Error 1020: Access Denied is a message generated by the Cloudflare Web Application Firewall (WAF) when a request is blocked because it violates one or more of the security rules set up in the WAF configuration. This error can occur for a variety of reasons, including attempts to access sensitive information, malicious requests, or requests that fail to meet specific security requirements.
One common cause of Error 1020 is a violation of the Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection built into the WAF. CSRF is a type of attack where a malicious website tricks a user’s browser into sending a request to another website, often with the intent of stealing sensitive information or executing unwanted actions. To prevent these types of attacks, the WAF requires that requests include a unique token, called a CSRF token, which is verified before the request is allowed to proceed. If a request does not include a valid CSRF token, it will be blocked and Error 1020 will be displayed.
Another cause of Error 1020 is a violation of the rate limiting rules set up in the WAF configuration. Rate limiting is a technique used to prevent excessive requests from overwhelming a website or server, and is often used as a defense against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. If a client exceeds the rate limit, their requests will be blocked and Error 1020 will be displayed.
To resolve Error 1020, you should check the WAF configuration to ensure that it is set up correctly and that the correct security rules are in place. If the issue is caused by a missing CSRF token, you can add the token to the request and try again. If the issue is caused by rate limiting, you should reduce the rate at which requests are sent or contact Cloudflare support for assistance.
It is also worth noting that in some cases, this error may be caused by a misconfiguration of the domain on Cloudflare, in that case, you should check the domain DNS and Cloudflare setting to ensure that everything is properly set.
Another possible cause of Error 1020 is a violation of the security rules set up in the WAF configuration for blocking SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. SQL injection is a type of attack where a malicious actor is able to inject malicious SQL code into a website’s database, potentially allowing them to access sensitive information or execute unwanted actions. XSS is a type of attack where a malicious actor is able to inject malicious JavaScript code into a website, potentially allowing them to steal sensitive information or execute unwanted actions. To prevent these types of attacks, the WAF will block requests that contain potentially malicious SQL or JavaScript code. If a request is blocked for this reason, Error 1020 will be displayed.
It’s also possible that the request is blocked because the WAF is configured to block requests from specific IP addresses, countries or ASN. This is a way to block unwanted traffic or malicious activity. This type of configuration may need to be revised in case you’re trying to access from an IP address that is on the blocklist.
In general, Error 1020 is a message generated by the Cloudflare WAF to alert website administrators that a request has been blocked for security reasons. To resolve the issue, website administrators should check the WAF configuration and the requests being sent to ensure that they comply with the security rules set up in the WAF. If the issue cannot be resolved, the administrator should contact Cloudflare support for assistance.
What Causes Cloudflare Error Code 1020?
Error Code 1020 is caused by the Cloudflare Web Application Firewall (WAF) blocking a request because it violates one or more of the security rules set up in the WAF configuration. The specific cause of the error can vary depending on the security rules and configuration in place. Some common causes of Error Code 1020 include:
Violation of the Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection: The WAF requires requests to include a unique CSRF token which is verified before the request is allowed to proceed. If a request is missing a valid token, it will be blocked and Error 1020 will be displayed.
Violation of the rate limiting rules: If a client exceeds the rate limit set up in the WAF configuration, their requests will be blocked and Error 1020 will be displayed.
Violation of the security rules set up for blocking SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks: The WAF will block requests that contain potentially malicious SQL or JavaScript code.
Requests coming from blocked IP addresses, countries or ASN: If the WAF is configured to block requests from specific IP addresses, countries or ASN, the request will be blocked and Error 1020 will be displayed
Improper configuration on the domain on Cloudflare: Error 1020 might be caused by a malconfiguration of the domain on Cloudflare, like DNS or Cloudflare setting.
To resolve Error Code 1020, you should check the WAF configuration and the requests being sent to ensure that they comply with the security rules set up in the WAF. If the issue cannot be resolved, the administrator should contact Cloudflare support for assistance.
Check Other Pages on the Website
If you are encountering Error Code 1020 on one page of your website but not on others, it is important to check the WAF configuration for that specific page. The configuration for each page can be different, so it’s possible that the security rules that are causing the error are only in place for that particular page.
You should check the WAF configuration settings for that page to ensure that they are set up correctly and that the correct security rules are in place. This includes checking for any rate limiting rules, IP address, country or ASN blocklist that might be causing the error, as well as checking the CSRF token and SQL/XSS protection setting
You can also check the server logs to see if there is any specific detail of the request that is being blocked. This may give a better understanding of what is causing the error.
If you are still unable to resolve the issue, you should contact Cloudflare support for assistance. They can review the WAF configuration and logs for you, and help you identify the specific cause of the error and how to resolve it.
It is also important to check if the error is just happening on a specific browser or device, or if the error is happening for all users. In some cases, some specific browser or device might have different security configurations or configurations, which may be the cause of the error.
