XenForo Protecting Admin.php, The /install Directory, And Test & Development Installations Using .htaccess

[hifitechindia]

If you want to provide an extra layer of protection to admin.php, the /install directory, and test & development installations, you can do so with .htaccess authentication.


Protecting admin.php
To protect admin.php, edit the .htaccess file which is in your forum root directory (e.g. /community) and add the following to it:
Code:
<Files admin.php>AuthType BasicAuthName "ACP"AuthUserFile "path/to/passwd/file"Require valid-user</Files>

The "path/to/passwd/file" will look something like "/home/my-domain/.htpasswds/public_html/community/passwd".

Then create a corresponding passwdfile. This is how to do it using cPanel.

1. Log in to cPanel
2. Click on Password Protect Directories
3. Select Web Root
4. Click on the forum root folder
5. Check Password protect this directory
6. Name it as "ACP"
7. Click Save
8. Create User
9. Enter Username
10. Enter Password
11. Click on Add/modify authorised user

A passwdfile will be created in /.htpasswds/public_html/<name_of_your_forum_root_folder> .


Protecting the /install directory
To protect the /install directory, create a new .htaccess file in /install and add the following to it:
Code:
AuthType BasicAuthName "Upgrade System"AuthUserFile "path/to/passwd/file"Require valid-user
In this case it is using the same passwdfile as for the ACP so just repeat the steps above to create a different one.


Protecting test and development installations
The

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state that any test and development installations "must be limited to You and Your website staff".
Again, just place the following at the top of the existing .htaccess file in the directory where XF is installed.
Code:
AuthType BasicAuthName "Test Installation"AuthUserFile "path/to/passwd/file"Require valid-user
Set the user and password as explained above.
With it set at the root, it isn't necessary to set it for admin.php and the /install directory.


Using IP address based protection instead of passwd
You can also use IP address protection instead of a passwdfile. In which case you would just have this in the .htaccess file for admin.php:
Code:
<Files admin.php>Order Deny,AllowDeny from allAllow from 127.0.0.1</Files>

And this for the /install directory:
Code:Order Deny,AllowDeny from allAllow from 127.0.0.1

Replace 127.0.0.1 with your actual IP address. You can find out your IP address

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.
Additional allowed IP addresses can be added on a new line.

If you have a static IP address then this approach is fine. If it's dynamic however, you will need to constantly update the file every time it changes.

This is also, work. But, it's very strictly on IP

<Files admin.php>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteCond %{REMOTE_HOST} !^xxx\.xx\.x\.x
RewriteCond %{REMOTE_HOST} !^x\.x\.x\.x
RewriteCond %{REMOTE_HOST} !^x\.x\.x\.x
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !/index\.php$
RewriteRule .* /index.php [R=302,L]
</Files>