Certificate Management

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  1. Certificate Management in MediaWiki
    1. Introduction

Certificate Management is a crucial aspect of securing a MediaWiki installation, especially when enabling HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure). HTTPS encrypts communication between the web server and users' browsers, protecting sensitive data like login credentials and personal information. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to certificate management for beginners using MediaWiki 1.40 and beyond. We will cover the basics of SSL/TLS certificates, obtaining them, installing them on your server, configuring MediaWiki to use them, and maintaining them for optimal security. Understanding these concepts is vital for building trust with your users and ensuring the integrity of your wiki. Ignoring certificate management can lead to security vulnerabilities, browser warnings, and a loss of user confidence. This guide assumes a basic understanding of server administration, but will attempt to explain technical concepts in an accessible manner.

    1. What are SSL/TLS Certificates?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and its successor, TLS (Transport Layer Security), are cryptographic protocols that provide secure communication over a network. An SSL/TLS certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates a website's identity and enables an encrypted connection. Think of it like a digital passport for your website.

Here's a breakdown of key components:

  • **Certificate Authority (CA):** A trusted third party that issues SSL/TLS certificates. Examples include Let's Encrypt, DigiCert, Sectigo, and GlobalSign. Browsers pre-install a list of trusted CAs.
  • **Public Key:** This is part of the certificate and is publicly available. It's used to encrypt data sent *to* the server.
  • **Private Key:** This is kept secret on the server. It's used to decrypt data sent *to* the server and to digitally sign data. Compromising the private key compromises the security of the entire site.
  • **Subject:** This identifies the entity the certificate is issued to (e.g., your domain name).
  • **Issuer:** This identifies the Certificate Authority that issued the certificate.
  • **Validity Period:** Certificates have an expiration date. After this date, the certificate is no longer considered valid and needs to be renewed.
    1. Obtaining an SSL/TLS Certificate

There are several ways to obtain an SSL/TLS certificate:

1. **Commercial Certificates:** These are purchased from Certificate Authorities (CAs). They typically offer various levels of validation (Domain Validation, Organization Validation, Extended Validation) and come with varying levels of support and warranty. While they cost money, they can provide a higher level of trust and support. Security is a major consideration when choosing a commercial CA. 2. **Let's Encrypt:** A free, automated, and open Certificate Authority. It's a popular choice for many websites, including MediaWiki installations. Let's Encrypt certificates are Domain Validated (DV), meaning they verify you control the domain name. Tools like Certbot automate the process of obtaining and renewing certificates. Installation of Certbot is the first step. 3. **Self-Signed Certificates:** You can create your own certificate, but these are *not* trusted by browsers by default. Users will see security warnings when visiting your site. Self-signed certificates are suitable for testing or internal use, but *never* for a public-facing website. Configuration for self-signed certificates is different than Let's Encrypt.

    • Recommendation:** For most MediaWiki installations, **Let's Encrypt** is the recommended option due to its cost-effectiveness and ease of use.
    1. Installing the Certificate on Your Server

The installation process varies depending on your web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx). Here's a general overview:

    • Apache:**
  • You'll typically need to place the certificate file (`.crt` or `.pem`) and the private key file (`.key`) in a secure directory on your server.
  • Enable the SSL module in Apache.
  • Configure a virtual host for HTTPS (port 443) and point it to the certificate and private key files. Server Configuration is critical here.
    • Nginx:**
  • Place the certificate and private key files in a secure directory.
  • Configure a server block for HTTPS (port 443) and specify the paths to the certificate and private key files. Web Server settings are paramount.
    • Important:** Ensure the private key file is only readable by the web server user. Protecting the private key is paramount to your site's security. Incorrect permissions can lead to a security breach.
    1. Configuring MediaWiki to Use HTTPS

Once the certificate is installed on your server, you need to configure MediaWiki to use HTTPS. This involves updating the `$wgSitename` and `$wgServer` variables in your `LocalSettings.php` file.

1. **`$wgSitename`:** Set this to the HTTPS URL of your wiki (e.g., `https://www.example.com/wiki`). 2. **`$wgServer`:** Set this to the HTTPS URL of your wiki (e.g., `https://www.example.com`). 3. **`$wgScriptPath`:** Ensure this is correctly set, reflecting the path to your `index.php` file. 4. **`$wgEnableHTTPS`:** Set this to `true` to enforce HTTPS. 5. **`$wgHTTPSCovert`:** Set this to `true` to redirect all HTTP requests to HTTPS. This is highly recommended. 6. **`$wgSessionPublicKeys`:** If you're experiencing issues with session management after enabling HTTPS, you might need to adjust this setting. Session Management can be complex.

    • Example `LocalSettings.php` snippet:**

```php $wgSitename = "https://www.example.com/wiki"; $wgServer = "https://www.example.com"; $wgScriptPath = "/wiki"; $wgEnableHTTPS = true; $wgHTTPSCovert = true; ```

After making these changes, clear your MediaWiki cache (using the `maintenance/rebuildIndices.php` script) to ensure the changes are applied. Maintenance tasks are vital for smooth operation.

    1. Certificate Renewal

SSL/TLS certificates expire, typically after one year (for Let's Encrypt). It's crucial to renew your certificate *before* it expires to avoid disruptions to your website.

  • **Let's Encrypt:** Certbot can automate the renewal process. Configure Certbot to run as a cron job or scheduled task to automatically renew your certificates.
  • **Commercial Certificates:** Your CA will typically send you reminders before your certificate expires. Follow their instructions to renew the certificate.

After renewing the certificate, you'll need to restart your web server to load the new certificate.

    1. Troubleshooting Common Issues
  • **Browser Security Warnings:** This usually indicates a problem with your certificate installation or configuration. Double-check the certificate path in your web server configuration and ensure the certificate is valid and trusted. Debugging is a key skill.
  • **Mixed Content Errors:** This occurs when your website loads some resources over HTTPS and others over HTTP. Ensure all resources (images, CSS, JavaScript) are loaded over HTTPS. You might need to update links in your MediaWiki templates and extensions. Templates and Extensions may require modification.
  • **Session Issues:** HTTPS can sometimes cause issues with session management. Try adjusting the `$wgSessionPublicKeys` setting in `LocalSettings.php`.
  • **Certificate Chain Issues:** Some CAs require you to install an intermediate certificate chain along with your main certificate. Consult your CA's documentation for instructions. Intermediates are important.
  • **Slow Page Load Times:** SSL/TLS encryption can add some overhead to page load times. Consider using HTTP/2 or HTTP/3 to improve performance. Performance Optimization is always a good idea.
    1. Advanced Certificate Management
  • **OCSP Stapling:** A technique that allows the server to provide the revocation status of its certificate to clients, improving performance and security.
  • **HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security):** A web server directive that tells browsers to always connect to your site over HTTPS.
  • **Certificate Pinning:** A technique that allows you to explicitly tell browsers to only trust specific certificates for your domain. This provides a higher level of security but can be complex to implement. Security Best Practices are essential.
  • **Automated Certificate Management Tools:** Tools like ACME clients (e.g., Certbot, acme.sh) can automate the entire certificate lifecycle, from obtaining to renewal.
    1. Resources and Further Reading

Main Page Help:Contents FAQ Manual:Configuration Manual:Security

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