Direct Origin Access
Direct Origin Access: what it means, why it may matter, and how to remediate with external verification using ExposureGrid.
The problem
Direct Origin Access: Origin/CDN/WAF topology mistakes can let traffic bypass intended protections or reveal infrastructure.
Why it matters
Direct-origin access can weaken DDoS/WAF value and leak operational context - severity depends on hardening at origin.
How to check
Map DNS to edges vs origin, verify firewall allowlists, test direct-origin reachability hypothesis carefully.
How to fix
Firewall origin to edge IP ranges, avoid leaking origin via DNS/certs, validate coverage on apex/www/subs.
- Identify owners for the affected component (app, edge, DNS, or mail).
- Make a minimal change and validate in staging or a canary route.
- Deploy with monitoring and rollback readiness.
- Re-run ExposureGrid to confirm the external signal improved.
Run a scan to verify this fix on your domain
Use the same public scanner as the homepage — results honor your plan tier.
Scan your domainWhat ExposureGrid checks
ExposureGrid compares edge vs origin signals where configured for your plan.
FAQ
- Why does "Direct Origin Access" appear in ExposureGrid?
- Scanners observe externally visible signals. A finding means our rules matched - validate severity and applicability in your environment.
- Could this be a false positive?
- Yes, depending on context and coverage limits. Especially for heuristic, partial, or pattern-based checks, corroborate with manual review.
- What should I do after changing configuration?
- Re-run a scan to confirm the external signal changed, then enable monitoring where your plan supports it.
Related pages
ExposureGrid continuously monitors these issues and alerts you before they become exploitable.
