How to Fix the SSL/TLS Handshake Failed Error?

If you’re not having the right answer to what this SSL error means, then no worries, we’ve got your back. Read further and know what’s this SSL Handshake Failed Error, why it occurs, and how to fix the SSL/TLS Handshake Failed Error.

What Does SSL/TLS Handshake Failed Mean and What Causes It?

The SSL Handshake Failed error occurs when there’s a protocol mismatch. In other words, whenever the client and the server do not have mutual support for the same SSL/TLS version, it shows this SSL/TLS Handshake failed error message.

Once the user sends the secure connection request to the web browser, the browser is expected to send a public key to your computer, which is automatically verified against a list of CAs. And, the computer generates a key and encrypts it with the public key after receiving the certificate.

This SSL/TLS Handshake Failed Error occurs whenever the OS hasn’t granted the read access to the OS, ultimately preventing the complete authentication of the webserver, which indicates that the browser’s connection with the web server is not secure.

Some Reasons That Causes SSL/TLS Handshake Failed Error

Here’s the Client-Side Errors and its Solution

Whenever an SSL/TLS Handshake fails, it’s mostly due to certain things going on with the server, website, and the configuration of its installed SSL/TLS.

Presently the culprit is TLS configuration as support for SSL 3.0 is deprecated. However, there’s a distinct possibility that a client-side error can be the reason behind the SSL/TLS Handshake Failed error. And, some of the common ones are like incorrect system time or browser updates.

Let’s see some of the common causes of SSL Handshake fail error in detail.

1. Incorrect System Time

Not always happen, but sometimes the system clock differs from the actual time. Maybe you did it intentionally, accidental change of settings, or any other reason. It’s a fact that SSL/TLS certificates come with a specific validity period, so the date and time of the system is equally important.

So, the solution is to change the system time and date to correct one, if the system clock is not showing the right time and date. But again, there’s no need to change your system time if it’s correct, as it’s likely that the cause of the error is not the System time.

2. Browser Error

For instance, if you’re using Google Chrome, then try using Mozilla Firefox or any other such as Apple Safari if OS is Mac or else Microsoft Edge for Windows.

However, if you still face the SSL/TLS Handshake Failed error, even after changing the browser, then the issue is not regarding browser but, most probably, the plugin. To verify whether the error can be solved or not, it’s recommended to disable all your installed plugins and reset your browser settings to default.

3. Man-in-the-Middle

Nevertheless, sometimes issues occur with such devices, which causes the SSL Handshake Failure error. And, the reason could be a network firewall preventing the connection or else configuration on an edge device on the server-side network, which means there’s a possibility that this error could be from the client or server-side depending upon the scenario.

Lastly, if the issue is from the client-side, then you can take a chance of exposing yourself by tweaking the settings on your VPN or antivirus. Though, never drop your antivirus or firewall to connect with a website. And, if the server is causing the issue, then mostly configuration is creating an issue on an edge device.

Here’s the Server-Side Errors and Its Solution

Let’s look at some of the common server-side issues.

1. Protocol Mismatch

For instance:

TLS 1.2 came more than a decade ago, and small segments of websites still fail to support it. Earlier back in March 2018, the final version of TLS 1.3 was published as RFC 8446 by the IETF. And, sites were also advised for adding support for TLS 1.3 at their earliest.

So, if the SSL/TLS Handshake Failure error is due to protocol mismatch, it generally means the client and server do not have mutual support for the same TLS version.

For example:

• The client supports TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1, whereas the server supports TLS 1.2.

As shown in this example, the TLS protocol is not supported mutually. So, it’s likely that the server won’t support backward versions. Nevertheless, the server shouldn’t fix this as well. In this above example, the client must be recommended to upgrade their browser, or else it must be latest with the latest TLS version supported. Presently all we can suggest is that TLS 1.2 or TLS 1.3 must be used, or else support must be added for it.

2. Cipher Suite Mismatch

Nevertheless, Cipher Suites used by TLS 1.3 has been refined. Earlier, Cipher Suite has algorithms that handled:

• Symmetric Session Key Encryption
• Asymmetric Public Key Encryption
• Signature Hashing
• Key Generation

Different Organizations and Government Agencies have different types of encryption standards that suggest different kinds of cipher suites so clients can have different options while being able to find a mutually acceptable cipher. No doubt, it’s less likely that you get a site that only supports a single cipher suite.

Many times, it happens within a network, if you’re doing SSL bridging, where an edge device receives and decrypts HTTPS traffic and then re-encrypts it to send it to the application server. If the application server and edge device fail to share a mutually supported cipher suite, it will cause errors. Similar to Protocol versions, it’s also advisable for cipher suites, to never go backward but only moves forward.

Lastly, a protocol version or cipher suite is deprecated because there’s a vulnerability in that version. So, going back to the earlier version will only make your connection less secure.

3. Incorrect SSL/TLS Certificate

• Host Name Mismatch: Hostname fails to match with the CN in the certificate.
• Incorrect Certificate Chain: Intermediate missing in the certificate chain.
• Expired/Revoked Certificate: The server presents an untrusted, revoked, or expired SSL/TLS certificate.
• Self-Signed Replacements: Certificate replacements or Internal Networks confuses the path.

4. The hostname is Not Correct

5. Certificate Chain is Not Correct

Some of the Root program examples:

• Mozilla root program used by Firefox Desktop and Mobile
• Google root program used by Android OS
• Apple root program used by iOS and macOS
• Microsoft root program used by Windows

Nevertheless, CA root programs are invaluable, that it’s not issued directly, but Certificate Authorities make use of intermediate roots for signing SSL/TLS leaf (end-user) certificates. And, here’s the chain comes into play. The Root CA certificate is used for digitally signing the intermediate roots, and those intermediates are further used for signing other intermediate or end-user leaf SSL/TLS certificates.

So, whenever the browser gets an SSL certificate, the browser does one of the things for sure. It will check whether the signatures follow their authenticity. Looks digital name on the SSL/TLS certificate with the Intermediate root that signed it. Then it looks at the digital signature of the intermediate certificate and checks it back to the certificate, which signed the intermediate. This process is continuous like this till it reaches one of the Root CA certificates in its trust store.

Hence, whenever this process remains incomplete due to any reason, means browser failing to locate even one of their intermediate certificates will result in the SSL handshake failed error. The solution is to install the missing intermediate certificate. To find the missing intermediate certificate solution is to go to the CAs website from whom you purchased your SSL/TLS certificate.

6. Revoked/Expired Certificates

7. Self-Signed Replacements

8. SNI-Enabled Servers

To solve this issue, you must identify what’s the hostname and the port number of the server, while verifying whether it’s SNI-enabled and it’s communicating everything it has to.

Summary

So, if you’re a regular internet user, your options are limited. The best thing you can do as a website visitor is to inform the owner of the website about the SSL/TLS handshake failed to issue and wait for them to fix it. If they don’t take any action onto it, then it’s best to avoid using that website.

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