The http.detailed_errors.enabled setting in Elasticsearch controls whether detailed error messages are returned in HTTP responses when an exception occurs during request processing.
Description
- Default value:
false - Possible values:
trueorfalse - Recommendation: Keep this setting
falsein production environments for security reasons.
When set to true, Elasticsearch will include stack traces and other detailed error information in HTTP responses. This can be helpful for debugging but may expose sensitive information about your cluster's configuration and internals.
Version Information
This setting has been available since Elasticsearch 5.0.
Example
To enable detailed error messages temporarily for debugging purposes:
PUT /_cluster/settings
{
"transient": {
"http.detailed_errors.enabled": true
}
}
Reason for change: Enabling this setting can help developers or administrators diagnose issues more quickly during development or troubleshooting.
Effects: With this enabled, HTTP error responses will contain more detailed information, including stack traces. This can significantly aid in debugging but also increases the verbosity of error responses.
Common Issues or Misuses
- Leaving this setting enabled in production environments, potentially exposing sensitive information to external users.
- Relying too heavily on detailed error messages instead of proper logging and monitoring practices.
Do's and Don'ts
Do's:
- Enable this setting temporarily for debugging in development environments.
- Use in conjunction with proper logging and monitoring for comprehensive troubleshooting.
- Disable immediately after debugging is complete.
Don'ts:
- Don't leave this setting enabled in production environments.
- Don't expose detailed error messages to end-users or external applications.
- Don't rely solely on this setting for error diagnosis; use Elasticsearch's logging capabilities as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it safe to enable http.detailed_errors.enabled in production?
A: It is generally not recommended to enable this setting in production environments as it may expose sensitive information about your Elasticsearch cluster to potential attackers.
Q: How can I enable detailed errors temporarily for debugging?
A: You can use the Cluster Settings API to enable it temporarily: PUT /_cluster/settings with the body {"transient": {"http.detailed_errors.enabled": true}}.
Q: Will enabling detailed errors affect Elasticsearch's performance?
A: The performance impact is typically negligible, but it may slightly increase the size of error responses and the processing time for generating detailed error messages.
Q: Can I enable detailed errors for specific indices or API endpoints?
A: No, this setting is cluster-wide and affects all HTTP responses when an exception occurs during request processing.
Q: How can I view detailed errors without enabling this setting?
A: You can check Elasticsearch logs for detailed error information, which is a safer alternative to enabling detailed HTTP error responses.
