Mod_Security blocking WordPress logins

[mehdix92]

Hello,

I'm currently experiencing issues with CSF in the following cases :

1. - Mod_Security rules give error 406 wordpress when trying to login through wp-admin - Disabling Mod_security on the Website's Cpanel solves the issues but is insecure.
   
   
2. Rules for SMTP are way too strict resulting in an impossibility to connect with outlook - Adding IP to whitelist CSF solves the issue.

Any solutions please ?

 

[cPanelMichael]

Hello @mehdix92,

1. Can you let us know an example of the output to /usr/local/apache/logs/modsec_audit.log when the WordPress login failed? This should help to narrow down the specific rule that blocked the login.

2. Can you let us know the specific error message or issue you encountered with Outlook before whitelisting the IP address in your firewall? How were you reproducing the issue, and what operating system and Outlook version were used on the computer you tested with?

Thank you.

 

[mehdix92]

This is a portion of it :

ModSecurity: Access denied with code 406 (phase 2). Pattern match "/wp-admin/css/.*\\\\\\\\.php" at REQUEST_URI. [file "remote server"] [line "-1"] [id "430027"] [msg "Malware.Expert - request_uri: Wordpress - prevent PHP files from executing"] [hostname "domainexample.com"] [uri "/wp-admin/css/colors/blue/Marvins.php"] [unique_id "Wx-UYRBXDENGcxXBfEJLaQAAAQM"]

 

[cPanelMichael]

Hello @mehdix92,

Can you verify if you are using a specific ModSecurity rule set from a vendor such as OWASP or Comodo? Here are a couple of threads to point you in the right direction on how to deal with false positives with a ModSecurity rule added as part of a third-party ruleset:

COMODO WAF Rule Blocking Access
Issues with modsecurity OWASP and false positives.

Thank you.