How to use a JDBC driver from an arbitrary location

Question

I need to test a JDBC connection to a database. The java code to do that should be as simple as:

DriverManager.getConnection(\"jdbc connection URL\", \"usern         


        

Answer 1

The problem is DriverManager performs "tasks using the immediate caller's class loader instance". See Guideline 6-3 of Secure Coding Guidelines for the Java Programming Language, version 2.0. The system class loader is in no way special in this case.

Just for kicks, I wrote a blog entry on this subject a while back. My solution, though more complicated then Nick Sayer's solution, is more complete and even works from untrusted code. Also note URLClassLoader.newInstance is preferred over new URLClassLoader.