PH46638: SERVER MARKDOWN AND RETRY WHEN 505 IS RECEIVED INSTEAD OF 100-CONTINUE.

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• server markdown and retry when 505 is received instead of
  100-continue.
  
  
  The 505 is a result of the customers RewriteRule's copying a
  decoded %3f / "?" and a decoded %20 / " " which results in an
  invalid request passed through to the WAS Plugin. If the path
  component of the URL contains escaped characters, this can
  happen when the decoded form is captured and re-substituted with
  RewriteRule.  The ? and " "  are not re-encoded automatically.
  
  
  I do not recommend making the rewrites more complicated to try
  to accommodate what are clearly pen test /  malicious URL's
  differently.  While it is easy to spot what is desirable to
  re-encode, we do not have fine-grained control over it in
  mod_rewrite.
  
  
  Plugin SC may still address the markdown resulting from the 505.
  

Local fix

• n/a
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  All users of IBM WebSphere Application      *
  *                  Server                                      *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Plugin marks down a server from a 505   *
  *                      response code                           *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  When a 505 response code is received by the plugin from
  WebSphere, the plugin would mark that server down.  A 505
  response code is "Version not supported" which doesn't
  indicate that WebSphere itself is unresponsive.
  

Problem conclusion

• The plugin has been fixed to recognize the 505 and return it
  back to the customer without marking down the server.
  
  The fix for this APAR is targeted for inclusion in fix pack
  8.5.5.23 & 9.0.5.13. For more information, see 'Recommended
  Updates for WebSphere Application Server':
  https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/715553
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  WEBSPHERE APP S

• Fixed component ID

  5724J0800

Applicable component levels