I have a fresh docker installation of Passbolt 5.5 which cannot generate the shared metadata keys.
In the organization settings > Metadata key, I try to generate a key (Created: Pending) as demanded but upon saving, an error is raised and the key not saved:
{
"code": 400,
"body": {
"metadata_private_keys": {
"_empty": "The metadata private keys should not be empty."
}
}
}
I couldn’t find any solution. All other issues (GPG server key, JWT tokens etc.) are resolved.
Checklist
I have read intro post: https://community.passbolt.com/t/about-the-installation-issues-category/12
I have read the tutorials, help and searched for similar issues
I provide relevant information about my server (component names and versions, etc.)
I provide a copy of my logs and healthcheck
I describe the steps I have taken to trouble shoot the problem
I describe the steps on how to reproduce the issue
Server
- Debian 13
- Docker installation
- Passbolt 5.5.0
Health check
____ __ ____
/ __ \____ _____ ____/ /_ ____ / / /_
/ /_/ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ __ \/ __ \/ / __/
/ ____/ /_/ (__ |__ ) /_/ / /_/ / / /
/_/ \__,_/____/____/_.___/\____/_/\__/
Open source password manager for teams
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Healthcheck shell
If you want to have more information about the different checks, please take a look at the documentation: https://www.passbolt.com/docs/admin/server-maintenance/passbolt-api-status/..........................................................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Environment
[INFO] Linux 7b8408cb078b 6.1.0-40-amd64 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Debian 6.1.153-1 (2025-09-20) x86_64 GNU/Linux
[PASS] PHP version 8.4.11.
[PASS] PHP version is 8.2 or above.
[PASS] 64-bit architecture system detected.
[INFO] gpg (GnuPG) 2.4.7 / libgcrypt 1.11.0
[PASS] PCRE compiled with unicode support.
[PASS] Mbstring extension is installed.
[PASS] Intl extension is installed.
[PASS] GD or Imagick extension is installed.
[PASS] The temporary directory and its content are writable and not executable.
[PASS] The logs directory /var/log/passbolt/ and its content are writable.
[WARN] System clock and NTP service information cannot be found.
[HELP] See `timedatectl | grep -i -A 1 clock`. More information: https://www.passbolt.com/docs/hosting/configure/ntp/
Config files
[PASS] The application config file is present
[WARN] The passbolt config file is missing in /etc/passbolt/
[HELP] Copy /etc/passbolt/passbolt.default.php to /etc/passbolt/passbolt.php
[HELP] The passbolt config file is not required if passbolt is configured with environment variables
Core config
[PASS] Cache is working.
[PASS] Debug mode is off.
[PASS] Unique value set for security.salt
[PASS] Full base url is set to https://passbolt.jdav.erikt.eu
[PASS] App.fullBaseUrl validation OK.
[PASS] /healthcheck/status is reachable.
SSL Certificate
[PASS] SSL peer certificate validates.
[PASS] Hostname is matching in SSL certificate.
[PASS] Not using a self-signed certificate.
SMTP settings
[PASS] The SMTP Settings plugin is enabled.
[PASS] SMTP Settings coherent. You may send a test email to validate them.
[PASS] The SMTP Settings source is: database.
[WARN] The SMTP Settings plugin endpoints are enabled.
[HELP] It is recommended to disable the plugin endpoints.
[HELP] Set the PASSBOLT_SECURITY_SMTP_SETTINGS_ENDPOINTS_DISABLED environment variable to true.
[HELP] Or set passbolt.security.smtpSettings.endpointsDisabled to true in /etc/passbolt/passbolt.php.
[PASS] No custom SSL configuration for SMTP server.
JWT Authentication
[PASS] The JWT Authentication plugin is enabled.
[PASS] The /etc/passbolt/jwt/ directory is not writable.
[PASS] A valid JWT key pair was found.
GPG Configuration
[PASS] PHP GPG Module is installed and loaded.
[PASS] The environment variable GNUPGHOME is set to /var/lib/passbolt/.gnupg.
[PASS] The directory /var/lib/passbolt/.gnupg containing the keyring is writable by the webserver user.
[PASS] The server OpenPGP key is not the default one.
[PASS] The public key file is defined in /etc/passbolt/passbolt.php and readable.
[PASS] The private key file is defined in /etc/passbolt/passbolt.php and readable.
[PASS] The server key fingerprint matches the one defined in /etc/passbolt/passbolt.php.
[PASS] The server public key defined in the /etc/passbolt/passbolt.php (or environment variables) is in the keyring.
[PASS] There is a valid email id defined for the server key.
[PASS] The public key can be used to encrypt a message.
[PASS] The private key can be used to sign a message.
[PASS] The public and private keys can be used to encrypt and sign a message.
[PASS] The private key can be used to decrypt a message.
[PASS] The private key can be used to decrypt and verify a message.
[PASS] The public key can be used to verify a signature.
[PASS] The server public key format is Gopengpg compatible.
[PASS] The server private key format is Gopengpg compatible.
Application configuration
[PASS] Using latest passbolt version (5.5.0).
[PASS] Passbolt is configured to force SSL use.
[PASS] App.fullBaseUrl is set to HTTPS.
[PASS] Selenium API endpoints are disabled.
[PASS] Search engine robots are told not to index content.
[INFO] The Self Registration plugin is enabled.
[INFO] The self registration provider is: Email domain safe list.
[PASS] The deprecated self registration public setting was not found in /etc/passbolt/passbolt.php.
[WARN] Host availability checking is disabled.
[HELP] Make sure this instance is not publicly available on the internet.
[HELP] Or set the PASSBOLT_EMAIL_VALIDATE_MX environment variable to true.
[HELP] Or set passbolt.email.validate.mx to true in /etc/passbolt/passbolt.php.
[PASS] Serving the compiled version of the javascript app.
[PASS] All email notifications will be sent.
[PASS] The database schema is up to date.
Database
[PASS] The application is able to connect to the database
[PASS] 34 tables found.
[PASS] Some default content is present.
Metadata
[FAIL] No server metadata private key found.
[FAIL] No active metadata key found.
[PASS] The server has access to the metadata keys or does not require access to it.
[PASS] The server metadata private key is valid.
[FAIL] 2 error(s) found. Hang in there!
