auth_digest_maxtries
The auth_digest_maxtries directive sets the maximum number of authentication attempts allowed per user in Digest Authentication.
Description
The auth_digest_maxtries directive is used to specify the maximum number of failed authentication attempts that a user can make before they are blocked from subsequent attempts. This helps to enhance security by preventing brute-force attacks on user credentials. The value set for this directive determines how many times a user can enter invalid authentication credentials before being denied access. When the specified number of attempts is exceeded, the user will not be able to authenticate until some conditions reset the counter (such as waiting for a specified amount of time or a manual intervention by an administrator).
This directive can be found in contexts such as http, server, and location blocks, allowing for flexible configuration throughout different parts of an NGINX configuration file. The default value is 5, meaning a user has 5 attempts to successfully authenticate. The maxtries directive works in conjunction with other security configurations such as timeout and expiration settings, providing a comprehensive solution for enhancing authentication security in NGINX.
When evaluating the behavior of the maxtries directive, it’s important to note that this counter is separate for each user. This means independent tracking per credential set, which allows different users to have their attempts monitored individually without affecting each other. Adjusting this value can be crucial depending on the security requirements of the application being served.
Config Example
location /secure {
auth_digest "Restricted Area";
auth_digest_user_file /etc/nginx/.htdigest;
auth_digest_maxtries 3;
}Setting maxtries too low may frustrate legitimate users who mistype passwords frequently.
Ensure that the user file is correctly set; otherwise, maxtries may not function as expected.
Changes to maxtries require a reload of the NGINX configuration to take effect.