diff --git a/BUILDING.md b/BUILDING.md
index 1e36403f53e454..10ef85eb88ad05 100644
--- a/BUILDING.md
+++ b/BUILDING.md
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ file a new issue.
   * [Build with a specific ICU](#build-with-a-specific-icu)
     * [Unix/macOS](#unixmacos-3)
     * [Windows](#windows-4)
+* [Configuring OpenSSL config appname](#configure-openssl-appname)
 * [Building Node.js with FIPS-compliant OpenSSL](#building-nodejs-with-fips-compliant-openssl)
 * [Building Node.js with external core modules](#building-nodejs-with-external-core-modules)
   * [Unix/macOS](#unixmacos-4)
@@ -768,6 +769,19 @@ as `deps/icu` (You'll have: `deps/icu/source/...`)
 > .\vcbuild full-icu
 ```
 
+### Configure OpenSSL appname
+
+Node.js can use an OpenSSL configuration file by specifying the environment
+variable `OPENSSL_CONF`, or using the command line option `--openssl-conf`, and
+if none of those are specified will default to reading the default OpenSSL
+configuration file `openssl.cnf`. Node.js will only read a section that is by
+default named `nodejs_conf`, but this name can be overridden using the following
+configure option:
+
+```console
+$ ./configure --openssl-conf-name=<some_conf_name>
+```
+
 ## Building Node.js with FIPS-compliant OpenSSL
 
 The current version of Node.js supports FIPS when statically and
@@ -819,6 +833,9 @@ $ ls out/Release/obj.target/deps/openssl/lib/openssl-modules/
 fips.so
 ```
 
+Running `configure` without `--openssl-is-fips` flag and rebuilding will reset
+the FIPS configuration.
+
 ### FIPS support when dynamically linking OpenSSL
 
 For quictls/openssl 3.0 it is possible to enable FIPS when dynamically linking.
diff --git a/configure.py b/configure.py
index 187c381660b369..e53a83f332ffd6 100755
--- a/configure.py
+++ b/configure.py
@@ -181,6 +181,12 @@
          "e.g. /root/x/y.js will be referenced via require('root/x/y'). "
          "Can be used multiple times")
 
+parser.add_argument("--openssl-conf-name",
+    action="store",
+    dest="openssl_conf_name",
+    default='nodejs_conf',
+    help="The OpenSSL config appname (config section name) used by Node.js")
+
 parser.add_argument('--openssl-default-cipher-list',
     action='store',
     dest='openssl_default_cipher_list',
@@ -1488,6 +1494,8 @@ def configure_openssl(o):
   if options.openssl_no_asm:
     variables['openssl_no_asm'] = 1
 
+  o['defines'] += ['NODE_OPENSSL_CONF_NAME=' + options.openssl_conf_name]
+
   if options.without_ssl:
     def without_ssl_error(option):
       error('--without-ssl is incompatible with %s' % option)
diff --git a/deps/openssl/nodejs-openssl.cnf b/deps/openssl/nodejs-openssl.cnf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..a4c2ff54a8c68e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deps/openssl/nodejs-openssl.cnf
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+ # Use this in order to automatically load providers.
+nodejs_conf = openssl_init
+
+# Optionally include a file that is generated by the OpenSSL fipsinstall
+# application. This file contains configuration data required by the OpenSSL
+# fips provider. It contains a named section e.g. [fips_sect] which is
+# referenced from the [provider_sect] below.
+# Refer to the OpenSSL security policy for more information.
+# .include fipsmodule.cnf
+
+[openssl_init]
+providers = provider_sect
+
+# List of providers to load
+[provider_sect]
+default = default_sect
+# The fips section name should match the section name inside the
+# included fipsmodule.cnf.
+# fips = fips_sect
+
+# If no providers are activated explicitly, the default one is activated implicitly.
+# See man 7 OSSL_PROVIDER-default for more details.
+#
+# If you add a section explicitly activating any other provider(s), you most
+# probably need to explicitly activate the default provider, otherwise it
+# becomes unavailable in openssl.  As a consequence applications depending on
+# OpenSSL may not work correctly which could lead to significant system
+# problems including inability to remotely access the system.
+[default_sect]
+# activate = 1
diff --git a/doc/api/cli.md b/doc/api/cli.md
index b29072164f9071..6161cc552d5999 100644
--- a/doc/api/cli.md
+++ b/doc/api/cli.md
@@ -783,6 +783,21 @@ Load an OpenSSL configuration file on startup. Among other uses, this can be
 used to enable FIPS-compliant crypto if Node.js is built
 against FIPS-enabled OpenSSL.
 
