How To Fix 1S541 - Incomplete certificate chain

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: 1S - Messages for SSF ("Secure Store & Forward")

• Message number: 541

• Message text: Incomplete certificate chain

What causes this issue?

The system could not create a complete certificate chain.

System Response

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

How to fix this error?

Either insert a missing root certificate or a missing intermediate
certificate in the certificate database of the Trust Manager or add the
missing certificates to the certificate response. See also SAP Note
508307.

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message 1S541 - Incomplete certificate chain ?

  The SAP error message 1S541: Incomplete certificate chain typically indicates that the system is unable to validate a digital certificate because it does not have access to the complete chain of trust. This can occur in various scenarios, such as when establishing secure connections (SSL/TLS) or when using digital signatures.
  Cause:
  
  Missing Intermediate Certificates: The certificate chain is incomplete because one or more intermediate certificates are missing. The client or server cannot verify the authenticity of the certificate without these intermediates.
  Incorrect Certificate Configuration: The certificates may not be correctly configured in the SAP system or the underlying operating system.
  Expired Certificates: One of the certificates in the chain may have expired, leading to validation issues.
  Trust Store Issues: The trust store (where trusted root certificates are stored) may not contain the necessary root or intermediate certificates.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Install Missing Certificates:
  
  Obtain the missing intermediate certificates from the certificate authority (CA) that issued the server certificate.
  Install these certificates in the appropriate trust store used by the SAP system.
  
  
  
  Update the Trust Store:
  
  Ensure that the trust store (e.g., SAP's SSL PSE or the operating system's trust store) contains all necessary root and intermediate certificates.
  You can use tools like SAP's transaction STRUST to manage SSL PSEs and import certificates.
  
  
  
  Check Certificate Validity:
  
  Verify that all certificates in the chain are valid and not expired. If any certificate is expired, you will need to renew it.
  
  
  
  Reconfigure SSL Settings:
  
  If you have made changes to the certificates, ensure that the SSL settings in the SAP system are correctly configured to use the updated certificates.
  
  
  
  Test the Configuration:
  
  After making changes, test the SSL connection to ensure that the error is resolved. You can use tools like OpenSSL to check the certificate chain.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Documentation: Refer to SAP's official documentation for managing SSL certificates and PSEs (Personal Security Environments).
  Transaction STRUST: This transaction allows you to manage SSL certificates and PSEs within the SAP system.
  Certificate Authorities: If you are using certificates from a public CA, check their documentation for specific instructions on obtaining and installing intermediate certificates.
  Logs and Traces: Check the SAP system logs and traces for more detailed error messages that can provide additional context for troubleshooting.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 1S541: Incomplete certificate chain error in your SAP environment.