topic Re: Password error while renewing SSL certificate in Firewall and Security Management

Password error while renewing SSL certificate

nilanjan_lahiri — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 14:20:17 GMT

Hello,

I am trying to renew the SSL certificate on the firewall from Cluster Properties --> Mobile Access --> Portal Settings but am getting returned with Password error. This is something I've doing every year but facing such issue for the first time. I have tried with multiple certificates with different passwords but the error returned is the same. The same certificates can be installed locally on the system without any issue. Is this a know issue? Can you please assist to get this resolved.

Thanks a lot,

Nilanjan

Re: Password error while renewing SSL certificate

the_rock — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 21:18:13 GMT

Hm, dont recall ever having this issue. Mind sending a screenshot?

Best,

Andy

Re: Password error while renewing SSL certificate

PhoneBoy — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:15:49 GMT

Version/JHF of gateway and management?
What "password" are you referring to here, exactly?

Re: Password error while renewing SSL certificate

the_rock — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:24:05 GMT

Thats what kind of threw me off as well...never seen password needed for that sort of cert renewal.

Andy

Re: Password error while renewing SSL certificate

nilanjan_lahiri — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 07:51:06 GMT

Hello,
We are using R80.40. We are carrying this certificate renewal activity every year following the same steps but facing such issue for the first time. We are trying to replace the existing P12 certificate with a new one from Cluster Properties --> Mobile Access --> Portal Settings. The password is of the P12 certificate.

Re: Password error while renewing SSL certificate

Alex- — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:20:09 GMT

Check your version of OpenSSL. Gaia still uses 1.1.1, even in R82 systems.

R80.40 is out of support, you should also probably obfuscate screenshots.

Re: Password error while renewing SSL certificate

the_rock — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:21:39 GMT

Okay...and if I understood right, this is first time its failing? Same password worked fine before?

Re: Password error while renewing SSL certificate

nilanjan_lahiri — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:35:12 GMT

The existing certificate is going to expire shortly and is due for renewal. We are attempting to renew with a new P12 certificate. When we are entering the password of the certificate, it is showing to be incorrect. However, the same certificate when installed locally is working fine with the same password.

Re: Password error while renewing SSL certificate

the_rock — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:38:47 GMT

FWIW, here are steps AI gives...

Andy

***************

✅ 1. Encoding or Format Issues with the Password

Problem: Sometimes, when copying and pasting the password into a script or form (especially from a rich-text document or email), hidden characters (like whitespaces, line breaks, or non-printable characters) get included.
Fix:
- Manually type the password instead of pasting it.
- Ensure there are no leading/trailing spaces.
- Check if the environment expects the password in a specific encoding (e.g. UTF-8).

✅ 2. Password Length or Special Characters Not Supported

Problem: Some systems or libraries may not handle complex passwords (e.g., special characters like !, @, $, etc.) properly.
Fix:
- Try using a simpler password (temporarily) to test if the system accepts it.
- Escape special characters if the password is passed via CLI or in config files.

✅ 3. Corrupted or Misconverted P12 File

Problem: The P12 file may be corrupted during transfer or re-exported with incompatible settings.
Fix:
- Re-export the .p12 file from your certificate manager (e.g., Keychain Access, OpenSSL, or your CA).
- Use OpenSSL to verify the .p12:
  
  openssl pkcs12 -info -in yourcert.p12
  
  If the password works here, the file is fine.

✅ 4. Mismatched Certificate Keystore Type

Problem: Some systems expect a specific keystore format or type.
Fix:
- If you're importing into Java-based systems (like Tomcat or Spring Boot), try converting .p12 to .jks using:
  
  keytool -importkeystore -srckeystore yourcert.p12 -srcstoretype pkcs12 -destkeystore yourcert.jks -deststoretype JKS

✅ 5. Environment Path or Permissions Issue

Problem: The system accessing the .p12 may not have permission to read it or may be reading a different file (e.g., an older version).
Fix:
- Double-check the path to the certificate.
- Ensure the correct file is being referenced.
- Check permissions of the .p12 file:
  
  ls -l yourcert.p12

✅ 6. Framework/Library-Specific Bug or Quirk

Problem: Some frameworks (e.g., Java, .NET, Node.js) might require specific parameters when loading .p12 files.
Fix:
- Look for debug logs to see how the error is reported.
- If using a framework, confirm whether it expects:
  - Certificate alias
  - Specific trust settings
  - Only .pem or .crt + .key formats

✅ 7. Certificate Works Locally Because of Cached or Keychain-Stored Credentials

Problem: When installing locally (e.g., in macOS Keychain), it might be accepting saved credentials without prompting.
Fix:
- Confirm password actually works by importing the .p12 on a clean system or using openssl

Re: Password error while renewing SSL certificate

nilanjan_lahiri — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 07:53:31 GMT

Hello All.

The issue got resolved by renaming the PFX certificate to P12. Thanks everyone for your guidance on this.

Re: Password error while renewing SSL certificate

the_rock — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 10:01:08 GMT

Excellent!