Unable to create a domain in Plesk: The configuration section 'system.webServer/pleskProtectedUrls' cannot be read because it is missing a section declaration

Symptoms

Unable to add a domain in Plesk:

PLESK_ERROR: Error: ProtDir_IIS::update() failed: Add Protected Directory failed: Filename: \?\C:\Inetpub\vhosts\example.com\httpdocs\web.config Error: The configuration section 'system.webServer/pleskProtectedUrls' cannot be read because it is missing a section declaration In module

Cause

Missing registries in the applicationHost.config file due to incorrect plesk-urlprotection package installation.

Resolution

1. Connect to the server via RDP.

2. Create a copy of the C:\Windows\System32\inetsrv\Config\applicationHost.config file.

3. Open the C:\Windows\System32\inetsrv\Config\applicationHost.config file for editing and add the missing lines (in bold) into respective sections:

   CONFIG_TEXT: <configuration>
   <configSections>
   ...
   <sectionGroup name="system.webServer">
   ...
   <section name="pleskProtectedUrls" overrideModeDefault="Deny" />
   ...
   </sectionGroup>
   ...
   </configSections>
   ...
   </configuration>

   and

   CONFIG_TEXT: <system.webServer>
   ...
   <globalModules>
   ...
   <add name="PleskUrlProtectionModule" image="%windir%\System32\inetsrv\pleskurlprotection.dll" />
   ...
   </globalModules>
   ...
   </system.webServer>