Introduction

OpenSSL is an open-source implementation of the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols. It is used to secure communications over the internet and is widely used in web servers, email servers, and other applications. Knowing the version of OpenSSL you are running is important for security reasons, as newer versions often contain important security fixes. In this tutorial, we will show you how to check the OpenSSL version number on your system.

How to Check the OpenSSL Version Number

1. On Windows:

a. Open the Command Prompt.

b. Type in the command “openssl version” and press Enter.

2. On Mac OS X:

a. Open the Terminal.

b. Type in the command “openssl version” and press Enter.

3. On Linux:

a. Open the Terminal.

b. Type in the command “openssl version” and press Enter.

Introduction

Want to learn what version of OpenSSL you have?

OpenSSL is an open-source cryptographic library and SSL toolkit. The applications contained in the library help create a secure communication environment for computer networks.

OpenSSL contains an implementation of SSL and TLS protocols, meaning that most servers and HTTPS websites use its resources.

In this tutorial, learn how to find the OpenSSL version with a single command.

Prerequisites

A command-line/terminal window.
OpenSSL installed on your system.

OpenSSL Version Command

The openssl version command allows you to determine the version your system is currently using. This information is useful if you want to find out if a particular feature is available, verify whether a security threat affects your system, or perhaps report a bug. Type in:

openssl version

The resulting data will consist of the OpenSSL version designation and the date of its initial release.

The output is clear and easy to understand. We can break down the version format to get valuable insight. Additionally, using flags can help structure the data.

OpenSSL Releases

The format of the version provides a lot of information. The position of the numbers represent the release type:

Major Releases – You can recognize a major release if one or both of the first two digits change. This type of release can break compatibility with previous versions. For example: 1.1.0g vs. 1.2.0
Minor Releases – A minor release changes the last number of the version designation, e.g., 1.1.0 vs. 1.1.1. These releases are likely to contain new features; however, they should not break binary compatibility. You do not need to recompile applications to benefit from them.
Letter Releases – The release designation in our example 1.1.0g contains bug and security fixes exclusively. No new features were added.

Note: The next planned version of OpenSSL is 3.0.0. Once the new version is released, the versioning scheme is going to change to a more contemporary format: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH

OpenSSL Flags

By using a general flag –help we can see an overview of all valid options for openssl version.

openssl version –help

There are eight (8) valid options that allow you to narrow your search. The option that provides the most comprehensive set of information is:

openssl version –a

This command compiles all the information contained under the individual flags into a single output.

This option is convenient, especially when troubleshooting or composing a bug report.

The OPENSSLDIR line is especially interesting, as it will tell you where OpenSSL will look for its configurations and certificates. You can print out that specific line by using the following command:

openssl version -d

In this example, the configuration files and certificates are located at /usr/lib/ssl

Conclusion

Now you have learned how to check the OpenSSL version.

You should now understand how to interpret that data. And how it can be used to improve server security, troubleshoot or submit a bug request.

The flags presented in the article provided you with the necessary tools to help you make an informed decision and administer your system effectively.

How to Check the OpenSSL Version Number

OpenSSL is an open-source implementation of the SSL and TLS protocols. It is used to secure communications between two systems, such as a web server and a web browser. It is important to keep your OpenSSL version up to date to ensure that your system is secure. This article will explain how to check the OpenSSL version number.

Step 1: Check the Version Number

The easiest way to check the OpenSSL version number is to use the command line. Open a terminal window and type the following command:

openssl version

This will display the version number of the OpenSSL library that is installed on your system. For example, if the output is “OpenSSL 1.0.2g”, then you have version 1.0.2g installed.

Step 2: Check the Release Date

The version number alone does not tell you when the version was released. To check the release date, you can use the following command:

openssl version -a

This will display the version number as well as the release date. For example, if the output is “OpenSSL 1.0.2g 1 Mar 2016”, then you have version 1.0.2g released on 1 March 2016.

Step 3: Check for Updates

It is important to keep your OpenSSL version up to date. To check for updates, you can visit the OpenSSL website at https://www.openssl.org/. On the website, you can find the latest version of OpenSSL as well as the release notes for each version.

Conclusion

Checking the OpenSSL version number is an important step in keeping your system secure. By using the command line, you can easily check the version number and the release date. You can also check for updates on the OpenSSL website.

Introduction