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errorWordfence•securityfirewallspeedrate_limitblockip_blockrouterproxy_detectionerror_outlineerror_503•star_halfUncommon•warningModerate

Wordfence 503 lockout of server IP

Wordfence returns a 503 error when it treats the server IP as a single visitor and exceeds the request limit. The firewall blocks the IP, logs the event, and serves a Wordfence styled page.

The problem arises from rate‑limiting thresholds, incorrect IP detection behind a proxy, or an advanced blocking rule that matches the server’s own address.

Symptoms

[dashicons-warning]
Wordfence 503 page
Front‑end shows a Wordfence styled 503 error page stating access is limited
[dashicons-admin-users]
Admin blocked
Login attempts and dashboard access return the same 503 page
[dashicons-admin-tools]
API and cron fail
All API calls, WP‑Cron jobs, and health checks return HTTP 503

Common Causes

Rate limiting overload
Maximum requests per minute threshold is hit for the server IP due to cron jobs or health checks
Incorrect IP detection
Wordfence reads the proxy IP as the visitor because X‑Forwarded‑For handling is mis‑configured
Advanced blocking rule
A custom block rule matches the server IP range and triggers a 503 response
Plugin conflict or outdated version
Older Wordfence versions misinterpret proxy headers and generate false positives
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