Why I am getting the "variable lookup failed for ca::database" error when running OpenSSL "ca" command?

You are getting the "variable lookup failed for ca::database" error, because OpenSSL "ca" command can not find the required "database" option in the configuration file.

For example, if you have the follow configuration file, test.cnf, without "database" option defined:

C:\Users\fyicenter>type test.cnf
# Unnamed section of generic options

# section for the "default_ca" option
[ca]
default_ca    = my_ca_default

# default section for "ca" command options
[my_ca_default]
new_certs_dir = ./my_ca/certs

You will get an error, because "database" is a required option:

C:\Users\fyicenter>\local\OpenSSL-Win32\bin\openssl.exe

OpenSSL> ca -in test.csr -keyfile my_ca.key -cert my_ca.crt -config test.cnf
Using configuration from test.cnf
Enter pass phrase for my_ca.key:fyicenter
variable lookup failed for my_ca_default::database
2896:error:0E06D06C:configuration file routines:NCONF_get_string:
   no value:.\crypto\conf\conf_lib.c:324:group=my_ca_default name=database
error in ca

Fixing this error is easy. Just add the "database" option in the section pointed by the "default_ca" option in the configuration file:

C:\Users\fyicenter>type test.cnf
# Unnamed section of generic options

# section for the "default_ca" option
[ca]
default_ca    = my_ca_default

# default section for "ca" command options
[my_ca_default]
new_certs_dir = ./my_ca/certs
database      = ./my_ca/certs.db

Remember to create empty file .\my_ca\certs.db, if it does not exist. This database file will be used to track each new certificate and revoked certificate.

⇒ OpenSSL "ca" Error "lookup failed for ca::default_md"

⇐ OpenSSL "ca" Error "... directory for new certificate ..."

⇑ OpenSSL "ca" Command

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