make-ssl-cert

make-ssl-cert {--silent} {--force} {certificate_file} {key_file}

--silent
    Run the script in silent mode, suppressing prompts and using default values.

--force
    Overwrite existing certificate and key files without prompting.

certificate_file
    The path to the certificate file to create.

key_file
    The path to the key file to create.

The make-ssl-cert command simplifies the creation of self-signed SSL certificates. It's a wrapper script, typically written in Perl or Shell, designed to automate the process of generating a private key and a corresponding X.509 certificate, suitable for use with web servers like Apache or Nginx during testing or internal use.

Since self-signed certificates are not issued by trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs), browsers will typically display warnings to users accessing websites using these certificates. Therefore, they are not recommended for production environments open to the public.

This command typically prompts for information like the Common Name (CN), organization name, and other details required for the certificate. The exact prompt questions might vary depending on the script. The generated certificate and private key can then be configured within the web server to enable HTTPS.

Self-signed certificates are not trusted by default. Users will see browser warnings. Do not use them in production environments facing public traffic.

Because a self-signed certificate isn't issued by a trusted CA, it's critical to restrict its use to development and testing purposes. Never expose services protected by self-signed certificates to sensitive data in production without proper consideration and acceptance of the security risks. A self-signed certificate offers no real authentication of a server's identity and is susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks.

For production environments, consider using Let's Encrypt, a free, automated, and open certificate authority (CA), or purchasing a certificate from a reputable commercial CA. These certificates are trusted by browsers by default, providing secure and authenticated connections. Manual certificate generation via the openssl command is also a powerful, albeit more complex, alternative.

The make-ssl-cert script has been available since the late 1990s or early 2000s, commonly found as part of web server configuration documentation or example scripts. Its presence is not standardized across distributions or versions; availability depends on distribution/package configurations. It simplifies a process handled manually with openssl.

openssl(1)