Simple site :: Password-protected page :: Comments cannot be posted

[mdtanjid0]

Quick summary

The comment isn't working on the Simple site with Password Protected pages.

So far the issue is replicateable with the Shoreditch theme. Updated by @worldomonation: theme does not appear to matter. Reproduced on 2023 theme.

This error appears after submitting the form:

Steps to reproduce

1. Create a page or post.
2. If using page, add a Comment block and enable comments if required.
3. Make it password protected.
4. Submit a test comment on the page as a logged out user (eg. using Browser private mode).

What you expected to happen

User is able to submit comments. User sees a comment Your comment is awaiting moderation. This is a preview; your comment will be visible after it has been approved., similar to when a comment is left on a public page/post.

What actually happened

An error message, Sorry, this comment could not be posted. is shown:

Impact

Some (< 50%)

Available workarounds?

No but the platform is still usable

Platform (Simple and/or Atomic)

Simple

Logs or notes

I could replicate the issue with Shoreditch theme.

I noticed that while working on this ticket 5886857-zd

[github-actions[bot]]

Support References

This comment is automatically generated. Please do not edit it.

• [ ] 5886857-zen

[mdtanjid0]

• [ ] 5886857-zd ( needs to follow-up ).

[dpasque]

Adding some triage scrubbing notes:

.Org self-hosted site: Does not reproduce -- this is unique to WPCOM. Simple sites: Reproduced as written Atomic sites: Behavior is a little bit different, but is still broken. When you submit the comment, the comment area just becomes blank. The comment doesn't actually go through on the backend.

The issue is not theme-specific, I was able to reproduce on other themes!

This definitely warrants a high priority.

[cuemarie]

Regarding the Atomic behavior, that may be already reported here:

• https://github.com/Automattic/jetpack/issues/21012

[cuemarie]

📌 SCRUBBING : RESULT - Replicated / Could Not Replicate / Uncertain

• Tested on Simple – Could Not Replicate

📌 FINDINGS/SCREENSHOTS/VIDEO

• Tested on a Premium Plan simple site using FSE and classic themes using Firefox, and could not replicate:
  • Twenty Twenty Three: Comment successful
  • Twenty Twenty: Comment successful
  • Shoreditch: Comment successful

Twenty Twenty Three

https://github.com/Automattic/wp-calypso/assets/27249804/2bc92c9d-b371-46bc-82e6-5dbfc156b138

Shoreditch

https://github.com/Automattic/wp-calypso/assets/27249804/58b38aab-6b44-492c-969a-7e81e015552a

https://github.com/Automattic/wp-calypso/assets/27249804/9cf8cbbd-6e08-4a7e-80eb-760e6e2db906

📌 ACTIONS

• Requested author feedback

📌 Message to Author

• @mdtanjid0 or @dpasque - can y'all see anything I'm missing in my tests above?

[mdtanjid0]

@cuemarie Yes, you would need to check with a comment block, not the default comment.

And then try with a private window.

I am still able to replicate it with Shoreditch theme.

Here is a brief video to demonstrate the issue:

https://github.com/Automattic/wp-calypso/assets/54123436/abdfb144-caa0-4a43-b065-5a4630337d61

I hope that helps you!

[worldomonation]

📌 REPRODUCTION RESULTS Tested on Simple – reproduced Tested on Atomic – not tested Replicable outside of Dotcom – not tested

I've updated the initial reproduction steps as the steps were not entirely clear to me.

📌 FINDINGS/SCREENSHOTS/VIDEO Simple Three screenshots showing the different combinations of commenting:

• top left: as unrelated user.
• top right: as the posting user.
• bottom: as a logged out user.

📌 ACTIONS

• remove Needs triage label.
• move to Non-urgent column.
• maintain Normal priority.

📌 JUSTIFICATION

The flow to trigger this issue is very specific, resting on the fact that someone that does not have a WordPress.com account wants to leave a comment on a private post.

[worldomonation]

Addendum: when posting the comment, a HTTP 500 is returned. Nothing seems too out of the ordinary to me though.

Headers

Request URL:
https://<redacted>.wordpress.com/wp-comments-post.php
Request Method:
POST
Status Code:
500
Remote Address:
127.0.0.1:8080
Referrer Policy:
strict-origin-when-cross-origin

Payload

hc_post_as: guest
comment: Test 
email: <redacted>
author: Logged out user
url: 
wp_avatar: 
wp_user_id: 
wp_access_token: 
fb_avatar: 
fb_user_id: 
fb_access_token: 
submit: Post Comment
comment_post_ID: 58
comment_parent: 0
akismet_comment_nonce: f0bf9f5110
genseq: 1686547714
ak_hp_textarea: 
ak_js: 1686547714802
ak_bib: 1686547717782
ak_bfs: 1686547722728
ak_bkpc: 4
ak_bkp: 35,74;119,32;103,29;102,74;
ak_bmc: 77;76,1207;88,465;100,3421;
ak_bmcc: 4
ak_bmk: -1
ak_bck: 
ak_bmmc: 4
ak_btmc: 0
ak_bsc: 2
ak_bte: 
ak_btec: 0
ak_bmm: 949,94;667,469;1792,279;59,1294;