Preserve a reproducible request
A 403 means access was refused, not that a particular product is responsible. Record the method, sanitized path, time, response status and edge request ID. Compare an authorized failing request with a known-good one, keeping cookies and authorization headers private.
First decide whether the user should have access. An API can correctly return 403 for a valid identity that lacks permission. Removing a security control without checking authorization can turn an expected denial into an exposure.
Locate the decision
Search WAF or CDN security events for the request and identify the rule and action. If the request was forwarded, inspect web-server and application logs for the same time and request identifier. Network restrictions, file access rules, application roles and security plugins are possible sources.
Response headers or a branded error page can provide clues, but custom pages and proxies can obscure the source. If logs do not match, verify clock synchronization and that the correct hostname and environment are being examined.
Correct and test
If a rule is a confirmed false positive, use the narrowest supported exception for the verified path and rule, with an owner and review date. If the application denied a user, correct the appropriate role only after confirming the access requirement.
Repeat the legitimate request and a deliberately unauthorized test. Confirm the first succeeds and the second remains denied. Record the evidence and monitor for recurrence rather than disabling the WAF or opening all files.
Further reading
Read the official documentation. For help applying these checks, explore Clouvenix services.