NAXSI adds a web application firewall (WAF) directly to NGINX. On an Ubuntu VPS, the safe deployment path is to install a module built for the exact NGINX version, load NAXSI’s core rules in http{}, enable it only in the application locations you intend to protect, run in learning mode while you exercise real traffic, review the events, add narrow whitelist rules, and then switch to blocking mode.
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What NAXSI changes in an NGINX deployment
NAXSI is an open-source WAF implemented as an NGINX module. It is configured inside NGINX; it is not a separate reverse proxy that you put in front of your web server. The module examines requests handled by NGINX, assigns scores to suspicious patterns, and applies rules that either allow, log, or block the request.
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The project describes NAXSI as a high-performance WAF with low rule-maintenance requirements. Its security model is different from a conventional signature-only filter: NAXSI behaves as a drop-by-default firewall. Legitimate application behavior must therefore be accepted with whitelist rules, especially when a valid request contains characters or parameter values that also resemble an injection attempt.
Three NGINX configuration scopes matter:
http{}: load the core rule set that defines the detection patterns.server{}: include the denied-request handler and any server-level modifiers.location{}: enable NAXSI for a particular URL path, select learning or blocking mode, add whitelists, and set the score thresholds that trigger a block.
Because enforcement is location-scoped, your public application, an upload endpoint, an API, and a health-check path can have different policies. That control is useful, but it also means that adding NAXSI to one location does not automatically protect every location in the virtual host.
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Prepare the Ubuntu VPS before changing NGINX
Make the change during a maintenance window. A syntax error or an incompatible module can prevent NGINX from reloading, and an over-broad rule can reject normal requests.
Prerequisites
- An Ubuntu VPS with administrative access through
sudoor a root shell. - A working NGINX site whose configuration and upstream application have already been tested.
- A backup of
/etc/nginx, the active virtual-host files, and any custom NAXSI rules. - Access to the same NGINX package source or source tree used to build the running binary.
- A way to observe the NGINX error log and application behavior while you test.
Record the current state before installing anything. A simple backup gives you a fast recovery path:
sudo cp -a /etc/nginx /etc/nginx.backup-$(date +%F)Do not assume that a module compiled for one Ubuntu image, repository, or NGINX minor release will load into another. NGINX checks module compatibility, and a mismatch can produce an “is not binary compatible” error at startup.
Check the running NGINX version and build
First identify the exact binary and compile options that are serving traffic.
nginx -v
nginx -V 2>&1The first command prints the version. The second prints the configure arguments and module information. Save this output; it is the reference for a packaged-module search or a dynamic-module build.
Keep the package source consistent
Use an official Ubuntu-compatible NGINX package source and keep the NGINX package, service files, and module package from the same source where possible. Ubuntu repositories do not expose the same NAXSI package for every release, so availability is release-dependent.
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Before installing a module, check what your configured repositories offer:
sudo apt update
apt-cache search naxsiIf the result includes a module package for your release, inspect its package metadata and install that package rather than guessing a filename. If no compatible package is available, build a dynamic module against the exact NGINX version reported by nginx -v.
Install NAXSI: packaged module or matching dynamic build
Option A: install a packaged module
A packaged module is usually the least error-prone route because the distribution maintains the module’s ABI relationship with its NGINX package. Install the NAXSI module package offered by your Ubuntu release, then verify that the package installed a shared object and the standard rule files.
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sudo apt install <the-naxsi-module-package-for-your-ubuntu-release>
ls -l /usr/share/naxsi/
find /usr/lib /lib -name '*naxsi*.so' 2>/dev/nullThe package layout documented for Debian and Ubuntu includes:
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/usr/share/naxsi/naxsi_core.rules/usr/share/naxsi/naxsi_denied_url.conf- either
/usr/share/naxsi/naxsi_block_mode.confor/usr/share/naxsi/naxsi_learning_mode.conf
The exact shared-object directory can differ between Ubuntu releases. Use the path installed by the package when you write the load_module directive.
Option B: compile a dynamic module for the running NGINX
When Ubuntu does not provide a compatible package, compile NAXSI as a dynamic module using the NGINX source that matches the running binary. Do not compile against an arbitrary newer source release and expect it to load safely.
- Install the compiler, linker, and development libraries required by your NGINX source and Ubuntu release.
- Obtain the NGINX source for the exact version shown by
nginx -v. - Obtain the NAXSI source tree and identify its NGINX module directory.
- Configure the NGINX source with compatibility enabled and NAXSI added as a dynamic module. A typical build shape is:
./configure --with-compat --add-dynamic-module=/path/to/naxsi/module
gmake modulesOn Linux the build command is normally make modules; use the command expected by the source tree you downloaded. The important requirement is that the module is built from the same NGINX version and compatible configure environment as the binary that will load it.
- Copy the resulting
ngx_http_naxsi_module.soto the modules directory used by your NGINX installation, preserving ownership and readable permissions. - Run
nginx -tbefore attempting a reload. If NGINX reports an ABI or undefined-symbol error, stop and rebuild against the matching source rather than forcing the service to start.
