Why %{HTTP_HOST} doesn't work while HTTP_HOST literal string works?

Question

I have the next Apache code to prevent hotlinking, and it works.

RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^$ [OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^https?://itransformer.*$ [NC]
RewriteRule /usuarios/.*\.(gif|jpe?g|png|wbmp)$ - [R=404,L]

The questions are two:

1.If I change the above to:

RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^$ [OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^https?://%{HTTP_HOST}.*$ [NC]
RewriteRule /usuarios/.*\.(gif|jpe?g|png|wbmp)$ - [R=404,L]

it doesn't work. %{HTTP_HOST} is equal to itransformer (in my localhost), so I don't understand why it isn't working in this way.

2. The default 404 page is shown instead of my custom 404 page that is shown in all other 404 responses. What can be happening here?

anubhava · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-31T10:29:31.783

0

Reason why it doesn't is that you cannot use these Apache internal variables in right hand side of RewriteCond.
I just noticed R=404. If you need custom 404 handler then make sure you have similar line like this on top of your .htaccess:
```
ErrorDocument 404 /404.php
```

edited Oct 31 '13 at 10:29

answered Oct 31 '13 at 10:06

anubhava

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Wow! I could be butting my head against the wall! And do you know the second question? – Manolo Oct 31 '13 at 10:17
Yes but you didn't post any custom 404 handler that's why I couldn't give you an answer for that. – anubhava Oct 31 '13 at 10:18

Why %{HTTP_HOST} doesn't work while HTTP_HOST literal string works?

1 Answers1