Fix SSL Certificate – Signature Verification Failed Vulnerability

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates create a secure link between your web browser and server to ensure data privacy during transfer. But sometimes, this protection breaks. If the browser cannot verify the certificate, it displays a Signature Verification Failed error.

When users see the words “Fix SSL Certificate – Signature Verification Failed Vulnerability”, they often leave the site, which damages trust and negatively impacts search rankings. Therefore, fixing this issue quickly is important to keep your website secure and reliable.

This tutorial explains why the SSL Certificate – Signature Verification Failed Vulnerability happens and how to fix it step by step.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• SSL certificates help keep your website safe by establishing a secure connection between the web server and browser.
• SSL Certificate – Signature Verification Failed. Vulnerability means the browser cannot trust your SSL certificate.
• This issue can happen if your certificate is expired, self-signed, broken, or not correctly installed.
• Always renew your SSL certificate before it expires to avoid trust issues.
• Use HTTPS for all pages and resources to prevent mixed content warnings.
• Get your SSL from a trusted Certificate Authority to ensure its validity and that all browsers recognize it.
• Set up monitoring tools to track your certificate’s status and get alerts before it expires.
• Run regular security audits to catch hidden problems in your SSL setup.
• Fixing SSL errors quickly protects your visitors, builds trust, and keeps your site running smoothly.
• A secure website also ranks better in search results and gives users a safer browsing experience.

What Does SSL Certificate – Signature Verification Failed Vulnerability Mean?

Every Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) certificate includes a digital signature from a Certificate Authority (CA), which acts as a stamp of approval. When you visit a site, your browser checks this signature to ensure the certificate is authentic and issued by a trusted CA.

If the signature is missing, corrupted, or from an untrusted CA, the browser cannot verify this certificate is authentic. Note: Browsers rarely say Signature Verification Failed. Instead, they show related SSL errors. For example:

• Your connection is not private (generic warning for multiple SSL issues).
• NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID.
• NET::ERR_CERT_SIGNATURE_INVALID (rare, but explicitly indicates a signature problem).
• This site’s security certificate is not trusted.

While these errors often relate to signature verification issues, they can also occur due to:

• Expired certificates.
• Domain name mismatches.
• Revoked certificates (via Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP)/Certificate Revocation List (CRL)).
• Missing intermediate certificates.

A true SSL Certificate – Signature Verification Failed Vulnerability implies the certificate’s cryptographic signature is invalid, meaning it may have been tampered with or incorrectly issued. To fix this, the website owner must reissue or properly install the certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority (CA).

Common Causes

To fix the SSL Certificate – Signature Verification Failed Vulnerability, watch for the signs, like an error in your browser. Messages like Your connection is not private or This site is not secure usually mean the browser can’t trust the website’s SSL certificate.

You may also face issues if the SSL certificate is expired or revoked. SSL certificates expire, so if you forget to renew them, browsers won’t trust your site. Sometimes, the Certificate Authority can revoke a certificate if there’s a security concern.

Another issue is using an improperly signed certificate or SSL self-signed certificate vulnerability. Browsers treat a self-signed certificate as unsafe if a trusted CA has not verified it. Similarly, if a certificate is not correctly signed, it won’t pass the trust check.

Also, look out for mixed content. This happens when a web page loads some resources using HTTP and others using HTTPS. Even if the page has a valid SSL certificate, mixed content can confuse the browser and trigger problems.

You can also run into trouble if there’s a mismatch between the certificate and the private key. The certificate must match the private key used to create it. If these don’t pair, the browser can’t validate the connection.

Sometimes, the problem is caused by missing intermediate SSL certificates. These act as a link between your SSL certificate and the trusted root certificate. When not included, the chain of trust is broken, and the browser displays an error.

Corrupt or misconfigured certificate files can also trigger the SSL Certificate – Signature Verification Failed Vulnerability. A damaged file or a mistake in the certificate setup can prevent the browser from verifying it.

5 Ways to Fix SSL Certificate – Signature Verification Failed Vulnerability

Here are 5 simple but powerful solutions you can use to solve the issue and prevent it from happening again:

Update SSL Certificates

SSL certificates come with a set expiration date. After that date, browsers no longer trust the certificate, and your site may show security issues. To avoid this, you need to renew your SSL regularly.

So, don’t wait until the last minute. Many CAs offer email reminders when a certificate is about to expire. You can also set up automatic renewal if your hosting provider offers this feature.

For users hosting their website with Hosted.com, the AutoSSL feature takes care of this automatically by renewing the certificate every 3 months.

