How to Check SSL Certificate Expiration Date in Ubuntu

Ubuntu, like other Linux distributions, relies on SSL/TLS certificates for secure website connections, applications, and data transfers. Understanding how to check SSL certificate expiration dates in Ubuntu is essential to proactively prevent security risks and maintain the trust of your users.

Let’s delve into the straightforward and effective methods at your disposal.

1. The Multi-Purpose OpenSSL

OpenSSL is the go-to cryptographic toolkit in Ubuntu (and many other Linux flavors). Here’s how to use it to display a certificate’s expiration date:

Bash

openssl x509 -in certificate.pem -text -noout | grep "Not After" 

• Remember to replace certificate.pem with the actual path to your certificate file.
• Look for the line “Not After” in the output. This reveals the date and time the certificate expires.

2. Checking Validity at a Specific Time

OpenSSL lets you check if a certificate will be valid at a precise date and time using the -checkend option:

Bash

openssl x509 -in certificate.pem -checkend <seconds>

• Replace <seconds> with the number of seconds since the Unix Epoch (January 1st 1970). You can use online epoch time converters to calculate this value.

3. Remote Certificate Inspection

Want to check the expiration date of an SSL certificate used by a website? Here’s how:

Bash

openssl s_client -connect www.example.com:443 < /dev/null | openssl x509 -noout -dates

• Replace www.example.com with the domain name of the website you’d like to check.

4. Web-Based Tools

If you prefer a graphical approach, numerous online SSL checkers can help. Popular options include:

• https://www.sslshopper.com/ssl-checker.html
• https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/

These tools let you enter a domain name to analyze the live certificate on the server or upload a certificate file for inspection.

Key Considerations

• Ubuntu = Linux: These methods generally work across most Linux distributions, as OpenSSL is a common component.
• Expired Certificates: Browsers will warn users about expired certificates. Expired certificates can also disrupt application functionality.
• Proactive Monitoring: Consider scripting checks and setting up alerts to preempt problems caused by expirations.

In Summary

Knowing how to check SSL certificate expiration dates in Ubuntu is a valuable skill for system administrators and anyone concerned with secure online interactions. Choose the method that best suits your workflow, and stay ahead of issues caused by expired certificates!

Read also:

• Master OpenSSL Commands for Certificate and Key Management
• How to Check SSL Certificate Expiration Date in Linux
• Guide To Check Certificate Expiration Dates with OpenSSL
• How to Check PEM Certificate Expiration Date in Linux
• Namecheap SSL Converter Guide
• Difference Between .CER and .PEM Certificates
• Shell Scripting for Proactive Certificate Expiration Monitoring
• How to Check SSL Certificate Expiration Date in Windows Command Line