Exceptions to blocked websites

What it does

If this policy is enabled, and the website filter is enabled, you can specify match patterns for sites you do not want to block. The match patterns are documented at https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Match_patterns. There is a 1000 entry limit. If this policy is disabled or not configured, there are no exceptions to the website filter.

What it writes

Hive

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER

Registry key

Software\Policies\Mozilla\WebsiteFilter\Exceptions

Options

Configure and deploy

Choose a state and the option values; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Mozilla\Firefox\WebsiteFilter\Exceptions]

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

function Set-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
    }

    New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}

function Remove-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return
    }

    foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

# Policy: Exceptions to blocked websites
# Name: B_WebsiteFilter_Exceptions
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: firefox.admx

Clear-RegistryKeyValues -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Mozilla\Firefox\WebsiteFilter\Exceptions'

./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_firefox/B_WebsiteFilter_Exceptions

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
$reasons = [System.Collections.Generic.List[string]]::new()

function Test-RegistryValueExists {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return $false
    }

    return $null -ne (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
}

function Test-RegistryValueEquals {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Kind,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Expected
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return $false
    }

    $valueObject = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    if ($null -eq $valueObject) {
        return $false
    }

    $actual = $valueObject.$Name
    switch ($Kind) {
        'String' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
        'ExpandString' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
        'DWord' { return [uint32]$actual -eq [uint32]$Expected }
        'QWord' { return [uint64]$actual -eq [uint64]$Expected }
        'MultiString' {
            $actualArray = @($actual)
            $expectedArray = @($Expected)
            if ($actualArray.Count -ne $expectedArray.Count) { return $false }
            for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Count; $index++) {
                if ([string]$actualArray[$index] -cne [string]$expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
            }
            return $true
        }
        'Binary' {
            $actualArray = [byte[]]$actual
            $expectedArray = [byte[]]$Expected
            if ($actualArray.Length -ne $expectedArray.Length) { return $false }
            for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Length; $index++) {
                if ($actualArray[$index] -ne $expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
            }
            return $true
        }
        default { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
    }
}

# Policy: Exceptions to blocked websites
# Name: B_WebsiteFilter_Exceptions
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: firefox.admx

$keyPath = 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Mozilla\Firefox\WebsiteFilter\Exceptions'
if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $keyPath) {
    $propertyNames = (Get-Item -LiteralPath $keyPath).Property
    if ($propertyNames.Count -gt 0) {
        $reasons.Add('Key should be empty: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Mozilla\Firefox\WebsiteFilter\Exceptions') | Out-Null
    }
}

if ($reasons.Count -eq 0) {
    Write-Output 'Compliant'
    exit 0
}

$reasons | ForEach-Object { Write-Output $_ }
exit 1

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

function Set-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
    }

    New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}

function Remove-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return
    }

    foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

# Policy: Exceptions to blocked websites
# Name: B_WebsiteFilter_Exceptions
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: firefox.admx

Clear-RegistryKeyValues -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Mozilla\Firefox\WebsiteFilter\Exceptions'

History 93 retained releases

1. 6.69 Jan 2025
   • Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
2. 6.526 Nov 2024
   • Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
3. 6.011 Jul 2024
   • Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
4. 4.126 Jun 2023
   • Option “Website Filter (JSON)” [was: WebsiteFilter] → [now: Website Filter (JSON)]
5. 4.418 Oct 2022
   • Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
6. 2.1019 Apr 2021
   • Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
7. 2.823 Feb 2021
   • Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
8. 2.725 Jan 2021
   • Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
9. 2.517 Nov 2020
   • Description … do not want to block. The match patterns are documented at https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Match_patterns. [removed: Only http/https addresses are supported at the moment. ]There is a 1000 entry limit. If this policy is disabled or …
     Whole description, marked

     If this policy is enabled, and the website filter is enabled, you can specify match patterns for sites you do not want to block. The match patterns are documented at https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Match_patterns. [removed: Only http/https addresses are supported at the moment. ]There is a 1000 entry limit. If this policy is disabled or not configured, there are no exceptions to the website filter.

