which commands you need.

8

there should be more context around this error:
```
java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: org/elasticsearch/entitlement/runtime/policy/PolicyParser has been compiled by a more recent version of the Java Runtime (class file version 66.0), this version of the Java Runtime only recognizes class file versions up to 61.0
```
I want to see it.
I guess it was a patching step, not the Elasticsearch runtime?

If it’s difficult for you to gather the context now, I will try to reproduce it on my end, obviously.

9

This?

[2025-08-29T11:04:05,302][ERROR][o.e.b.Elasticsearch      ] [host-client]fatal exception while booting Elasticsearch
java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: org/elasticsearch/entitlement/runtime/policy/PolicyParser has been compiled by a more recent version of the Java Runtime (class file version 66.0), this version of the Java Runtime only recognizes class file versions up to 61.0
	at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass1(Native Method) ~[?:?]
	at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(ClassLoader.java:1017) ~[?:?]
	at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(ClassLoader.java:1095) ~[?:?]
	at java.security.SecureClassLoader.defineClass(SecureClassLoader.java:182) ~[?:?]
	at jdk.internal.loader.BuiltinClassLoader.defineClass(BuiltinClassLoader.java:821) ~[?:?]
	at jdk.internal.loader.BuiltinClassLoader.findClassInModuleOrNull(BuiltinClassLoader.java:741) ~[?:?]
	at jdk.internal.loader.BuiltinClassLoader.loadClassOrNull(BuiltinClassLoader.java:665) ~[?:?]
	at jdk.internal.loader.BuiltinClassLoader.loadClass(BuiltinClassLoader.java:639) ~[?:?]
	at jdk.internal.loader.ClassLoaders$AppClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoaders.java:188) ~[?:?]
	at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:525) ~[?:?]
	at org.elasticsearch.entitlement.runtime.policy.PolicyUtils.parsePolicyIfExists(PolicyUtils.java:146) ~[elasticsearch-entitlement-8.18.3.jar:?]
	at org.elasticsearch.entitlement.runtime.policy.PolicyUtils.createPluginPolicies(PolicyUtils.java:71) ~[elasticsearch-entitlement-8.18.3.jar:?]
	at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.initPhase2(Elasticsearch.java:244) ~[elasticsearch-8.18.3.jar:?]
	at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.main(Elasticsearch.java:96) ~[elasticsearch-8.18.3.jar:?]
10

No errors during patching. Error while starting elasticsearch.

11

Ok. Thank you very much.
I have everything I need to get started. Will let you know and send you a pre-build when it’s fixed.

1 Like
12

Thank you very much.

13

Here is the fixed plugin: ROR 1.66.1 for ES 8.18.3

When you confirm it works, we will release ROR 1.66.1.

14

I’m on vacation, I won’t have time to check. I believe in your skills=)

15

This is fixed in ROR 1.66.1