NGINX: how to block access to all files inside some directories

Question

I have different files inside three different directories.

I'd like to block access to all files inside those (also block directory listing).

This way, I'd block, for example:

• /a/b/file

• /a/c/file

• /a/d/file

Whatever the file extension...

This is what I am trying:

location /a/(b|c|d) {
    allow 1.2.3.4; #IP
    deny all;
    return 403;
}

But it's not working.

Answer 1

You need ~ in your location config - without it means literal prefix matching, while you're attempting to use regex syntax.

location ~ /a/(b|c|d) {