However, if you’ve purchased an SSL certificate from a third-party provider, you must manually set it up by generating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) every year. Remember, Domain Validated (DV) SSLs are only valid for a year.

After renewing, always double-check that the new certificate is installed correctly on your server. This simple step can prevent downtime, protect your users, and keep your website running smoothly and securely.

Implement HTTPS Across Entire Website

Your entire website, including pages, images, scripts, and stylesheets, should load using HTTPS. If some resources still use HTTP, it can create mixed content issues. This can cause browsers to show errors or block certain parts of your site, even if your SSL certificate is valid.

To fix this, ensure all links, scripts, and images in your website’s code use HTTPS. However, if you’re a Hosted.com user, you can easily enable HTTPS without touching the code. Here’s how:

Login to your Hosted.com account and access the cPanel. Then, navigate to Domains → Domains.

Find your domain name in the list and enable Force HTTPS Redirect. Enable this feature for all domains by selecting Enable Force HTTPS Redirect from the dropdown menu.

Note: Before you enable the HTTPS redirect, ensure your SSL certificate is installed correctly. Check this under the Security → SSL/TLS section in cPanel.

Now, open a new tab and visit different website pages to see if each resource’s address starts with https:// in the address bar.

When everything loads securely, visitors enjoy a safe experience without any issues. It also helps your site look more professional, builds user trust, and boosts your SEO rankings.

Choose a Reputable Certificate Authority (CA)

An SSL certificate is only trusted when issued by a reliable Certificate Authority (CA). A CA is an organization that issues SSL certificates and confirms that a website is real and safe. If your certificate is from a trusted CA, browsers will recognize it and create a secure connection for your visitors.

But if you use a self-signed certificate or one from an unknown CA, browsers might not trust it. This can lead to warnings or errors that say your site is not secure, even with a valid SSL certificate installed.

To avoid this, always choose a well-known CA, such as Let’s Encrypt, Sectigo, or DigiCert. These CAs are trusted by all major browsers and adhere to strict security rules.

However, if you’re a Hosted.com client, your WordPress Hosting plan includes free SSL certificates from trusted CAs, ensuring 99.9% compatibility across mobile devices and web browsers.

Monitor SSL Certificate Status

If none of the earlier fixes worked, the next step is to check your SSL certificate’s status to confirm it’s valid and verified. An expired or misconfigured certificate can lead to the SSL Certificate – Signature Verification Failed Vulnerability or make your website unreachable for visitors.

The best way to avoid this is by using SSL monitoring tools. These tools monitor your certificate 24/7 and send you alerts before it expires. This gives you enough time to renew it without any trouble.

One of the popular free tools you can use is SSL Checker. Just enter your domain name and click Check SSL.

Additionally, many hosting providers also offer automatic reminders or built-in SSL monitoring. To check the SSL status using the Hosted.com control panel (cPanel), follow these steps:

Go to Hosted’s cPanel → Security → SSL/TLS Status.

You’ll see a list of all domains and subdomains hosted in your account. Look for the lock icon next to your domain and ensure it is green. Here, a green lock means the domain has a valid SSL certificate. However, a red icon means there’s no SSL or it’s expired/misconfigured.

You can also add your site to uptime monitoring tools like UptimeRobot, which checks if your website is live and alerts you about SSL issues.

By setting up these checks, you keep track of problems and ensure your website runs smoothly and securely for every visitor.

Conduct Regular Security Audits

Run security checks on your site from time to time. These audits help you spot misconfigurations, missing intermediate certificates, or broken links in the SSL chain. Fixing these fast keeps your website safe and prevents SSL-related errors.

Even if your SSL is active and your site looks secure, problems can still appear in the background. That’s why it’s important to run regular website security audits. These audits help you identify hidden issues, such as missing intermediate certificates, expired files, or weak encryption settings, that could lead to the SSL Certificate – Signature Verification Failed Vulnerability.

To do this, you don’t need to be a tech expert. There are easy-to-use tools, including Qualys SSL Labs’ SSL Test and Why No Padlock, which scan your site and indicate if anything is wrong with your SSL setup.

To use these tools, fill in your website’s address and click Test Page or Submit, depending on which tool you use. It takes a few moments to scan your website and display SSL details.

Best Practices for SSL Certificate Management:

Automate renewals to ensure your certificate never expires, use modern encryption algorithms to keep data secure, and enable HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) to enforce secure HTTPS connections for every visit.

FAQS

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