10. 1.174 Jun 2020
    • Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
11. 1.113 Dec 2019
    • Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
12. 1.1023 Oct 2019
    • Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
13. 1.8.229 Jul 2019
    • Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
14. 1.414 Dec 2018
    • Description … disabled or not configured, there are no exceptions to the website filter.[removed: Starting with Firefox 62, this policy will only work from Computer Configuration.]
      Whole description, marked

      If this policy is enabled, and the website filter is enabled, you can specify match patterns for sites you do not want to block. The match patterns are documented at https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Match_patterns. Only http/https addresses are supported at the moment. There is a 1000 entry limit. If this policy is disabled or not configured, there are no exceptions to the website filter.[removed: Starting with Firefox 62, this policy will only work from Computer Configuration.]

    • Supported on Firefox 60 [added: or later, Firefox 60 ]ESR or later
    • Supported on SUPPORTED_FF60[removed: ESR]; resolved; Blank;
15. 1.317 Oct 2018
    • Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
16. 1.211 Sep 2018
    • Description … want to block. The match patterns are documented at https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Match_patterns. Only http/https a[removed: cc][added: ddr]esses are supported at the moment. There is a 1000 entry limit.[removed: ",] If this policy is disabled or not configured, there are no exceptions to the website filter.[added: Starting with Firefox 62, this policy will only work from Computer Configuration.]
      Whole description, marked

      If this policy is enabled, and the website filter is enabled, you can specify match patterns for sites you do not want to block. The match patterns are documented at https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Match_patterns. Only http/https a[removed: cc][added: ddr]esses are supported at the moment. There is a 1000 entry limit.[removed: ",] If this policy is disabled or not configured, there are no exceptions to the website filter.[added: Starting with Firefox 62, this policy will only work from Computer Configuration.]

    • Supported on [removed: Microsoft Windows XP SP2][added: Firefox 60 ESR] or later
    • Supported on SUPPORTED_[removed: WINXPSP2][added: FF60ESR]; resolved; Blank;
17. 1.09 May 2018
    • Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.

76 later releases left it unchanged.

Template

Internal name

B_WebsiteFilter_Exceptions

Namespace

Mozilla.Policies.Firefox

Template file

firefox.admx

Release

Mozilla Firefox 3.9 · file set 46eea69011fff735…

<policy class="Both" displayName="$(string.WebsiteFilter_Exceptions)" explainText="$(string.WebsiteFilter_Exceptions_Explain)" key="Software\Policies\Mozilla\WebsiteFilter\Exceptions" name="B_WebsiteFilter_Exceptions" presentation="$(presentation.WebsiteFilter)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Mozilla.Policies.Firefox:firefox" />
      <supportedOn ref="Mozilla.Policies.Firefox:SUPPORTED_FF60" />
      <elements>
        <list id="WebsiteFilter" key="Software\Policies\Mozilla\Firefox\WebsiteFilter\Exceptions" valuePrefix="" />
      </elements>
    </policy>

<presentation id="WebsiteFilter" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <listBox refId="WebsiteFilter" />
      </presentation>

Mozilla.Policies.Firefox:category:firefox
<category displayName="$(string.firefox)" name="firefox" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Mozilla.Policies:Cat_Mozilla" />
    </category>
Mozilla.Policies.Firefox:definition:SUPPORTED_FF60
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_FF60)" name="SUPPORTED_FF60" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Mozilla.Policies:category:Cat_Mozilla
<category displayName="$(string.mozilla)" name="Cat_Mozilla" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Mozilla.Policies.Firefox:category:firefox
<category displayName="$(string.firefox)" name="firefox" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Mozilla.Policies:Cat_Mozilla" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Mozilla.Policies.Firefox:firefox">Firefox</string></strings>
Mozilla.Policies.Firefox:definition:SUPPORTED_FF60
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_FF60)" name="SUPPORTED_FF60" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Mozilla.Policies.Firefox:SUPPORTED_FF60">Firefox 60 or later, Firefox 60 ESR or later</string></strings>
Mozilla.Policies:category:Cat_Mozilla
<category displayName="$(string.mozilla)" name="Cat_Mozilla" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Mozilla.Policies:mozilla">Mozilla</string></strings>