Substack's Mysterious 'Network Error': A WAF vs. Technical Writing Showdown
2025-04-25
While writing a technical post about DNS resolution on Substack, the author encountered a 'Network Error' whenever they typed certain Linux system file paths (e.g., /etc/h*sts). Investigation revealed that Substack's Web Application Firewall (WAF) was triggering its defenses against path traversal or command injection attacks. This highlights a conflict between security and usability: the WAF, designed to protect the platform, creates a frustrating obstacle for technical writers needing to discuss these system paths. The author suggests Substack improve its WAF's contextual awareness, provide clearer error messages, and offer workarounds to better balance security and the needs of technical writers.
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