# The driver could not establish a secure connection to SQL Server by using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption. Error: "Unexpected rethrowing"

> This particular error message can appear on startup.

URL: https://www.hannonhill.com/cascadecms/latest/articles/cascade-administration/installation-and-upgrades/database/sql-server-ssl-unexpected-rethrowing.html
category: Cascade Administration
article-type: reference
content-kind: faq
release-availability: all
tags: errors, installation, database
updated: 2026-10-06

This particular error message can appear on startup. The full message will typically appear as the following:

`Error occurred fetching database vendor type: Cannot create PoolableConnectionFactory (The driver could not establish a secure connection to SQL Server by using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption. Error: "Unexpected rethrowing".)`

To resolve this issue:

- Stop Cascade CMS if it is running
- Edit the file `tomcat/conf/context.xml`
- Add the parameter `sslProtocol=TLSv1.2` to the existing connection string

For example, if your connection string is:

```xml
url="jdbc:sqlserver://yourDatabaseServerHost:1433;databaseName=CascadeCMS;SelectMethod=cursor"
```

The modified connection string will be:

```xml
url="jdbc:sqlserver://yourDatabaseServerHost:1433;databaseName=CascadeCMS;sslProtocol=TLSv1.2;SelectMethod=cursor"
```

- Start Cascade CMS