When dealing with SSL/TLS certificates, you may encounter an x509 certificate error that states the certificate is 'expired or not yet valid.' This common issue can prevent users from accessing your website or application securely, and may negatively impact your website's SEO ranking. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to identify and fix this issue.
Table of Contents
Understanding x509 Certificate Error
An x509 certificate error occurs when a certificate is invalid or has expired. This error can be caused by several factors, such as:
- The certificate's validity period has ended.
- The certificate's start date is in the future.
- The system clock on the client or server is incorrect.
- The certificate's chain of trust is broken or incomplete.
To understand why this error occurs, it's essential to know how SSL/TLS certificates work. When a user visits a website or uses an application secured by SSL/TLS, their browser or client verifies the server's certificate to ensure it's valid and trustworthy. If the certificate is expired or not yet valid, the client will display an error message and may block access to the site or application.
Learn more about x509 certificates
How to Fix 'Expired or Not Yet Valid' Issues
Step 1: Verify the Certificate's Validity Period
The first step in resolving the x509 certificate error is to check the certificate's validity period. You can do this by examining the certificate details in your browser, using an online SSL checker, or by running the following OpenSSL command:
openssl x509 -in certificate.crt -text -noout
Look for the Not Before and Not After fields, which indicate the certificate's start and end dates.
Step 2: Renew or Replace the Expired Certificate
If the certificate is expired, you'll need to renew it or replace it with a new one. You can obtain a new certificate from a trusted certificate authority (CA) like Let's Encrypt, DigiCert, or GlobalSign.
Follow your CA's instructions for generating a new certificate signing request (CSR) and installing the new certificate on your server. Make sure to restart your web server after installing the new certificate.
Step 3: Correct the System Clock
If the certificate is not expired but the error persists, check the system clock on both the client and server. An incorrect system clock can cause the client to believe the certificate is expired or not yet valid.
To correct the system clock on a Linux server, use the following command:
sudo timedatectl set-ntp true
On a Windows server, use the following command in an elevated command prompt:
w32tm /config /manualpeerlist:pool.ntp.org /syncfromflags:MANUAL /update
Step 4: Verify the Certificate Chain
If the certificate's validity period and the system clock are correct, the issue may be caused by a broken or incomplete certificate chain. Ensure that all intermediate and root certificates are properly installed on your server. You can verify the certificate chain using an online SSL checker or by running the following OpenSSL command:
openssl verify -CAfile chain.pem certificate.crt
If the certificate chain is incomplete, obtain the missing certificates from your CA and install them on your server. Restart your web server after updating the certificate chain.
FAQ
1. What is an x509 certificate?
An x509 certificate is a digital certificate used to establish secure connections over the internet using SSL/TLS. It contains information about the certificate owner, the certificate's public key, and the issuing certificate authority.
2. How do I check if my certificate is expired?
You can check if your certificate is expired by examining the certificate details in your browser, using an online SSL checker, or by running the following OpenSSL command:
openssl x509 -in certificate.crt -text -noout
3. Can I fix the x509 certificate error without renewing the certificate?
If the certificate is expired, you'll need to renew it or replace it with a new one. If the error is caused by an incorrect system clock or a broken certificate chain, you can fix the issue without renewing the certificate.
4. How do I install a new certificate on my server?
Follow your CA's instructions for generating a new certificate signing request (CSR) and installing the new certificate on your server. Make sure to restart your web server after installing the new certificate.
5. How do I verify the certificate chain?
You can verify the certificate chain using an online SSL checker or by running the following OpenSSL command:
openssl verify -CAfile chain.pem certificate.crt