508 Loop Detected

What is HTTP 508?

This WebDAV status code indicates that the server terminated an operation because it encountered an infinite loop while processing a request with Depth: infinity. The server detected that the operation would never complete because the resource hierarchy contains a binding loop, a circular reference causing the same resources to be processed repeatedly. The server halts processing to prevent infinite resource consumption.

Defined in RFC 5842

Common Causes

• WebDAV bindings creating circular references in the resource hierarchy
• A PROPFIND or COPY with Depth: infinity encountering a directory structure that loops back on itself
• Symbolic links or mount points creating cycles in the file system exposed via WebDAV

How to Fix

• Identify and remove the circular bindings or references in the WebDAV resource tree
• Use a limited Depth header instead of Depth: infinity to avoid traversing the loop
• Check for symbolic links or mount points that create cycles in the exposed file system