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    [solved] Changed Admin Access to HTTP and couldn't login anymore

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Plus 24.11 Development Snapshots (Retired)
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    • Bob.DigB
      Bob.Dig LAYER 8
      last edited by Bob.Dig

      This might or might not be related to the beta, so sorry if it isn't, but I only have betas right now.

      I changed Admin Access to HTTP and couldn't login anymore. It would say something like the browser needs to accept cookies or similar. I tested with two different browsers.

      What was really disturbing to me, there was no config backup in the config-history about that change of mine. I had to revert to a backup-image from this morning. 😌

      Now is there a reason for not having a config backup about this? True is, I disabled all safeguards about login-in before, still...

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • M
        marcosm Netgate
        last edited by

        The cookie is likely being rejected since a secure one already exists. Clear cookies or try it in a private window.

        Bob.DigB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • Bob.DigB
          Bob.Dig LAYER 8 @marcosm
          last edited by Bob.Dig

          @marcosm So it is a non-issue and doesn't deserve a config-change. I don't want to retest this because of reasons and can't say for sure, if all cookies were deleted beforehand. Maybe I will retry tomorrow.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • M
            marcosm Netgate
            last edited by marcosm

            It's usually either HSTS or cookies. I did reproduce it here and can see in the browser console:

            Cookie “PHPSESSID” has been rejected because there is an existing “secure” cookie.

            Bob.DigB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • Bob.DigB
              Bob.Dig LAYER 8 @marcosm
              last edited by Bob.Dig

              @marcosm If HSTS is enabled in pfSense and later I switch back to HTTP... I have a problem. Maybe there should be a check in place and HSTS should be disabled by pfSense if one is changing to http. And a config-backup would help in this case. Just a thought. 😉
              I hope I learned my lesson for now.

              jimpJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • M
                marcosm Netgate
                last edited by

                Maybe, though personally I wouldn't want to make it any easier to use unencrypted traffic in 2024 😛

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • jimpJ
                  jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate @Bob.Dig
                  last edited by

                  @Bob-Dig said in [solved] Changed Admin Access to HTTP and couldn't login anymore:

                  @marcosm If HSTS is enabled in pfSense and later I switch back to HTTP... I have a problem. Maybe there should be a check in place and HSTS should be disabled by pfSense if one is changing to http. And a config-backup would help in this case. Just a thought. 😉
                  I hope I learned my lesson for now.

                  pfSense doesn't send HSTS info when you set the GUI to HTTP, but your browser caches the previous value and will refuse to connect (rightfully so!). Nothing the server can do about that, you have to manually clear it. Both Chrome and Firefox have methods of clearing that, others likely do as well.

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                  Bob.DigB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • Bob.DigB
                    Bob.Dig LAYER 8 @jimp
                    last edited by

                    @jimp I felt brave, this time with MIM enabled. And you were right. I managed to log-in with chromium, after clearing some saved information. With FF I had no luck so far but now I had two ways to access pfSense and re-enable https. Thank you.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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