OpenSSL and error in reading openssl.conf file - windows

Question

I am running windows xp 32bit
I just downloaded Openssl from the following URL and installed it.
http://www.slproweb.com/products/Win32OpenSSL.html
and then I tried to create a self signed certificate by using the following command
openssl req -x509 -days 365 -newkey rsa:1024 -keyout hostkey.pem -nodes -out hostcert.pem
then it started giving the following error
Unable to load config info from /usr/local/ssl/openssl.cnf
After some googling, I changed the above command to
openssl req -config C:\OpenSSL\bin\openssl.conf -x509 -days 365 -newkey rsa:1024 -keyout hostkey.pem -nodes -out hostcert.pem
But now I get the following error in the command prompt
error on line -1 of C:\OpenSSL\bin\openssl.conf
4220:error:02001002:system library:fopen:No such file or
directory:.\crypto\bio\bss_file.c:126:fopen('C:\OpenSSL\bin\openssl.conf','rb')
4220:error:2006D080:BIO routines:BIO_new_file:no such file:.\crypto\bio\bss_file.c:129:
4220:error:0E078072:configuration file routines:DEF_LOAD:no such file:.\crypto\conf\conf_def.c:197:

Answer 1

On Windows you can also set the environment property OPENSSL_CONF. For example from the commandline you can type:
set OPENSSL_CONF=c:/libs/openssl-0.9.8k/openssl.cnf
to validate it you can type:
echo %OPENSSL_CONF%
You can also set it as part of the computer's environmental variables so all users and services have it available by default. See, for example, Environment variables in Windows NT and How To Manage Environment Variables in Windows XP.
Now you can run openssl commands without having to pass the config location parameter.

Answer 2

Just add to your command line the parameter -config c:\your_openssl_path\openssl.cfg, changing your_openssl_path to the real installed path.

Answer 3

Just create an openssl.cnf file yourself like this in step 4: http://www.flatmtn.com/article/setting-openssl-create-certificates
Edit after link stopped working
The content of the openssl.cnf file was the following:
#
# OpenSSL configuration file.
#
# Establish working directory.
dir = .
[ ca ]
default_ca = CA_default
[ CA_default ]
serial = $dir/serial
database = $dir/certindex.txt
new_certs_dir = $dir/certs
certificate = $dir/cacert.pem
private_key = $dir/private/cakey.pem
default_days = 365
default_md = md5
preserve = no
email_in_dn = no
nameopt = default_ca
certopt = default_ca
policy = policy_match
[ policy_match ]
countryName = match
stateOrProvinceName = match
organizationName = match
organizationalUnitName = optional
commonName = supplied
emailAddress = optional
[ req ]
default_bits = 1024 # Size of keys
default_keyfile = key.pem # name of generated keys
default_md = md5 # message digest algorithm
string_mask = nombstr # permitted characters
distinguished_name = req_distinguished_name
req_extensions = v3_req
[ req_distinguished_name ]
# Variable name Prompt string
#------------------------- ----------------------------------
0.organizationName = Organization Name (company)
organizationalUnitName = Organizational Unit Name (department, division)
emailAddress = Email Address
emailAddress_max = 40
localityName = Locality Name (city, district)
stateOrProvinceName = State or Province Name (full name)
countryName = Country Name (2 letter code)
countryName_min = 2
countryName_max = 2
commonName = Common Name (hostname, IP, or your name)
commonName_max = 64
# Default values for the above, for consistency and less typing.
# Variable name Value
#------------------------ ------------------------------
0.organizationName_default = My Company
localityName_default = My Town
stateOrProvinceName_default = State or Providence
countryName_default = US
[ v3_ca ]
basicConstraints = CA:TRUE
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash
authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid:always,issuer:always
[ v3_req ]
basicConstraints = CA:FALSE
subjectKeyIdentifier = hash

Answer 4

set OPENSSL_CONF=c:/{path to openSSL}/bin/openssl.cfg
take care of the right extension (openssl.cfg not cnf)!
I have installed OpenSSL from here: http://slproweb.com/products/Win32OpenSSL.html

Answer 5

If you have installed Apache with OpenSSL navigate to bin directory. In my case D:\apache\bin.
*These commands also work if you have stand alone installation of openssl.
Run these commands:
openssl req -config d:\apache\conf\openssl.cnf -new -out d:\apache\conf\server.csr -keyout d:\apache\conf\server.pem
openssl rsa -in d:\apache\conf\server.pem -out d:\apache\conf\server.key
openssl x509 -in d:\apache\conf\server.csr -out d:\apache\conf\server.crt -req -signkey d:\apache\conf\server.key -days 365
*This will create self-signed certificate that you can use for development purposes
Again if you have Apache installed in the httpd.conf stick these:
<IfModule ssl_module>
SSLEngine on
SSLCertificateFile "D:/apache/conf/server.crt"
SSLCertificateKeyFile "D:/apache/conf/server.key"
</IfModule>

