The invention discloses a system and apparatus for detecting problematic certificate action requests and digital certificates. Ideally, the invention will be used to detect a certificate request that will result in security problems and detect issued certificates that lack essential information. The invention uses a proxy system that intercepts certificate requests and transmitted certificates. The proxy system runs a series of checks on the intercepted request and/or certificate. The checks vary depending on the certificate contents, requester, and system providing the request or certificate.