If you have a problem uploading images into your blog using the ‘Add media -> Add an image’ pop up window, it might be because you are using the default flash based uploader.
The problem doesn’t actually lie in the WordPress coding, it seems to lie within the settings of the webserver that is dishing out your files. Fortunately there is simple answer to this and it lies in doing a quick edit in your .htaccess file.
It seems that some hosting accounts have SecFilterScanPOST enabled and this is causing the problem.
Alter your .htaccess file by adding these two lines of code:
SecFilterEngine Off
SecFilterScanPOST Off
Now try to upload your picture again and you should find it working.
Please note: I’m not a webserver techie and I have to hold my hand up and honestly say that I’m not sure why turning off these two options makes the difference. I do know that they were on for a reason – that reason may be because it’s a default install and they can be either on or off without making any difference, or it could be that it’s a critical bit of set up that really shouldn’t be turned off.
So here is a shout out to anybody with webserver knowledge to join in the comments on this post and tell me what’s what with these settings. So please follow this post’s comments in either the comments RSS feed or subscribe to the comments below.
As with any of our advice the usual disclaimer applies: back up before you do any alterations and be aware that you do the mod at your own risk.
September 21st, 2008 at 9:17 am
Yeah, this is good.
I had the same problem a few days ago.
The cause is the fact that mod_security prevents the Flash filereference component from communicating with the PHP script on the Apache server.
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Fantastic! I was having this same problem and quite frankly it was annoying. Now it’s fixed, many thanks Ian.
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
This solution fixed our problem immediately. Thank you!!
January 9th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Hey. Unfortunately my .htaccess file required about 7 extra lines to work properly. I’ve detailed them here HTTP Error WordPress Fix.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Thank you for your help!
May 31st, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Great topic, i’ll come again
June 20th, 2010 at 5:52 am
Hi, i liked your post but i couldnt find the RSS feed for it so i could share it with my friends and family as well,mind to point me where it is? Thanks in advance
June 21st, 2010 at 10:12 am
In the header at the right hand side is an RSS icon, click that and you can subscribe to the feedburner feed for this site.