+### `--openssl-shared-config`
+
+<!-- YAML
+added: REPLACEME
+-->
+
+Enable OpenSSL default configuration section, `openssl_conf` to be read from
+the OpenSSL configuration file. The default configuration file is named
+`openssl.cnf` but this can be changed using the environment variable
+`OPENSSL_CONF`, or by using the command line option `--openssl-config`.
+The location of the default OpenSSL configuration file depends on how OpenSSL
+is being linked to Node.js. Sharing the OpenSSL configuration may have unwanted
+implications and it is recommended to use a configuration section specific to
+Node.js which is `nodejs_conf` and is default when this option is not used.
+
 ### `--openssl-legacy-provider`
 
 <!-- YAML
@@ -1675,6 +1690,7 @@ Node.js options that are allowed are:
 * `--node-memory-debug`
 * `--openssl-config`
 * `--openssl-legacy-provider`
+* `--openssl-shared-config`
 * `--pending-deprecation`
 * `--policy-integrity`
 * `--preserve-symlinks-main`
diff --git a/node.gyp b/node.gyp
index e36617232dd7cc..d063a6408072ac 100644
--- a/node.gyp
+++ b/node.gyp
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@
           'variables': {
             'openssl-cli': '<(PRODUCT_DIR)/<(EXECUTABLE_PREFIX)openssl-cli<(EXECUTABLE_SUFFIX)',
             'provider_name': 'libopenssl-fipsmodule',
-            'opensslconfig': './deps/openssl/openssl/apps/openssl.cnf',
+            'opensslconfig': './deps/openssl/nodejs-openssl.cnf',
             'conditions': [
               ['GENERATOR == "ninja"', {
 	        'fipsmodule_internal': '<(PRODUCT_DIR)/lib/<(provider_name).so',
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@
              }, {
 	        'fipsmodule_internal': '<(PRODUCT_DIR)/obj.target/deps/openssl/<(provider_name).so',
                 'fipsmodule': '<(PRODUCT_DIR)/obj.target/deps/openssl/lib/openssl-modules/fips.so',
-                'fipsconfig': '<(PRODUCT_DIR)/obj/deps/openssl/fipsmodule.cnf',
+                'fipsconfig': '<(PRODUCT_DIR)/obj.target/deps/openssl/fipsmodule.cnf',
                 'opensslconfig_internal': '<(PRODUCT_DIR)/obj.target/deps/openssl/openssl.cnf',
              }],
             ],
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@
          }, {
            'variables': {
               'opensslconfig_internal': '<(obj_dir)/deps/openssl/openssl.cnf',
-              'opensslconfig': './deps/openssl/openssl/apps/openssl.cnf',
+              'opensslconfig': './deps/openssl/nodejs-openssl.cnf',
            },
            'actions': [
              {
@@ -435,8 +435,8 @@
                'outputs': [ '<(opensslconfig_internal)', ],
                'action': [
                  'python', 'tools/copyfile.py',
-                 './deps/openssl/openssl/apps/openssl.cnf',
-                 '<(obj_dir)/deps/openssl/openssl.cnf',
+                 '<(opensslconfig)',
+                 '<(opensslconfig_internal)',
                ],
              },
            ],
diff --git a/src/node.cc b/src/node.cc
index 9919ddb5f1b37b..31c3e14846343f 100644
--- a/src/node.cc
+++ b/src/node.cc
@@ -162,6 +162,9 @@ PVOID old_vectored_exception_handler;
 struct V8Platform v8_platform;
 }  // namespace per_process
 
+// The section in the OpenSSL configuration file to be loaded.
+const char* conf_section_name = STRINGIFY(NODE_OPENSSL_CONF_NAME);
+
 #ifdef __POSIX__
 void SignalExit(int signo, siginfo_t* info, void* ucontext) {
   ResetStdio();
@@ -1084,27 +1087,44 @@ InitializationResult InitializeOncePerProcess(
     // CheckEntropy. CheckEntropy will call RAND_status which will now always
     // return 0, leading to an endless loop and the node process will appear to
     // hang/freeze.
+
+    // Passing NULL as the config file will allow the default openssl.cnf file
+    // to be loaded, but the default section in that file will not be used,
+    // instead only the section that matches the value of conf_section_name
+    // will be read from the default configuration file.
+    const char* conf_file = nullptr;
+    // To allow for using the previous default where the 'openssl_conf' appname
+    // was used, the command line option 'openssl-shared-config' can be used to
+    // force the old behavior.
+    if (per_process::cli_options->openssl_shared_config) {
+      conf_section_name = "openssl_conf";
+    }
+    // Use OPENSSL_CONF environment variable is set.
     std::string env_openssl_conf;
     credentials::SafeGetenv("OPENSSL_CONF", &env_openssl_conf);
+    if (!env_openssl_conf.empty()) {
+      conf_file = env_openssl_conf.c_str();
+    }
+    // Use --openssl-conf command line option if specified.
+    if (!per_process::cli_options->openssl_config.empty()) {
+      conf_file = per_process::cli_options->openssl_config.c_str();
+    }
 
