django post request 403 forbidden

  1. Ensure the CSRF token is included in the form:

  2. In your Django template, make sure to include {% csrf_token %} within the form tags to generate the CSRF token.

  3. Verify the CSRF middleware is enabled:

  4. In your Django project settings (settings.py), ensure that 'django.middleware.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware' is included in the MIDDLEWARE setting.

  5. Check if CSRF token is being sent in the POST request:

  6. Inspect the HTTP headers of the POST request to confirm that the X-CSRFToken header is present and contains a valid CSRF token.

  7. Confirm the CSRF cookie is being set:

  8. Ensure that the browser is accepting cookies. The CSRF token is usually stored in a cookie named 'csrftoken'.

  9. Include CSRF token in AJAX requests:

  10. If you're making the POST request via AJAX, make sure to include the CSRF token in the request headers. You can obtain the token from the cookie or use the {% csrf_token %} template tag.

  11. Check for potential middleware conflicts:

  12. Disable any custom middleware or third-party middleware that might interfere with CSRF protection to see if the issue persists.

  13. Ensure the form is submitted within the same Django project:

  14. Verify that the form is being submitted to the same Django project where the CSRF middleware is enabled.

  15. Investigate browser extensions:

  16. Disable browser extensions that might affect the request, as some extensions may alter headers or block requests.

  17. Examine the server logs:

  18. Check the server logs for any error messages or warnings related to CSRF token validation.

  19. Validate the CSRF token manually:

    • In your view, you can manually validate the CSRF token using django.middleware.csrf.csrf_protect decorator or django.middleware.csrf.csrf_token template tag.

  20. Verify AJAX setup:

    • If using AJAX, ensure that the AJAX setup includes proper headers, and the CSRF token is included in the request.

  21. Test with a simplified form:

    • Create a simple Django form with just the necessary fields and try submitting it to see if the issue persists. This helps isolate the problem.

  22. Review Django version compatibility:

    • Ensure that the Django version you are using is compatible with the code and packages in your project.

  23. Check for browser-specific issues:

    • Test the form submission in different browsers to check if the issue is browser-specific.

  24. Confirm that the view function is correct:

    • Double-check the view function handling the POST request to ensure it is correctly configured and has the necessary decorators.

  25. Investigate third-party apps:

    • If you are using third-party apps, check their documentation and issues to see if there are any known CSRF-related issues or configuration requirements.

  26. Consult Django documentation:

    • Refer to the Django documentation on CSRF protection for any updates or additional information: https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/3.2/ref/csrf/