Missing or outdated SSL certificates

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 21 views

Introduction

As a developer, you're likely familiar with Composer, the popular PHP package manager. However, when working with remote machines, especially those behind a proxy, you may encounter issues with Composer's ability to download packages. One common error is the Composer Curl error 60, which indicates a problem with the SSL certificate. In this article, we'll delve into the causes of this error and provide step-by-step solutions to resolve it.

Understanding the Error

The Composer Curl error 60 is typically displayed as follows:

[Composer\Downloader\TransportException] curl ... failed to open stream: SSL certificate problem: unable to get local issuer certificate

This error occurs when Composer is unable to verify the SSL certificate of the package repository or the proxy server. This can happen due to various reasons, including:

Missing or outdated SSL certificates: The local machine may not have the necessary SSL certificates to verify the package repository or proxy server.
Proxy configuration issues: The proxy settings may be misconfigured or not properly set up, leading to SSL certificate verification failures.
Composer configuration issues: The Composer configuration may be set up incorrectly, causing SSL certificate verification failures.

Causes of the Error

Before we dive into the solutions, let's explore the possible causes of the Composer Curl error 60:

Missing or Outdated SSL Certificates

If the local machine is missing or has outdated SSL certificates, Composer will be unable to verify the SSL certificate of the package repository or proxy server. This can be resolved by updating the SSL certificates on the local machine.

Proxy Configuration Issues

Proxy configuration issues can also lead to SSL certificate verification failures. This can be resolved by properly configuring the proxy settings on the local machine.

Composer Configuration Issues

Composer configuration issues can also cause SSL certificate verification failures. This can be resolved by properly configuring the Composer settings on the local machine.

Solutions to Resolve the Error

Now that we've explored the possible causes of the Composer Curl error 60, let's dive into the solutions to resolve it:

Solution 1: Update SSL Certificates

To resolve the error, you can update the SSL certificates on the local machine. This can be done by running the following command:

openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa:4096 -nodes -out ca.crt -keyout private.key -days 365

This command will generate a new SSL certificate and private key. You can then update the SSL certificates on the local machine by copying the generated files to the correct location.

Solution 2: Configure Proxy Settings

To resolve the error, you can properly configure the proxy settings on the local machine. This can be done by setting the following environment variables:

http_proxy=http://your-proxy-server:port
https_proxy=https://your-proxy-server:port

You can also configure the proxy settings in the Composer configuration file (composer.json) by adding the following lines:

"config": {
    "secure-http": false
}

Solution 3: Configure Composer Settings

To resolve the error, you can properly configure the Composer settings on the local machine. This can be done by setting the following environment variables:

COMPOSER_HOME=~/.composer
COMPOSER_CACHE_DIR=~/.composer/cache

You can also configure the Composer settings in the Composer configuration file (composer.json) by adding the following lines:

"config": {
    "cache-dir": "~/.composer/cache"
}

Solution 4: Use a Different Composer Version

If none of the above solutions work, you can try using a different Composer version. This can be done by running the following command:

composer self-update --2

This command will update Composer to the latest version.

Solution 5: Disable SSL Verification

As a last resort, you can disable SSL verification by setting the following environment variable:

COMPOSER_NO_SSL_VERIFY=true

This will disable SSL verification, but it's not recommended as it can lead to security vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Composer Curl error 60 is a common issue that can occur when working with remote machines behind a proxy. By understanding the causes of the error and following the solutions outlined in this article, you should be able to resolve the issue and get Composer working on your remote machine.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you resolve the Composer Curl error 60:

Use a reliable proxy server: Make sure your proxy server is reliable and has the necessary SSL certificates to verify the package repository or proxy server.
Use a different package repository: If you're using a package repository that's not reliable, try using a different one.
Use a different Composer version: If you're using an older version of Composer, try updating to the latest version.
Disable SSL verification: As a last resort, you can disable SSL verification, but it's not recommended as it can lead to security vulnerabilities.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the causes and solutions to the Composer Curl error 60, which indicates a problem with the SSL certificate. In this article, we'll provide a Q&A section to help you better understand the issue and resolve it.

Q&A

Q: What is the Composer Curl error 60?

A: The Composer Curl error 60 is a common issue that occurs when Composer is unable to verify the SSL certificate of the package repository or proxy server.

Q: What are the possible causes of the Composer Curl error 60?

A: The possible causes of the Composer Curl error 60 include:

Missing or outdated SSL certificates: The local machine may not have the necessary SSL certificates to verify the package repository or proxy server.
Proxy configuration issues: The proxy settings may be misconfigured or not properly set up, leading to SSL certificate verification failures.
Composer configuration issues: The Composer configuration may be set up incorrectly, causing SSL certificate verification failures.

Q: How can I update the SSL certificates on my local machine?

A: To update the SSL certificates on your local machine, you can run the following command:

openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa:4096 -nodes -out ca.crt -keyout private.key -days 365

This command will generate a new SSL certificate and private key. You can then update the SSL certificates on your local machine by copying the generated files to the correct location.

Q: How can I properly configure the proxy settings on my local machine?

A: To properly configure the proxy settings on your local machine, you can set the following environment variables:

http_proxy=http://your-proxy-server:port
https_proxy=https://your-proxy-server:port

You can also configure the proxy settings in the Composer configuration file (composer.json) by adding the following lines:

"config": {
    "secure-http": false
}

Q: How can I properly configure the Composer settings on my local machine?

A: To properly configure the Composer settings on your local machine, you can set the following environment variables:

COMPOSER_HOME=~/.composer
COMPOSER_CACHE_DIR=~/.composer/cache

You can also configure the Composer settings in the Composer configuration file (composer.json) by adding the following lines:

"config": {
    "cache-dir": "~/.composer/cache"
}

Q: Can I use a different Composer version to resolve the error?

A: Yes, you can try using a different Composer version to resolve the error. You can update Composer to the latest version by running the following command:

composer self-update --2

Q: Is it safe to disable SSL verification?

A: No, it's not safe to disable SSL verification. Disabling SSL verification can lead to security vulnerabilities and make your system more susceptible to attacks.

Q: What are some additional tips and tricks to help me resolve the Composer Curl error 60?

A: Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you resolve the Composer Curl error 60:

Use a reliable proxy server: Make sure your proxy server is reliable and has the necessary SSL certificates to verify the package repository or proxy server.
Use a different package repository: If you're using a package repository that's not reliable, try using a different one.
Use a different Composer version: If you're using an older version of Composer, try updating to the latest version.
Disable SSL verification: As a last resort, you can disable SSL verification, but it's not recommended as it can lead to security vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

Additional Resources

Here are some additional resources to help you resolve the Composer Curl error 60:

Composer documentation: The official Composer documentation provides detailed information on how to configure Composer and resolve common issues.
Composer community: The Composer community is a great resource for getting help and support from other developers who have encountered similar issues.
Stack Overflow: Stack Overflow is a popular Q&A platform for developers, where you can ask questions and get answers from other developers who have encountered similar issues.

By following these resources and tips, you should be able to resolve the Composer Curl error 60 and get Composer working on your remote machine.