*911 Problem...change in how session cookie is being utilized or stored...driving me and the customer's staff batty, constant log outs.

4 posts by 2 authors in: Forums > CMS Builder
Last Post: April 3, 2024   (RSS)

By Codee - April 1, 2024

On a client's website (which has been running fine for several years using cmsb), version was 3.64 but now is 3.66 (after trying to figure out this cookie challenge).  What started happening recently and unexpectedly is the cmsb kept logging out whenever we would shift screens.  Normally we can open cmsb in one browser window and the public website in another browser window and shift back and forth between the browser tabs as we make changes on the backend in cmsb and view them live.  What started happening recently is the system logs us out of cmsb the moment we leave that particular tab (to see the other open tab results) we get logged out.  Doesn't seem to matter what location we try this at (I was thinking something on their corporate network might be interfering except that it happens at my home office as well...in any recent browser and different ISPs.  

Upon investigating I noticed on the General Settings page in cmsb there is a cookie prefix that has been entered. I did not enter this and don't know who did.  I am UNABLE to erase it.  I will delete, save the page, go to another page/tab and have to log back in...and voila! the same cookie prefix has reappeared.  This is repeatable...and is 100% repeatable and problematic.  

A screenshot of the General Settings page, where the cookie prefix displays, is included here. 

Thank you kindly for your assistance. 

Attachments:

screenshot-cookie.jpg 234K

By Dave - April 1, 2024

Hi Codee,

That field is required so it will auto-generate a value if you don't enter one.  It's the name of the cookie uses to associate session cookies with the user.  You can try changing it to another value such as PHPSESSID2 and see if that helps.

However, if the issue persists feel free to fill out a second level support request with all the details and I can try and reproduce it on my end: 
https://www.interactivetools.com/support/request/

I'm not aware of any current issues that would cause the logouts but happy to investigate.

Let me know how we can best help, thanks!

Dave Edis - Senior Developer
interactivetools.com

By Codee - April 1, 2024 - edited: April 1, 2024

...oh...that's funny...I didn't think you'd respond so quickly and in the last 10min or so I decided to test another site I built with cmsb (using the same webhost as the site I wrote about) that was using v 3.64 and updated it to 3.66.  I performed the same functions between 2 tabs: 1 open to cmsb and the other 1 open to the live front site for that domain.  No problems.  I am able to swap between tabs, even open others, and no logging out.

* Ok, so in case it's a bad character or something I went ahead and changed the session ID to PHPSESSID2_cms_5ab  .  Still having the issue. When I click or open another tab (to view the live public side of the site) and immediately click back to the tab in which cmsb was logged in...and it still logs me out. 

I'm guessing I should fill in a 2nd level support request.

Thank you kindly, Dave!