Question
Answer and Explanation
To force HTTPS with Cloudflare in Laravel, you need to configure both Cloudflare and your Laravel application correctly. Here’s a comprehensive approach:
1. Cloudflare Configuration:
- SSL/TLS Encryption Mode: In your Cloudflare dashboard, navigate to the "SSL/TLS" section. Set the encryption mode to "Full" or "Full (Strict)". "Full" mode will ensure Cloudflare connects to your origin server via HTTPS. "Full (Strict)" requires a valid certificate on your origin server and is recommended for added security.
- Always Use HTTPS: In the "SSL/TLS" section, look for the "Edge Certificates" tab and enable "Always Use HTTPS". This setting will automatically redirect all HTTP requests to HTTPS before reaching your server.
2. Laravel Application Configuration:
- Trust Proxies: Since Cloudflare acts as a proxy, Laravel needs to trust headers forwarded by it. In your app/Http/Middleware/TrustProxies.php file, add Cloudflare's IP ranges. You can usually use in development but be specific in production. However, Cloudflare provides a list of IP ranges you can include. You should add this to the $proxies variable.
- Example Configuration in TrustProxies.php:
protected $proxies = [
'173.245.48.0/20',
'103.21.244.0/22',
'103.22.200.0/22',
'103.31.4.0/22',
'141.101.64.0/18',
'108.162.192.0/18',
'190.93.240.0/20',
'188.114.96.0/20',
'197.234.240.0/22',
'198.41.128.0/17',
'162.158.0.0/15',
'104.16.0.0/12',
];
- Set Scheme: Also in TrustProxies.php, set the trusted headers to include X_FORWARDED_PROTO:
protected $headers = Request::HEADER_X_FORWARDED_ALL | Request::HEADER_X_FORWARDED_PROTO;
3. Laravel URL Generation:
- Ensure that your URLs are being generated correctly in your Blade templates and other areas of your application. Use the secure_url() function when generating absolute URLs to make sure they are correctly using HTTPS.
4. Verify the Configuration:
- Visit your website using HTTP. If everything is set up correctly, you should be redirected to HTTPS.
Key Considerations
- Cache Control: Be mindful of caching. Cloudflare’s caching can sometimes store HTTP versions. Make sure to clear the Cloudflare cache after making these changes.
- Origin Server: Confirm your origin server also supports HTTPS correctly, especially when you are using Cloudflare's "Full (Strict)" SSL mode.
- Mixed Content: Ensure your site does not have mixed content, that is where the main page is HTTPS, but some resources are loaded via HTTP. It can cause security warnings.
Following these steps, you can effectively force HTTPS for your Laravel application with Cloudflare, ensuring a secure user experience.