Answer 6

I just had a similar error using the openssl.exe from the Apache for windows bin folder. I had the -config flag specified by had a typo in the path of the openssl.cnf file. I think you'll find that
openssl req -config C:\OpenSSL\bin\openssl.conf -x509 -days 365 -newkey rsa:1024 -keyout hostkey.pem -nodes -out hostcert.pem
should be
openssl req -config "C:\OpenSSL\bin\openssl.cnf" -x509 -days 365 -newkey rsa:1024 -keyout hostkey.pem -nodes -out hostcert.pem
Note: the conf should probably be cnf.

Answer 7

Just try to run openssl.exe as administrator.

Answer 8

If you installed OpenSSL on Windows together with Git, then add this to your command:
-config "C:\Program Files\Git\usr\ssl\openssl.cnf"

Answer 9

I had the same issue on Windows. It was resolved by setting the environment variable as follow:
Variable name: OPENSSL_CONF
Variable value: C:(OpenSSl Directory)\bin\openssl.cnf

Answer 10

If openssl installation was successfull, search for "OPENSSL" in c drive to locate the config file and set the path.
set OPENSSL_CONF=<location where cnf is available>/openssl.cnf
It worked out for me.

Answer 11

The problem here is that there ISN'T an openssl.cnf file given with the GnuWin32 openssl stuff. You have to create it. You can find out HOW to create an openssl.cnf file by going here:
http://www.flatmtn.com/article/setting-ssl-certificates-apache
Where it lays it all out for you on how to do it.
PLEASE NOTE: The openssl command given with the backslash at the end is for UNIX. For Windows : 1)Remove the backslash, and 2)Move the second line up so it is at the end of the first line. (So you get just one command.)
ALSO: It is VERY important to read through the comments. There are some changes you might want to make based upon them.

Answer 12

This workaround helped us so much at my job (Tech Support), we made a simple batch file we could run from anywhere (We didnt have the permissions to install it). This workaround will set the variable and then run OpenSSL for you. It also opens up the bin folder for you (cause this is where any files you create or modify will be saved). Also, this is only for Windows.
How to Set Up:
Download the OpenSSL binaries here. (Note that this is confirmed to work with version 0.9.8h.)
Copy this code to a file named StartOpenSSL.bat. Save this to a location of your choice. It can be run from anywhere.
#echo off
title OpenSSL
cd\openssl\bin
if exist "C:\openssl\share\openssl.cnf" (
set OPENSSL_CONF=c:/openssl/share/openssl.cnf
start explorer.exe c:\openssl\bin
echo Welcome to OpenSSL
openssl
) else (
echo Error: openssl.cnf was not found
echo File openssl.cnf needs to be present in c:\openssl\share
pause
)
exit
Once you have downloaded the OpenSSL binaries, extract them to your C drive in a folder titled OpenSSL. (The path needs to be C:\OpenSSL). Do not move any of the folders contents around, just extract them to the folder.
You are ready to use OpenSSL. This is a great workaround for Windows users who dont have the privileges to install it as it requires no permissions. Just run the bat file from earlier by double clicking it.

Answer 13

https://github.com/xgqfrms-gildata/App001/issues/3
first, make sure you have an openssl.cnf file in the right path;
if you can't find it, just download one and copy it to your setting path.
$ echo %OPENSSL_CONF%
$ set OPENSSL_CONF=C:\OpenSSL\bin\openssl.cnf

Answer 14

If you are seeing an error something like
error on line -1 c:apacheconfopenssl.cnf
try changing from back slash to front slash in the -config.

Answer 15

Run the command as administrator and copy the config file to somewhere where you have read rights and specify the path with the -config parameter.

Answer 16

I know this question is old but here is how I solved it.
I copied the openssl.cnf file from the bin directory to the parent directory which is C:/Openssl/openssl.cnf instead of C:/Openssl/bin/openssl.cnf and worked fine.

Answer 17

I know this is old -- but thought others that happen on this (and use Visual Studio) might benefit. I read this on another post that I can't seem to find.
Open your config in notepad++ and make sure it's Encoding is UTF-8 (i.e., not UTF-8-BOM*).
This would have save me a lot of searching/trial'n'errors...

Answer 18

I was also facing same issue. Below are the steps to resolve it.
check your openssl version
openssl version
If your version is below
OpenSSL 1.1.1h 22 Sep 2020
go to below link and download latest full version of openssl.
openssl windows installer
After installation add openssl path at the top of 'PATH' variable in system path.
confirm your version is latest by opening new command prompt and running command in step 1
Now you're ready to run the command again and this time it will work.