Install and Configure Mod_Security on Ubuntu 16.04 Server

Posted on by J. Potter | Updated:
Category: Tutorials | Tags: , , , , ,
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Mod_security, also commonly called Modsec for short, is a powerful WAF (Web Application Firewall) that integrates directly into Apache’s module system. This direct integration allows the security module to intercept traffic at the earliest stages of a request. Early detection is crucial for blocking malicious requests before they are passed along to web applications hosted by Apache web sites. This provides and extra layer of protection against common threats a server faces. This article will explore the installation of mod_security along with the CRS (Core Rule Set) in a Ubuntu 16.04 LTS Server running Apache 2.4. Continue reading “Install and Configure Mod_Security on Ubuntu 16.04 Server” →

Whitelisting in ModSecurity

Posted on by Cameron Paxton | Updated:
Category: Tutorials | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Reading Time: 6 minutes

Broken down into two parts our article’s first section hits on “how to whitelist IPs or URIs,” for people who are somewhat familiar with ModSecurity but want to know further about the process. Our second section examines why we configure ModSecurity and how to prevent the security of the server from getting in the way of our work. If you have a Fully Managed Liquid Web server reach out to our Heroic Support team for assistance with whitelisting! Continue reading “Whitelisting in ModSecurity” →

When Mod Security Attacks

Posted on by Patrick Hawkins | Updated:
Category: Common Fixes | Tags: , , , ,
Reading Time: 2 minutes

One component of Liquid Web’s Server Secure service is an Apache module called Mod Security (often shortened to just “modsec”). Modsec monitors all incoming HTTP requests for malicious behavior and does not complete requests that meet certain criteria. These criteria are spelled out in what are called “rules” or “rulesets”.

In an ideal world, only malicious requests would be caught in modsec’s trap. Unfortunately, there are some instances where legitimate requests are stopped as well. How do we determine that this is what happens, and what can we do about it?
Continue reading “When Mod Security Attacks” →