This situation occurs when WordPress installation cannot communicate securely with WordPress.org. This issue often affects tasks like installing plugins, themes, or updates. In this guide, I’ll explore the causes of the error and walk you through various solutions to resolve it on a Linux-based server.
The Common Causes of the issue
- SELinux
- Outdated SSL certificates on the server.
- DNS resolution issues blocking the WordPress.org connection.
- Firewall restrictions preventing outgoing connections.
- Incorrect PHP or OpenSSL configuration.
Solution 1: Check SELinux
In Linux there sometimes SELinux causes the problem. To fix the issue follow the bellow steps.
Open the file/etc/selinux/config with root permissionwith an editor and then change the line SELINUX=enforcing to SELINUX=permissive
Reboot the system.
Solution 2: Verify Internet and DNS Configuration
Ensure the server has a working internet connection and DNS is properly configured.
Step 1: Check Network Connectivity
Ping WordPress.org to see if the server can reach it:
ping wordpress.org -c 4
If the ping fails, check your network or firewall settings.
Step 2: Check DNS Resolution
Use the nslookup command to ensure DNS is resolving correctly:
nslookup wordpress.org
If DNS fails, try using Google’s public DNS servers by adding the following to /etc/resolv.conf:
nameserver 8.8.8.8 nameserver 8.8.4.4
Solution 2: Update OpenSSL and Certificates
An outdated OpenSSL or CA certificates package can cause the secure connection issue.
Step 1: Update the Certificates
On Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --reinstall ca-certificates
Solution 3: Ensure PHP Extensions Are Installed and Enabled
WordPress relies on PHP extensions like curl and openssl to establish secure connections.
Step 1: Install Required PHP Extensions
On Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt install php-curl php-openssl
Solution 4: Adjust Firewall and Proxy Settings
Ensure that your firewall or proxy settings allow outgoing connections.
Step 1: Open Firewall Ports
Allow HTTP (port 80) and HTTPS (port 443) traffic:
sudo ufw allow out 80,443/tcp sudo ufw reload
Thats it.
