Zscaler’s secure web gateway is blocking it. Your build pipeline stops cold.
This problem hits fast when Zscaler inspections intercept Git traffic over HTTPS. Developers see hangs, authentication errors, or fatal: unable to access messages. The cause is deep packet inspection (DPI) on SSL/TLS connections. Git’s smart HTTP protocol triggers Zscaler’s content scanning, which may alter or block the stream. When Git checkout fails with Zscaler, the fix is precise, not broad.
First, confirm it’s Zscaler. Run git ls-remote against the repo’s URL from a machine inside the network. If it hangs, repeat from a network path outside Zscaler. If outside it runs instantly, you’ve isolated the security appliance as the choke point.
Common solutions:
- Use SSH for Git instead of HTTPS. SSH traffic often bypasses SSL inspection. Test with
git remote set-url origin git@github.com:user/repo.git. - Ask your network team to whitelist your Git domains in Zscaler’s policy. Hostnames like
github.com and gitlab.com should avoid content scanning for developers. - Disable SSL inspection for Git traffic via Zscaler admin settings. This keeps HTTPS intact end-to-end and prevents protocol mismatch errors.
- For CI/CD runners behind Zscaler, place them on a separate segment with inspection exemptions.
Avoid blunt workarounds like disabling Zscaler entirely. Keep the security posture while narrowing the exclusion to the required endpoints. Always verify with a fresh git checkout after each change.
Modern workflows depend on uninterrupted Git access. Zscaler’s role is to protect, not block. When you configure them to coexist, the friction vanishes.
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