Protect Web Directories with Apache2 HTTP Basic Authentication on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

Unlike Nginx HTTP, Apache2 comes with a utility that allows for webmasters to provide basic authentication and authorization on web directories. One can use Apache2 utilities package to restrict access to directories with basic HTTP password authentication. This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to use Apache2 utils to generate basic password authentication for Apache2 directories.

This feature can be used to protect directories and restricting access to only authorized users. It’s great feature and can be used to add additional layer of protection to existing directories.

To protect Apache2 directories with basic password authentication, the steps below is a great place to start:

Step 1: Install Apache2 HTTP Utility

Apache2 utilities package is easy to install. To install, run the commands below

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2 apache2-utils

Step 2: Create a .htpasswd file

Now that you’ve installed Apache2 utils, run the commands below to create password file for users. The commands below will prompt you to create a new password for the username specified and store the file in the directory defined. /etc/apache2/.htpasswd

sudo htpasswd -c /etc/apache2/.htpasswd myusername

Replace myusername with the username you wish to use. You can choose any directory to save the htpasswd file. however, you must specify the location when configuring Apache2.

After running the commands above, a new hidden passwd file for the username you selected will be saved in the /etc/apache2/.htpasswd file.

Below is the output of the command:

sudo htpasswd -c /etc/apache2/.htpasswd richard
New password:
Re-type new password:
Adding password for user richard

Step 3: Protect Apache2 Directories

Now that the password file is created, use the highlighted code block below to protect a Apache2 directory.

Apache2 default site configuration file is at /etc/apache2/sites-available/default

Add these lines below to the directory you want to protect.

<VirtualHost *:80>
     ServerAdmin admin@example.com
     DocumentRoot /var/www/html/
     ServerName example.com
     ServerAlias www.example.com

     <Directory /var/www/html/>
        Options +FollowSymlinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
     </Directory>

     <Directory "/var/www/html/Private">
        AuthType Basic
        AuthName "Restricted Content"
        AuthUserFile /etc/apache2/.htpasswd
        Require valid-user
      </Directory>

     ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
     CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined

</VirtualHost>

Save the file.

Everytime you attempt to browse to the /Private directory, you should get a basic HTTP authentication prompt to type a username and password.

To protect the entire Apache2 site, define the root location to protect:  /var/www/html

Example:

<VirtualHost *:80>
     ServerAdmin admin@example.com
     DocumentRoot /var/www/html/
     ServerName example.com
     ServerAlias www.example.com

     <Directory /var/www/html/>
        Options +FollowSymlinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
     </Directory>

     <Directory "/var/www/html">
        AuthType Basic
        AuthName "Restricted Content"
        AuthUserFile /etc/apache2/.htpasswd
        Require valid-user
      </Directory>

     ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
     CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined

</VirtualHost>

Save the file.

The next time you browse to the domain, you will be prompted as show below.

That’s it!

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