SSL Timeout and Crypto Enabling Errors Resolved for file_get_contents()

In PHP, when using file_get_contents() to retrieve content from HTTPS pages, it's possible to encounter errors related to SSL crypto enabling. One such error is:

Warning: file_get_contents(): SSL: crypto enabling timeout...
Warning: file_get_contents(): Failed to enable crypto...

This issue arises when the PHP configuration lacks the necessary settings to enable crypto for SSL connections. To rectify this, the following solution is proposed:

Using cURL with SSLv3

Instead of file_get_contents(), the cURL library can be employed, which provides greater control over SSL settings. By setting the CURLOPT_SSLVERSION option to 3, SSLv3 will be enabled, potentially resolving the issue:

Configuring cURL for SSL Verification

In certain cases, the issue may also stem from missing or incomplete root certificates. To ensure proper SSL verification, the following steps are recommended:

1. Download the root certificates.
2. Specify the path to the certificate file using CURLOPT_CAINFO:

curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_CAINFO, __DIR__ . "/certs/cacert.pem");

3. Enable SSL verification using CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER:

curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER, true);

By implementing these solutions, you can resolve the SSL timeout and crypto enabling errors associated with file_get_contents() in PHP, enabling you to retrieve content from HTTPS pages without further complications.