Keep the build notes and the source versions with your server documentation. A future NGINX upgrade may require rebuilding the module before the service can be restarted.
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Load the dynamic module once, at the top level of the NGINX configuration, before the events{} and http{} blocks. Use the path installed by your package or build:
load_module modules/ngx_http_naxsi_module.so;Some Ubuntu installations use an absolute path under /usr/lib/nginx/modules/. Substitute the actual path; do not copy a path from a different package layout.
Load the core rules in http{}
Inside the main http{} block, include the core rules once:
http {
include /usr/share/naxsi/naxsi_core.rules;
# existing MIME, logging, upstream, and virtual-host includes
}The core file defines the detection patterns. Loading it does not by itself protect a location; enablement belongs in each location that should be inspected.
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Define the denied-request endpoint in server{}
Inside the relevant virtual host, include the distribution’s denied URL configuration:
server {
listen 443 ssl;
server_name example.invalid;
include /usr/share/naxsi/naxsi_denied_url.conf;
# application locations follow
}The supplied file provides the endpoint NAXSI uses when a request is denied. Keep that endpoint outside the protected application location, or a blocked request can be sent back through the same inspection rule and create a loop. If you maintain your own denied handler, make it a simple, unprotected response that does not depend on the application.
Enable NAXSI in one application location
Start with the narrowest location that serves your application. The following example shows the directives and the documented score thresholds as starting points:
server {
listen 443 ssl;
server_name example.invalid;
include /usr/share/naxsi/naxsi_denied_url.conf;
location / {
proxy_pass http://app_backend;
SecRulesEnabled;
LearningMode;
DeniedUrl "/RequestDenied";
include /usr/share/naxsi/naxsi_learning_mode.conf;
CheckRule "$SQL >= 8" BLOCK;
CheckRule "$RFI >= 8" BLOCK;
CheckRule "$TRAVERSAL >= 5" BLOCK;
CheckRule "$UPLOAD >= 5" BLOCK;
CheckRule "$XSS >= 8" BLOCK;
}
}Use the denied URL configured by your installed file if it differs from the example. The score values above are documented examples, not universal safe settings. An application that accepts rich search syntax, encoded data, or unusual upload fields may need different thresholds after you review real requests.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesDo not place both mode files in the same location. Include the learning-mode file while tuning; later replace it with the block-mode file. Keeping both creates an ambiguous policy and makes troubleshooting difficult.
Run learning mode against real traffic
Learning mode lets NAXSI observe requests and report which rules would have contributed to a decision without immediately rejecting normal users. It is not a substitute for testing: exercise every legitimate feature yourself and, if possible, have application owners or a staging test suite generate representative requests.
Exercise the complete request surface
- Open anonymous and authenticated pages.
- Submit every form, including validation errors and searches.
- Test file uploads with the formats your application accepts.
- Use API methods with JSON, query strings, cookies, and authorization headers.
- Test administrative paths separately from public paths.
- Trigger redirects, pagination, filtering, and any endpoint that accepts encoded or user-generated text.
Watch the NGINX error log and the NAXSI events produced by your build. The event identifies the URL, request zone, matched pattern, and score contribution. Correlate it with the application request and decide whether the behavior is expected before writing a whitelist.
Why learning mode still needs review
NAXSI’s simple patterns can match valid queries. A search term, markup fragment, serialized object, or upload field may look like SQL, XSS, traversal, or remote-file-inclusion input even when the application expects it. Automatically accepting every generated suggestion can create a broad exception that weakens protection.
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For each event, record:
- the exact URL and HTTP method;
- the parameter, header, cookie, or body field that matched;
- the rule category and score;
- whether the value is required for a documented feature;
- the smallest scope in which the exception is valid.
Write narrow whitelist rules
Whitelist only behavior you can explain. Prefer a rule tied to one URL and one parameter over a global rule that accepts a pattern everywhere. The exact syntax depends on the NAXSI version, so use the generated event and the syntax documented for the module installed on your server.
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A typical location-and-argument rule has this shape:
BasicRule wl:1 "mz:$URL:/search|$ARGS_VAR:q";This example allows the named argument only on the specified path. A body-field or URL-specific exception can be expressed in the same way by selecting the appropriate measurement zone shown in your event.
Whitelist review rules
- Scope it: include the exact path, parameter name, method, or zone that needs the exception.
- Keep it local: place the rule in the protected location or an included file used only by that application.
- Document the reason: write a comment with the feature, owner, and date.
- Retest the negative case: confirm that unrelated paths and parameters still trigger detection.
- Remove stale exceptions: delete a whitelist when the application stops using the behavior.
Avoid a global “allow everything” rule and avoid whitelisting an entire request body merely because one field is legitimate. If a form accepts markup, constrain the application’s accepted format as well; NAXSI cannot compensate for an application that treats untrusted content as executable HTML.
