Q: Reading encrypted pdf Metadata without decrypting the file I am using iText to encrypt PDF files: 
stamp.setEncryption(hardPasswordByte, 
                    hardPasswordByte,
                    PdfWriter.ALLOW_PRINTING, 
                    PdfWriter.ENCRYPTION_AES_128 | PdfWriter.DO_NOT_ENCRYPT_METADATA);

Notice I am specifying PdfWriter.DO_NOT_ENCRYPT_METADATA.
But when I try only to read the Document Metadata like this (without decrypting the Document):
PdfReader ReadInputPDF = new PdfReader(path);
byte Document_MetaData[] = ReadInputPDF.getMetadata();

I get "Bad user password" exception.
Is there a way to read the metadate with out decrypting the document?

A: Can you try providing password to your PdfReader constructor : 
new PdfReader(path, hardPasswordByte);


A: So, as mkl said the PdfWriter.DO_NOT_ENCRYPT_METADATA simply sets the MetaData which can be read as a clear text. Using Java i can simply use InputStream and read the file, searching for the metadata.
