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Why Your ACME SSL Certificate Request is Delayed: Common Issues and Solutions

Introduction

SSL/TLS certificates requested through ACME clients like Certbot (official documentation) or win-acme (official website) are typically issued within minutes. However, delays can sometimes occur due to Domain Control Validation (DCV) issues, configuration problems, or specific requirements for OV/EV certificates. This guide highlights common reasons for delays, explains what to look for in your ACME client logs, and provides steps to resolve these issues.

Log files for reference:

  • Certbot: /var/log/letsencrypt/letsencrypt.log
  • win-acme: %programdata%\win-acme\acme-v02.api.letsencrypt.org\Log\wacs.log
Common Reasons for ACME Certificate Delays

  1. Incomplete Domain Control Validation (DCV):
    • What to Look For in Logs:
      • Certbot: Challenge failed, Invalid response, or DNS problem: NXDOMAIN.
      • win-acme: Validation failed or Challenge failed.
    • Explanation:
      • DCV is required to confirm domain ownership. Delays occur if the ACME client cannot complete HTTP, DNS, or email validation. Common issues include:
        • Missing or incorrect DNS TXT/CNAME records.
        • Inaccessible HTTP validation files.
        • Unresponded email validation requests.
    • Action Required:
      • For DNS validation: Verify the TXT or CNAME record is correctly configured and propagated.
      • For HTTP validation: Ensure the file is correctly placed and accessible on the server.
      • For email validation: Check the inbox or spam folder for validation emails.
  2. Expired OV or EV Organization Validation:
    • What to Look For in Logs:
      • Certbot and win-acme: Look for Validation expired or Organization validation required.
    • Explanation:
      • OV/EV certificates require the organization's validation to be current with the Certificate Authority (CA). If expired, new certificates cannot be issued until re-validation is completed.
    • Action Required:
      • Contact GeoCerts SSL to revalidate your organization before requesting the certificate.
  3. Revoked ACME Directory URL:
    • What to Look For in Logs:
      • Certbot and win-acme: Look for errors indicating ACME Directory URL unavailable or Authorization revoked.
    • Explanation:
      • If the ACME Directory URL created through the GeoCerts CertCommand control panel has been revoked, the ACME client will fail to request or renew certificates.
    • Action Required:
      • Log into the GeoCerts CertCommand control panel and create a new ACME Directory URL. Update the ACME client with the new URL and retry the request.
  4. CA Processing Delays:
    • What to Look For in Logs:
      • Certbot: Timeout or Error creating new order.
      • win-acme: Authorization expired or The server could not connect to the client.
    • Explanation:
      • Temporary delays at the CA may occur due to high demand, system maintenance, or additional verification requirements.
    • Action Required:
      • Wait and retry later, or contact GeoCerts SSL if the issue persists.
  5. Incorrect ACME Client Configuration:
    • What to Look For in Logs:
      • Certbot: Invalid key or account or Error creating new order.
      • win-acme: Missing EAB credentials or ACME account validation failed.
    • Explanation:
      • Misconfigurations, such as invalid CSRs or missing External Account Binding (EAB) credentials, can cause delays.
    • Action Required:
      • Double-check client settings, including CSR accuracy, ACME account details, and EAB credentials (if required).
  6. Domain Scope or Policy Issues:
    • What to Look For in Logs:
      • Certbot: The request contains an identifier of an unsupported type.
      • win-acme: CAA record prevents issuance.
    • Explanation:
      • Certain domains may not meet CA requirements (e.g., .local or private IPs) or may be restricted by policy (e.g., .gov).
    • Action Required:
      • Review your domain eligibility and scope. For CAA policy issues, check the CAA DNS records.
  7. Expired ACME Account or Rate Limits:
    • What to Look For in Logs:
      • Certbot: Too many certificates already issued.
      • win-acme: Rate limit exceeded.
    • Explanation:
      • CAs impose rate limits on certificate requests, and accounts may expire or be disabled due to inactivity.
    • Action Required:
      • Review CA rate limits and adjust request frequency. Contact GeoCerts SSL for assistance if the account needs reactivation.
  8. Network or Connectivity Issues:
    • What to Look For in Logs:
      • Certbot: Timeout or DNS lookup failed.
      • win-acme: Could not connect to server.
    • Explanation:
      • Connectivity problems can prevent the ACME client from communicating with the CA.
    • Action Required:
      • Check network settings and retry. Ensure firewalls and DNS settings are correctly configured.
  9. Inadequate Permissions or Access:
    • What to Look For in Logs:
      • Certbot: Permission denied or Could not write to.
      • win-acme: Access denied.
    • Explanation:
      • Insufficient permissions to create files for validation or update certificate storage can cause issues.
    • Action Required:
      • Grant the ACME client the necessary file or directory permissions.
  10. Unsupported ACME Features:
  • What to Look For in Logs:
    • Certbot and win-acme: Unsupported challenge type or Feature not implemented.
  • Explanation:
    • Requested features may not be supported by the CA or ACME client.
  • Action Required:
    • Verify feature compatibility between your client and the CA.
Need Help?

If you're still facing delays or issues with your ACME certificate request, GeoCerts SSL is here to help. Our support team can assist with troubleshooting, validation, and ensuring your certificates are issued as quickly as possible.

  • Contact Support:
    • Email: support@geocerts.com
    • Phone: 1-(404)-424-9753
For installation verification, use our SSL Tools > Certificate Installation Checker at https://www.geocerts.com/ssl-checker.