Move from learning mode to blocking mode
Switch only after normal traffic has been exercised and the remaining events are either malicious or understood. Make a backup of the tuned rules, then replace the learning include with the block include in the protected location:
location / {
proxy_pass http://app_backend;
SecRulesEnabled;
DeniedUrl "/RequestDenied";
include /usr/share/naxsi/naxsi_block_mode.conf;
# reviewed BasicRule whitelist entries
# reviewed CheckRule thresholds
}Remove LearningMode; when you use the block-mode configuration, and do not include naxsi_learning_mode.conf in this location. Keep the reviewed whitelists and thresholds explicit so a later administrator can see what was accepted and why.
Validate and reload safely
- Check the complete configuration:
sudo nginx -t- Proceed only when the test reports a successful syntax check and a successful configuration test.
- Reload during the maintenance window:
sudo systemctl reload nginx- Immediately request public pages, authenticated pages, forms, uploads, and API endpoints.
- Monitor the NGINX error log, application logs, response status, and the denied endpoint.
- If the reload fails, restore the last known-good configuration and run
nginx -tagain before restarting anything.
A reload is preferable to a stop-and-start because existing workers can finish active connections while the new configuration is tested. It does not remove the need for a maintenance window: a bad module or configuration can still prevent new workers from starting.
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NAXSI’s location scope lets you make deliberate trade-offs instead of applying one exception to the entire site.
| Location type | Typical policy decision | Reason to separate it |
|---|---|---|
| Public pages | Use the normal score thresholds and a small whitelist set. | These paths usually accept less structured input and should have a narrow attack surface. |
| Search and filtering | Expect more legitimate special characters; tune only the named arguments that require them. | Broad search syntax can create false positives if it is whitelisted globally. |
| Upload endpoint | Review the upload score threshold, body handling, size limits, and accepted file types together. | Uploads have different risk and traffic patterns from ordinary page requests. |
| JSON or API location | Test each method and body field; create method- and path-specific rules. | Machine clients often send structured content that public-page rules do not anticipate. |
| Health check or static files | Protect only if dynamic input reaches the location; otherwise keep the handler simple. | Unnecessary inspection adds policy complexity without protecting an application input. |
Remember that a nested or more specific NGINX location may receive the request instead of the broad location /. Confirm the effective location when a request appears unprotected.
Troubleshoot common failures
NGINX says the module is not binary compatible
The module was built for a different NGINX version or incompatible build options. Compare nginx -v and nginx -V with the source and configure arguments used for the module. Install a matching packaged module or rebuild the dynamic module against the running version.
NGINX reports an unknown NAXSI directive
The module was not loaded, the load_module path is wrong, or the module failed to load before NGINX parsed the location. Check the shared-object path, file permissions, and the first error in nginx -t. Do not add directives until the module loads successfully.
The core rules file cannot be opened
Verify that the package installed /usr/share/naxsi/naxsi_core.rules and that the include path matches the file’s actual location. If you compiled NAXSI yourself, locate the installed rule file and use an absolute path. Keep the rules readable by the NGINX master process.
Every request is denied
Confirm that learning mode is active while tuning, that the denied URL is not itself protected, and that the score thresholds were not copied with a syntax error. Inspect the event for the rule category and request zone. Add a narrow whitelist only when the request is demonstrably legitimate; do not disable NAXSI for the whole server to solve one false positive.
Legitimate uploads or API calls fail after blocking is enabled
Reproduce the exact request in a controlled window, identify the field or body zone that matched, and add the smallest path- and field-specific exception. Re-test a malicious-looking value on another path to ensure the exception did not become global.
The site works, but a path appears unprotected
Inspect the NGINX location hierarchy. A regex, exact-match, or more-specific prefix location may handle the request instead of the location where you enabled NAXSI. Add the directives to every intended protected location and confirm with a test request and log event.
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Keep the denied endpoint simple and return a clear status or branded error page without echoing the rejected input. Do not proxy the denial back to the application, and do not expose rule scores or internal diagnostics to the client.
Operate NAXSI after deployment
Blocking mode is not a set-and-forget switch. Application releases can introduce new parameters, request formats, or upload workflows that need review.
- Keep NAXSI rules in version control with the NGINX configuration.
- Review denied events after every application release and after changes to forms or APIs.
- Audit whitelist entries periodically and remove rules for retired features.
- Test configuration changes with
nginx -tbefore every reload. - Retain a rollback copy of the previous working configuration.
- Watch resource usage and log volume; the available material does not establish a universal performance gain or loss for a particular VPS.
NAXSI reduces exposure to common malicious request patterns, but it does not patch vulnerable application code, enforce authentication, validate business permissions, or replace secure output encoding. Continue to update Ubuntu, NGINX, the NAXSI module, and the application, and use application-level validation for every input.
Quick Recap
Deployment checklist
- Record the running NGINX version and configure arguments.
- Back up
/etc/nginxand the active virtual-host files. - Install a module package compatible with the Ubuntu release, or build a dynamic module against the exact NGINX version.
- Load the module once at top level.
- Include
naxsi_core.rulesinhttp{}. - Include the denied URL configuration in the relevant
server{}. - Enable NAXSI in each intended
location{}. - Start with learning mode and exercise real site behavior.
- Review events and create narrow, documented whitelists.
- Replace learning mode with block mode only after false positives are addressed.
- Run
nginx -t, reload during a controlled window, and monitor responses and logs.
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