Node.js request CERT_HAS_EXPIRED

Question

I'm using Mikeal's request (https://github.com/mikeal/request) to make an https request to a server. However, I keep getting an authorization error of CERT_HAS_EXPIRED.

request({
        url: 'https://www.domain.com/api/endpoint',
        strictSSL: false
    }, function(error, response, body) {
        if(!error && response.statusCode == 200) {
            res.json(JSON.parse(body));
        } else {
           res.json(response.statusCode, {'error': 'error'})
        }
});

I've tried setting strictSSL to true and false, both output same error of CERT_HAS_EXPIRED. What is causing this issue and is there any way to fix it in nodejs?

Answer 1

Add this at the top of your file:

process.env.NODE_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED = '0';

DANGEROUS This disables HTTPS / SSL / TLS checking across your entire node.js environment. Please see the solution using an https agent below.

Answer 2

The best way to fix this:

Renew the certificate. This can be done for free using Greenlock which issues certificates via Let's Encrypt™ v2

A less insecure way to fix this:

'use strict';

var request = require('request');
var agentOptions;
var agent;

agentOptions = {
  host: 'www.example.com'
, port: '443'
, path: '/'
, rejectUnauthorized: false
};

agent = new https.Agent(agentOptions);

request({
  url: "https://www.example.com/api/endpoint"
, method: 'GET'
, agent: agent
}, function (err, resp, body) {
  // ...
});

By using an agent with rejectUnauthorized you at least limit the security vulnerability to the requests that deal with that one site instead of making your entire node process completely, utterly insecure.

Other Options

If you were using a self-signed cert you would add this option:

agentOptions.ca = [ selfSignedRootCaPemCrtBuffer ];

For trusted-peer connections you would also add these 2 options:

agentOptions.key = clientPemKeyBuffer;
agentOptions.cert = clientPemCrtSignedBySelfSignedRootCaBuffer;

Bad Idea

It's unfortunate that process.env.NODE_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED = '0'; is even documented. It should only be used for debugging and should never make it into in sort of code that runs in the wild. Almost every library that runs atop https has a way of passing agent options through. Those that don't should be fixed.

Answer 3

Here is a more concise way to achieve the "less insecure" method proposed by CoolAJ86

request({
  url: url,
  agentOptions: {
    rejectUnauthorized: false
  }
}, function (err, resp, body) {
  // ...
});

Answer 4

I think the strictSSL: false should (should have worked, even in 2013) work. So in short are three possible ways:

1. (obvious) Get your CA to renew the certificate, and put it on your server!
2. Change the default settings of your request object:
   
   const myRequest = require('request').defaults({strictSSL: false})
   
   Many modules that use node-request internally also allow a request-object to be injected, so you can make them use your modified instance.
3. (not recommended) Override all certificate checks for all HTTP(S) agent connections by setting the environment variable NODE_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=0 for the Node.js process.

Answer 5

Try to temporarily modify request.js and harcode everywhere rejectUnauthorized = true, but it would be better to get the certificate extended as a long-term solution.

Answer 6

I had this problem on production with Heroku and locally while debugging on my macbook pro this morning.

After an hour of debugging, this resolved on its own both locally and on production. I'm not sure what fixed it, so that's a bit annoying. It happened right when I thought I did something, but reverting my supposed fix didn't bring the problem back :(

Interestingly enough, it appears my database service, MongoDb has been having server problems since this morning, so there's a good chance this was related to it.