Make Sure Cookies Are Allowed/Enabled
One important factor to check when encountering Error Code 1020 is to ensure that cookies are allowed and enabled on the website. Cookies are small text files that are sent to a user’s browser when they visit a website, and are used to store information such as login credentials and preferences.
If cookies are not allowed or enabled, the website may not be able to function properly. For example, if the website uses cookies to store a CSRF token, and the browser is not able to accept cookies, the website may not be able to send the correct CSRF token, resulting in Error Code 1020.
To check if cookies are allowed and enabled, you can check your browser’s settings or you can use developer tools to inspect the response headers of the request being blocked.
Here are some steps to follow:
- Go to the website where the error is happening
- Right click on the website and select “Inspect”
- Click on the “Application” tab on the developer tools
- Go to the “Storage” section and click on “Cookies”
- Check if there’s any cookies set on the website or if the request is returning a “403” status with a “Cookies” header set to “rejected”.
If cookies are not allowed or enabled, you should adjust your browser’s settings to allow cookies or check with your IT team to allow it on your network.
It’s also possible that the website itself is blocking cookies, in that case you should contact the website administrator to check on their cookie policy.
If after allowing cookies and the issue still persists, please let me know so we can investigate further.
What does code 1020 mean?
Error Code 1020 is a message generated by the Cloudflare Web Application Firewall (WAF) when a request is blocked because it violates one or more of the security rules set up in the WAF configuration.
The error code 1020 itself doesn’t carry a specific meaning, other than it’s a block by the firewall. As I mentioned before the specific cause of the error can vary depending on the security rules and configuration in place, but common causes are: missing or invalid CSRF tokens, requests exceeding rate limits, requests containing malicious SQL or JavaScript, and requests coming from blocked IP addresses, countries or ASN, among other possible reasons.
To resolve Error Code 1020, you should check the WAF configuration and the requests being sent to ensure that they comply with the security rules set up in the WAF. If the issue cannot be resolved, the administrator should contact Cloudflare support for assistance. Cloudflare’s support team would be able to check their logs, and give more detailed troubleshooting to help you resolving the issue.
How do I fix Cloudflare error?
To fix a Cloudflare error, you should follow these steps:
Check the WAF configuration: Ensure that the WAF configuration is set up correctly and that the correct security rules are in place. This includes checking for any rate limiting rules, IP address, country or ASN blocklists that might be causing the error, as well as checking the CSRF token and SQL/XSS protection settings.
Check the request: Ensure that the request being sent to the website complies with the security rules set up in the WAF. This includes ensuring that any required headers, such as the CSRF token, are being sent with the request.
Check cookies: Ensure that cookies are allowed and enabled on the website. If cookies are not allowed or enabled, the website may not be able to function properly.
Check other pages on the website: If the error is only happening on one page of the website, check the WAF configuration for that specific page.
Check server logs: Inspect the server logs to understand more details of the request that is being blocked.
Contact Cloudflare support: If the issue cannot be resolved, contact Cloudflare support for assistance. They can review the WAF configuration and logs, and help you identify the specific cause of the error and how to resolve it.
It’s important to note that the Cloudflare WAF is a very powerful tool to protect your website from malicious traffic and attacks, but it’s important to correctly configure it to avoid false positives or impacting legitimate traffic.
It is also important to keep the browser and plugins updated, as well as have the latest security patches installed on your website.
Why is my IP blocked by Cloudflare?
There are several reasons why an IP address may be blocked by Cloudflare:
Violation of security rules: Cloudflare’s Web Application Firewall (WAF) may block an IP address if it detects a request that violates the security rules set up in the WAF configuration. This can include, but is not limited to, attempts to access sensitive information, malicious requests, or requests that fail to meet specific security requirements.
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack: Cloudflare may block an IP address if it detects a high volume of requests coming from that IP address in a short period of time, as this can be an indication of a DDoS attack.
Automatic IP blocking: Cloudflare’s security network is set up to automatically block IP addresses that are known to be associated with malicious activity, such as botnets or spammers, without requiring explicit configuration from the website owner.
Manual IP blocking: Website owners can manually block specific IP addresses from accessing their website through Cloudflare, for example if they detect suspicious behavior from an IP or if the traffic from an IP is causing a high load on the website.
IP blocks from Cloudflare’s partners: Cloudflare works with a number of partners to provide its services, and in some cases, IP addresses may be blocked by these partners due to security threats.
If your IP is blocked by Cloudflare and you believe it’s a false positive, you can contact Cloudflare Support and they will review the case. They can also provide information on how to request to have an IP unblocked if it’s possible.
It’s also important to note that if an IP is blocked by Cloudflare, it will not be able to access any website protected by Cloudflare, not only yours.
In Conclusion
It’s worth noting that the Cloudflare WAF is a very powerful tool to protect your website from malicious traffic and attacks, but it’s important to correctly configure it to avoid false positives or impacting legitimate traffic.
In any case, you should try to reach out to Cloudflare support for more detailed troubleshooting and help.
