Node unable to verify the first certificate error

[mirker21]

Environment

• Operating system (including version): macOS Ventura 13.6.1
• mkcert version (from mkcert -version): v1.4.4
• Server (where the certificate is loaded): localhost:3000 (frontend), localhost:8080 (backend)
• Client (e.g. browser, CLI tool, or script): Chrome

What you did

• I followed the instructions, first doing mkcert -install

• Entered mkcert -cert-file ~/cert.pem -key-file ~/key.pem localhost

• Here are my options for both frontend and backend Node.js https servers:

var options = {
     key: fs.readFileSync(process.env.SSL_KEY_FILE),
     cert: fs.readFileSync(process.env.SSL_CRT_FILE),
     ca: fs.readFileSync(process.env.SSL_CRT_FILE),
};

I tried adding the ca property, I found a post mentioning it and then I found an example on how to use ca on node's website.

• Finally added export NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS="$(mkcert -CAROOT)/rootCA.pem" to both my frontend and backend .env files, according to the README.md and this Issue

• Also tried changing export NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS="$(mkcert -CAROOT)/rootCA.pem" to /Users/blahblahblah/Library/blahblahblah/mkcert/rootCA.pem

What went wrong

• The frontend terminal displayed this error:

 ⨯ Internal error: TypeError: fetch failed
    at Object.fetch (node:internal/deps/undici/undici:11576:11)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
Cause: Error: unable to verify the first certificate
    at TLSSocket.onConnectSecure (node:_tls_wrap:1627:34)
    at TLSSocket.emit (node:events:514:28)
    at TLSSocket._finishInit (node:_tls_wrap:1038:8)
    at ssl.onhandshakedone (node:_tls_wrap:824:12)
    at TLSWrap.callbackTrampoline (node:internal/async_hooks:130:17) {
  code: 'UNABLE_TO_VERIFY_LEAF_SIGNATURE'
}
 ⨯ Internal error: TypeError: fetch failed
    at Object.fetch (node:internal/deps/undici/undici:11576:11)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
digest: "956933652"

• The backend terminal displayed no errors.

[isrealbm]

I got same issue, any update @FiloSottile ?

[mirker21]

I just found a solution, in the terminal when you are starting up the server I just had to include the directory of the rootCA.pem file:

HTTPS=true NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS="$(mkcert -CAROOT)/rootCA.pem" npm run dev

[tofsjonas]

I just found a solution, in the terminal when you are starting up the server I just had to include the directory of the rootCA.pem file:

HTTPS=true NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS="$(mkcert -CAROOT)/rootCA.pem" npm run dev

export NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS="$(mkcert -CAROOT)/rootCA.pem"

in .zprofile did the trick. Thanks! (I didn't seem to need HTTPS=true 🤷)

[amakhrov]

After using NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS, I'm getting another error:

Error: self-signed certificate in certificate chain