VPN users are often blocked accessing dronetm.org

[spwoodcock]

• This is partly my assumption of what the problem is based on a user report.
• The user was receiving this error page:

• A 403 suggests it's an authentication issue, and my assumption is that it's an expired auth token / session (after updating the prod server, all tokens get auto-expired).
• The frontend should handle this, perhaps calling the /logout API to ensure the user session is removed entirely, then redirecting to the homepage without a 403.
• The bunkerweb page is a red herring, as it's simply a default redirect when the frontend doesn't handle a 403 in any way (which it should).

Workaround for now

• Ask the user to clear their cache / browser data.
• You can test this will work in advance, by simply opening in an incognito / private browser window first.

[linear]

TECH-905

[adiatmad]

@spwoodcock I tried a different desktop browser (Edge) and cleared everything, not just the cache, but I still get the same error message. However, it opens smoothly on my mobile browser (Brave).

[spwoodcock]

I can see some server logs about expired tokens, but not much else, as this is a client side error.

Could you possibly provide some browser console screenshots? (press F12)
If you go to the 'Network' tab available, then refresh the page, you may also see some requests highlighted in red that might be related to the issue.

Worst case if you can't connect via multiple browsers, private tabs, or after clearing browser data, then we can do a quick call to further debug together 😄

[adiatmad]

Here is screenshots you requested.

Yes, no problem we can do a quick call if needed 😄

[spwoodcock]

Also double checked the proxy ban list & there are no banned users currently - so that's all good.

Based on the logs, I'm sure it must be a user token / session issue.
But that doesn't explain how it could happen in two different web browsers, and in private/incognito tabs too...

$ docker exec -it drone-tm-proxy-1 bash

$ bwcli bans

[2025-12-18 09:27:01 +0000] [CLI] [79001] [ℹ️ ] - Getting variables from database
[2025-12-18 09:27:01 +0000] [CLI] [79001] [ℹ️ ] - ✅ Database connection established
[2025-12-18 09:27:01 +0000] [API] [79001] [ℹ️ ] - Successfully sent API request to http://proxy:5000/bans
[2025-12-18 09:27:01 +0000] [CLI] [79001] [ℹ️ ] - CLI command status : ✔️ (success)

 BunkerWeb Ban List

▓▓▓ proxy Bans  ▓▓▓
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ℹ️ No bans found
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

[adiatmad]

I found the issue, after turning my VPN off and on again, I can now access DroneTM. Sorry for the trouble, Sam!

[spwoodcock]

Oh wow, that's an interesting one! I'll update the issue & maybe we can work out why a VPN might block the site.

Thanks Dinar!

(btw I think Phil also had a similar issue - I forgot about it - good to have it confirmed twice)