-    bool has_cli_conf = !per_process::cli_options->openssl_config.empty();
-    if (has_cli_conf || !env_openssl_conf.empty()) {
-      OPENSSL_INIT_SETTINGS* settings = OPENSSL_INIT_new();
-      OPENSSL_INIT_set_config_file_flags(settings, CONF_MFLAGS_DEFAULT_SECTION);
-      if (has_cli_conf) {
-        const char* conf = per_process::cli_options->openssl_config.c_str();
-        OPENSSL_INIT_set_config_filename(settings, conf);
-      }
-      OPENSSL_init_crypto(OPENSSL_INIT_LOAD_CONFIG, settings);
-      OPENSSL_INIT_free(settings);
-
-      if (ERR_peek_error() != 0) {
-        result.exit_code = ERR_GET_REASON(ERR_peek_error());
-        result.early_return = true;
-        fprintf(stderr, "OpenSSL configuration error:\n");
-        ERR_print_errors_fp(stderr);
-        return result;
-      }
+    OPENSSL_INIT_SETTINGS* settings = OPENSSL_INIT_new();
+    OPENSSL_INIT_set_config_filename(settings, conf_file);
+    OPENSSL_INIT_set_config_appname(settings, conf_section_name);
+    OPENSSL_INIT_set_config_file_flags(settings,
+                                       CONF_MFLAGS_IGNORE_MISSING_FILE);
+
+    OPENSSL_init_crypto(OPENSSL_INIT_LOAD_CONFIG, settings);
+    OPENSSL_INIT_free(settings);
+
+    if (ERR_peek_error() != 0) {
+      result.exit_code = ERR_GET_REASON(ERR_peek_error());
+      result.early_return = true;
+      fprintf(stderr, "OpenSSL configuration error:\n");
+      ERR_print_errors_fp(stderr);
+      return result;
     }
 #else  // OPENSSL_VERSION_MAJOR < 3
     if (FIPS_mode()) {
diff --git a/src/node_options.cc b/src/node_options.cc
index 76cf40123d318e..25e4caf98ad210 100644
--- a/src/node_options.cc
+++ b/src/node_options.cc
@@ -869,6 +869,10 @@ PerProcessOptionsParser::PerProcessOptionsParser(
             "enable OpenSSL 3.0 legacy provider",
             &PerProcessOptions::openssl_legacy_provider,
             kAllowedInEnvironment);
+  AddOption("--openssl-shared-config",
+            "enable OpenSSL shared configuration",
+            &PerProcessOptions::openssl_shared_config,
+            kAllowedInEnvironment);
 
 #endif  // OPENSSL_VERSION_MAJOR
   AddOption("--use-largepages",
diff --git a/src/node_options.h b/src/node_options.h
index 8ab780a0b9ffc5..a4744fb9e5b8a5 100644
--- a/src/node_options.h
+++ b/src/node_options.h
@@ -266,6 +266,7 @@ class PerProcessOptions : public Options {
 #endif
 #if OPENSSL_VERSION_MAJOR >= 3
   bool openssl_legacy_provider = false;
+  bool openssl_shared_config = false;
 #endif
 
   // Per-process because reports can be triggered outside a known V8 context.
diff --git a/test/fixtures/openssl_fips_disabled.cnf b/test/fixtures/openssl_fips_disabled.cnf
index 8668370fac52f7..253c6906e3f3a3 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/openssl_fips_disabled.cnf
+++ b/test/fixtures/openssl_fips_disabled.cnf
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Skeleton openssl.cnf for testing with FIPS
 
-openssl_conf = openssl_conf_section
+nodejs_conf = openssl_conf_section
 authorityKeyIdentifier=keyid:always,issuer:always
 
 [openssl_conf_section]
diff --git a/test/fixtures/openssl_fips_enabled.cnf b/test/fixtures/openssl_fips_enabled.cnf
index 9c1a90f5087727..79733c657a96d0 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/openssl_fips_enabled.cnf
+++ b/test/fixtures/openssl_fips_enabled.cnf
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Skeleton openssl.cnf for testing with FIPS
 
-openssl_conf = openssl_conf_section
+nodejs_conf = openssl_conf_section
 authorityKeyIdentifier=keyid:always,issuer:always
 
 [openssl_conf_section]
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-crypto-fips.js b/test/parallel/test-crypto-fips.js
index ba8a1ba653ec55..cc3e4eed79d80f 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-crypto-fips.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-crypto-fips.js
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ testHelper(
   [],
   FIPS_DISABLED,
   'require("crypto").getFips()',
-  { ...process.env, 'OPENSSL_CONF': '' });
+  { ...process.env, 'OPENSSL_CONF': ' ' });
 
 // This should succeed for both FIPS and non-FIPS builds in combination with
 // OpenSSL 1.1.1 or OpenSSL 3.0
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-process-env-allowed-flags-are-documented.js b/test/parallel/test-process-env-allowed-flags-are-documented.js
index f4dd77e075b89b..dc4c704b6f0b88 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-process-env-allowed-flags-are-documented.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-process-env-allowed-flags-are-documented.js
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ for (const line of [...nodeOptionsLines, ...v8OptionsLines]) {
 
 if (!common.hasOpenSSL3) {
   documented.delete('--openssl-legacy-provider');
+  documented.delete('--openssl-shared-config');
 }
 
 // Filter out options that are conditionally present.
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ const conditionalOpts = [
       return [
         '--openssl-config',
         common.hasOpenSSL3 ? '--openssl-legacy-provider' : '',
+        common.hasOpenSSL3 ? '--openssl-shared-config' : '',
         '--tls-cipher-list',
         '--use-bundled-ca',
         '--use-openssl-ca',