In this article, we will delve into the process of fixing the curl error 77 on Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS. This error, which reads as “curl: (77) error setting certificate verify locations”, can occur when the certificate authority chain file is either missing or corrupted.
To fix curl error 77 on Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS, you can try reinstalling the ca-certificates package, updating the ca-certificates, fixing the permissions of the /etc/ssl/certs directory, or checking for a custom certificate file.
Understanding curl error 77
Before we dive into the solution, let’s understand what curl error 77 is. Curl is a command-line tool used to transfer data to or from a server. It supports various protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and more. Error 77 is related to the certificate authority chain file. This file is essential for verifying the authenticity of a server’s SSL/TLS certificate. If this file is missing, corrupted, or improperly configured, curl can’t verify the server’s certificate, hence the error.
Solutions to Fix curl error 77
There are several ways to fix this error. We’ll go through each one step-by-step.
Reinstalling the ca-certificates package
The first method is to reinstall the ca-certificates package. This package is responsible for providing the certificate authority chain file. You can reinstall it using the following commands:
sudo apt-get remove ca-certificates
sudo apt-get install ca-certificatesThe apt-get remove command removes the ca-certificates package, and the apt-get install command installs it again.
Updating the ca-certificates
If reinstalling the ca-certificates package doesn’t work, you can try updating it. This can be done with the following command:
sudo update-ca-certificatesThe update-ca-certificates command updates the certificate authority chain file with the latest certificates from the certificate authorities.
Fixing the permissions of the /etc/ssl/certs directory
In some cases, the error may be caused by incorrect permissions on the /etc/ssl/certs directory. You can fix the permissions with the following command:
sudo chmod -R 755 /etc/ssl/certsThe chmod command changes the permissions of a file or directory. The -R option makes the command recursive, meaning it applies to the directory and its subdirectories. The 755 sets the permissions to read and execute for everyone and write for the owner.
Checking for a custom certificate file
In some cases, the error may be caused by a custom certificate file appended to the ca-certificates.crt file, which is not in the required PEM format. You can check this by opening the ca-certificates.crt file with a text editor and looking for any certificates that don’t begin with -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- and end with -----END CERTIFICATE-----.
Conclusion
Fixing the curl error 77 on Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS involves either reinstalling or updating the ca-certificates package, fixing the permissions of the /etc/ssl/certs directory, or checking for a custom certificate file. It’s important to be cautious when modifying the ca-certificates folders to avoid issues. If you’re unsure, always consult with a professional or seek help from online communities like StackOverflow or the Ubuntu Forums.
The ca-certificates package is responsible for providing the certificate authority chain file, which is essential for verifying the authenticity of a server’s SSL/TLS certificate.
To reinstall the ca-certificates package, you can use the following commands:
sudo apt-get remove ca-certificates
sudo apt-get install ca-certificatesThe update-ca-certificates command updates the certificate authority chain file with the latest certificates from the certificate authorities.
You can fix the permissions of the /etc/ssl/certs directory using the following command:
sudo chmod -R 755 /etc/ssl/certsTo check for a custom certificate file, you can open the ca-certificates.crt file with a text editor and look for any certificates that don’t begin with -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- and end with -----END CERTIFICATE-----.
