Part or all of a web site generates 403 errors after enabling dynamic templates.

DETAILS:

How to recreate:

1. Log into movable type.
2. Click on the "Templates" link for any blog that is setup.
3. Under "Build Options", select either "Build Only Archive Templates Dynamically" or "Set Each Template's Build Options Separately" and then click save.

Ramifications:
Every page below the base directory of the blog generates a 403 error page. If the base of the blog is the DocumentRoot of the site, every attempt to view a page on this site results in this error. This includes attempts to access /movabletype/mt.cgi.

Cause:
When dynamic templates are enabled, Movable Type puts a .htaccess file in the root of the blog. This .htaccess sets up some mod_rewrite rules that are intended to make the dynamic templates to work. However, for mod_rewrite to work, the FollowSymlinks option must be enabled. This option is not enabled by default on (mt) Media Temple's shared servers and is not explicitly turned on via the .htaccess file.

Short-term Solution:
If dynamic templates are to be used, you can modify the .htaccess file created by Movable Type. Change "Options -Indexes" to read "Options -Indexes +FollowSymlinks".

Long-term Solution: Six Apart has been contacted with the details of this bug. We are waiting for a code update to address this issue.

Revisions:

07-20-2009: Minor Fixes