Trying to download mod into MO2 = SSL handshake failed: The issuer certificate of a locally looked up certificate could not be found

[githwithit]

The problem:

I am on Windows 10 with MO2 2.5.2 and up to now have had no issue clicking on NexusMods mod links and having them download to MO2.

For the last couple weeks, I now click on a mod download link, MO2 launches and I see a small MO2 pop-up at the center/bottom of MO2:

We were unable to download the file due to errors after four retries. There may be an issue with the Nexus servers.

When this happens, the MO2 mo_interface.log shows:

[2024-10-08 12:02:00.049 W] SSL handshake failed: The issuer certificate of a locally looked up certificate could not be found (6)
[2024-10-08 12:02:00.136 W] SSL handshake failed: The issuer certificate of a locally looked up certificate could not be found (6)
[2024-10-08 12:02:00.220 W] SSL handshake failed: The issuer certificate of a locally looked up certificate could not be found (6)
[2024-10-08 12:02:00.307 W] SSL handshake failed: The issuer certificate of a locally looked up certificate could not be found (6)

I can manually download a mod, drag it into MO2, and right click the download archive and select Query Info with no problem.

At NexusMods I generated a new API key and loaded it into MO2 but the problem persists.

To Reproduce:

1. Find any nexusmods mod, click FILES, then click MOD MANAGER DOWNLOAD, click SLOW DOWNLOAD
2. ModOrganizer2 opens up, there is a pop-up "We were unable to download..." and the MO2 mo_interface.log shows: "SSL handshake failed..."

Environment:

• Mod Organizer Version 2.5.2
• Desktop OS/version used to run Mod Organizer: Windows 10