Apache::AuthChecker 1.01

Apache::AuthChecker is a mod_perl based authentication module used to prevent brute force attacks via HTTP authorization.

It remembers IP addresses of any user trying to authenticate for certain period of time. If user runs out limit of failed attempts to authenticate - all his authentication requests will be redirected to some URI (like this: /you_are_blocked.html).

Apache configuration process:

1. Add directives to httpd.conf below directives LoadModule and AddModule:
< IfDefine MODPERL2 >
PerlModule Apache2
PerlLoadModule Apache::AuthChecker
< /IfDefine >
< IfDefine !MODPERL2 >
PerlModule Apache::AuthChecker
< /IfDefine >
PerlAuthCheckerMaxUsers 1450
PerlSecondsToExpire 3600

Note: parameter PerlAuthCheckerMaxUsers affects amount of shared memory allocated. Rule to estimate: every IP record eats 45 bytes. It means if you set 1000 users - 45Kbytes of shared memory will be allocated. Default setting is 64KByte which gives us about 1450 records. Exact value depends on PerlSecondsToExpire parameter. !!! It does not store ALL logins info, ONLY FAILED ONES BY IP. I see no need to make it big. Max limit depends on your OS settings.

PerlSecondsToExpire - how long will we store data about authentication failures.

2. Use .htaccess or or mechanisms with the following directives (default values):

AuthName "My secret area"
PerlAuthenHandler Apache::AuthChecker
PerlSetVar AuthUserFile /path/to/my/.htpasswd
PerlSetVar MaxFailedAttempts 10
PerlSetVar RedirectURI /
require valid-user

Example.

Your old .htaccess file looks like:

AuthName "My secret area"
AuthType Basic
AuthUserFile /path/to/my/.htpasswd
require valid-user

The new one:

AuthName "My secret area"
#AuthType Basic
PerlAuthenHandler Apache::AuthChecker
PerlSetVar AuthUserFile /path/to/my/.htpasswd
require valid-user

Parameters:

AuthUserFile - path to your passwords htpasswd-made file (REQUIRED).
MaxFailedAttempts - Maximum attempts we give user to mistype password
(OPTIONAL, default - 8).
RedirectURI - URI (not URL!) to redirect attacker then he runs out
attempts limit ((OPTIONAL, default - /).
For example: /you_are_blocked.html

Product's homepage

Requirements:

· Apache
· IPC::Shareable