Website hosted in Plesk shows 403 Forbidden or blank page: pcfg_openfile: unable to check htaccess file, ensure it is readable

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    lev k

    HI!

    just want to say, its not always the user.

    sometimes its the group.

    somehow it changed to psacln.

    somehow example: client deleted the httpdocs folder and then recreated it.

    so, solution is chown ftpuser:psaserv httpdocs in this situations

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    Lev Iurev

    Hi @lev k , yes, that's correct, however article describes specific case when user is not in psaserv group

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    Brian L

    I am getting the same errors described in this article, but it does not look to be permissions.
    After a service restart of Apache I can run the command:
    lsof -c httpd | grep "apache-shm" | wc -l
    And the count will be in the 20's or so.
    As the day(s) go on that number will grow and grow up into the tens of thousands and eventually bomb websites on the Plesk server with a 403 error and the errors mentioned in the log files in this article.

    Once it bombs out, the apache-shm count will go back down, sites will return to normal, but it will start to slowly climb back up.
    Have had a support call/remote session with Plesk support, but have not had any luck finding a fix.

    CentOS Linux release 7.5.1804
    Plesk Onyx Version 17.5.3 Update #54

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    Ivan Postnikov

    Hello @Brian,

    As the issue is complex I suggest creating a follow-up ticket to Plesk support and double-check the issue.

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    Robert Maggi (Edited )

    Hi to all,
    in CentOS 7, I solved like this:

    sudo vi /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf

    and setting:
    <Directory />
    AllowOverride none
    </Directory>
    further on..
    <Files ".ht'">
    #Require all denied
    </Files>

    save, and restart Apache with:
    sudo systemctl restart httpd

    Plesk>Website&Domain>Hosting Settings, setting Document Root: /example.com (using your website name)

    Plesk>Website&Domain check the name of System user
    Use this user (and password) to login in WinSCP (or similar) , navigate to /var/www/vhosts, right button on your website folder (example.com), set 755 (octal) permission

    and the problem has disappeared.
    I hope it is a starting point for someone.

     

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    Nelson Leiva

    Hi Robert Maggi,

    Thank you for sharing your solution. I'm sure it will be helpful for other Plesk users.

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    ignacio correia

    I had to run this today on a subdomain on a Obsidian Updated Server :/ please fix this asap.

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    Anton Maslov

    Hello ignacio correia the issue described in this particular article caused by manually customized permissions. Please review domain logs and files to find what might be causing an error.

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    ignacio correia

    [Sat Nov 07 09:52:59.174076 2020] [core:crit] [pid 12422:tid 140443408918272] (13)Permission denied: [client #############] AH00529: /var/www/vhosts/#######/httpdocs/.htaccess pcfg_openfile: unable to check htaccess file, ensure it is readable and that '/var/www/vhosts/######/httpdocs/' is executable

    I am importing zip file and then extract, look like files and folders permissions are not being set correctly. 

    I need to manually go to every file or via SSH assign 775 otherwise files can't be read.

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    Living ViPER

    Hello All,

    For those of you heading here for Ionos server hosting services : 

    Do not try to use .htaccess to change the Directoryindex 

    Use the following pricess to change this :

    1. Click on Websites and Domains 
    2. Select the domain to drop the accordion down
    3. Select hosting and DNS in the tabbed menu that shows up
    4. Click on Apache and nginx settings
    5. Under the "common Apache settings" header look for Index files
    6. Select Enter Custom value and type in the file name you want as your home page

    This only works for basic uses. If you want to add additional rules, you should also include a .htaccess file in the root directory. Be sure to not touch the directoryindex directive. It will mess up the system otherwise. 

    Best Wishes - Living ViPER

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