error: error:0308010c:digital envelope routines::unsupported

The error error: error:0308010c:digital envelope routines::unsupported is a common issue faced by developers, especially when working with cryptographic functions in Node.js. This error is related to changes in the OpenSSL library, specifically the transition to OpenSSL 3.0, which introduced some breaking changes that older cryptographic methods cannot handle. If you’re encountering this error, it means that the cryptographic features or modules you’re using are incompatible with OpenSSL 3.0, the version shipped with Node.js 17.x and above.

Table of Contents

This guide will explain the reasons behind this error, how to fix it, and what solutions you can implement to get your project running smoothly again.

What is `error: error:0308010c:digital envelope routines::unsupported`?

The error: error:0308010c:digital envelope routines::unsupported occurs when you run a Node.js application that uses cryptographic functions incompatible with the version of OpenSSL bundled with your Node.js installation. Specifically, this error is commonly seen in Node.js versions 17.x and higher, which use OpenSSL 3.0.

OpenSSL is an essential library for cryptographic functions, enabling secure communication, encryption, decryption, and various cryptographic algorithms within Node.js. However, OpenSSL 3.0 introduced breaking changes and deprecated certain algorithms and methods previously supported in OpenSSL 1.x. As a result, older cryptographic modules or codebases that rely on these outdated methods will throw this error when run in newer Node.js environments.

This error is most often encountered in applications that involve secure communication (SSL/TLS), data encryption, or hashing mechanisms, especially if those applications were originally developed in earlier versions of Node.js that used OpenSSL 1.x.

In summary, error: error:0308010c:digital envelope routines::unsupported is an indication of incompatibility between the cryptographic methods used in your project and the latest OpenSSL version included in Node.js 17.x and above.

About the Error

The error: error:0308010c:digital envelope routines::unsupported occurs because the newer versions of Node.js (starting from 17.x) are built using OpenSSL 3.0, which has deprecated certain cryptographic algorithms and methods. If your application or its dependencies rely on older cryptographic methods, they will no longer function properly, leading to this error.

This error is typically seen when running projects that involve cryptographic libraries, secure communication, or hashing techniques, especially if these projects were initially developed with older versions of Node.js that used OpenSSL 1.x.

How to Fix the Error

To address this issue, there are several approaches depending on your project’s needs and dependencies:

1. Using the Legacy OpenSSL Provider

One quick solution is to force Node.js to use the legacy OpenSSL provider, which supports the older cryptographic methods. You can set the environment variable NODE_OPTIONS to enable this mode.

For Linux and macOS, run the following command:

export NODE_OPTIONS=--openssl-legacy-provider. error: error:0308010c:digital envelope routines::unsupported

For Windows, use this command:

set NODE_OPTIONS=--openssl-legacy-provider. error: error:0308010c:digital envelope routines::unsupported

Alternatively, you can use this flag directly in your Node.js command when running a script:

node --openssl-legacy-provider yourscript.js. error: error:0308010c:digital envelope routines::unsupported

This tells Node.js to fall back to OpenSSL 1.x compatibility, preventing the error.

2. Downgrade to Node.js 16.x

If your application is tightly coupled with older cryptographic methods, downgrading Node.js to version 16.x, which uses OpenSSL 1.x, may resolve the issue. You can use Node Version Manager (NVM) or a similar tool to easily manage multiple versions of Node.js.

To downgrade:

nvm install 16
nvm use 16. error: error:0308010c:digital envelope routines::unsupported

This ensures that your application runs on a version of Node.js compatible with the cryptographic methods used in your project.

3. Upgrade Dependencies

For a long-term solution, consider upgrading your project’s dependencies to ensure compatibility with OpenSSL 3.0. Most popular libraries have been updated to support the latest version of OpenSSL. Check the documentation or changelogs of the cryptographic libraries in use and install their latest versions.

For example, you can update dependencies in your project by running:

npm update. error: error:0308010c:digital envelope routines::unsupported

This step ensures that your project and its dependencies are compatible with the latest security standards.

Conclusion

The error: error:0308010c:digital envelope routines::unsupported is an OpenSSL compatibility issue that can be addressed in several ways. Depending on your project’s requirements, you can either use the legacy provider in Node.js, downgrade to an earlier version of Node.js, or update your dependencies to work with OpenSSL 3.0. Taking these steps should resolve the issue and ensure that your Node.js applications run smoothly.