In Java 11 HttpClient how to solve restricted header name: Date

Question

The following java 11 code:

HttpRequest request = HttpRequest.newBuilder()
            .uri(uri)
            .header("Digest", digest)
            .header("Date", date)  
            .build();

gives the following error:

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: restricted header name: "Date"

The problem is that the digest is based on the date, so I cannot simply rely on the http client date, because that will make the digest invalid. I need a way to either set the Date header, or to retrieve the Date header and then set the digest thereafter. Neither seems possible with standard java 11.

Answer 1

Bug#JDK-8213189

This is a bug registered in current JDK's http-client implementation where Date is categorized as a restricted header as well.

In JDK/12, there would be a provision for other such restricted headers to be allowed using the attribute:

-jdk.httpclient.allowRestrictedHeaders