How to whitelist IP addresses for ModSecurity in Plesk?

1. Connect to the server via SSH.

2. Create/ open for editing ModSecurity file that is used for IP whitelisting:

   For Debian based systems (Ubuntu/Debian):

   # vi /etc/apache2/modsecurity.d/000ipwhitelist.conf

   For RHEL based systems (CentOS/CloudLinux):
   

   # vi /etc/httpd/conf/modsecurity.d/rules/000ipwhitelist.conf

3. Add the following rule in 1 line there:

   SecRule REMOTE_ADDR "@ipMatch 203.0.113.0/24,192.0.2.2" "id:3,phase:1,t:none,log,pass,ctl:ruleRemoveById=55666"

   Where:
   55666 - is the existing ModSecurity Rule and it should be replaced with the required rule ID.
   203.0.113.0/24 - IP addresses that are required to whitelist. Multiple, comma-separated, addresses can be also specified.  

4. Check Apache syntax:

   For Debian based systems (Ubuntu/Debian):
   

   # apache2ctl -t

   For RHEL based systems (CentOS/CloudLinux):
   

   # httpd -t

5. If, in accordance with step #4, the syntax is not OK, fix it. If it is OK, apply the new configuration:

   For Debian based systems (Ubuntu/Debian):
   

   # service apache2 reload

   For RHEL based systems (CentOS/CloudLinux):
   

   # service httpd reload

Note: Whitelist rules should be placed before other rules.
For details see: ModSecurity Core Ruleset documentation - Writing Whitelist Modifications 
https://github.com/SpiderLabs/ModSecurity/wiki/Reference-Manual-%28v2.x%29#ipMatch

1. 1. Log into the Plesk.
   2. Go to Tools & Settings > Web Application Firewall (ModSecurity) >Settings.
   3.  Add the rule below into the Custom directives field:

      SecRule REMOTE_ADDR "@ipMatch 203.0.113.0/24,192.0.2.2" "id:3,phase:1,t:none,log,pass,ctl:ruleRemoveById=55666"

      Where:
      55666 - is the existing ModSecurity Rule and it should be replaced with the required rule ID.
      203.0.113.0/24 - IP addresses that are required to whitelist. Multiple, comma-separated, addresses can be also specified.  

   4. Press the OK button to apply the changes.

• Via Plesk GUI

1. Log into the Plesk.
2. Go to Tools & Settings > Web Application Firewall (ModSecurity) > Settings.
3.  Add the rule below into the Custom directives field:

   SecRule REMOTE_ADDR "@ipMatch 203.0.113.0/24,192.0.2.2" "id:3,phase:1,t:none,log,pass,ctl:ruleRemoveById=55666"

   Where:
   55666 - is the existing ModSecurity Rule and it should be replaced with the required rule ID.
   203.0.113.0/24 - IP addresses that are required to whitelist. Multiple, comma-separated, addresses can be also specified.  

4. Press the OK button to apply the changes.

• Using command-line method

1. Connect to the server via SSH.

2. Create/ open for editing ModSecurity file that is used for IP whitelisting:

   For Debian based systems (Ubuntu/Debian):

   # vi /etc/apache2/plesk.conf.d/modsecurity.conf

   For RHEL based systems (CentOS/CloudLinux):

   # vi /etc/httpd/conf/plesk.conf.d/modsecurity.conf

   Add the following rule in 1 line there:

   SecRule REMOTE_ADDR "@ipMatch 203.0.113.0/24,192.0.2.2" "id:3,phase:1,t:none,log,pass,ctl:ruleRemoveById=55666"

   Where:
   55666 - is the existing ModSecurity Rule and it should be replaced with the required rule ID.
   203.0.113.0/24 - IP addresses that are required to whitelist. Multiple, comma-separated, addresses can be also specified.  
   Check Apache syntax:

   For…