# Review all matching Cloudflare Cache Rules because later settings can overwrite earlier ones

> Cache Rules are stackable rather than a simple first-match policy.

- Canonical URL: https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/review-all-matching-cloudflare-cache-rules-because-later-settings-can-overwrite-earlier-ones/
- Publisher: Detection Systems & Engineering (DSE Security)
- Author: DSE Security Editorial Team
- Published: 2026-10-20T18:16:42+00:00
- Modified: 2026-10-20T18:34:36+00:00
- Last reviewed by DSE: 2026-10-20
- Resource type: Guide
- DSE priority: Information
- Topics: Cybersecurity, Networks & Infrastructure
- Reading time: 2 minutes

## What you need to know

Cache Rules are stackable rather than a simple first-match policy.

## Potentially affected

This concerns Cloudflare Cache Rules and their documented precedence.

## DSE recommendation

DSE recommends evaluating the complete matching rule sequence for representative URLs before moving or adding an exception.

## Article

Cache Rules are stackable rather than a simple first-match policy.

## Source facts

Cloudflare states that several matching Cache Rules can combine settings for one request. When they set the same value, the last matching rule wins, including conflicts between bypass and cache eligibility. Cache Rules take precedence over caching Page Rules on the same path. Terminating actions in other products, such as redirects or blocks, have different evaluation behavior.

Source: [Cloudflare — Order and priority](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cache/how-to/cache-rules/order/).

## Applicability

This concerns Cloudflare Cache Rules and their documented precedence.

## DSE recommendation

DSE recommends evaluating the complete matching rule sequence for representative URLs before moving or adding an exception. Keep broad defaults and narrow overrides in an intentional order and document which settings each contributes. Include legacy Page Rules in migration review even when the new rule appears equivalent. Avoid fixing one endpoint by adding another rule without checking the accumulated effect on authenticated pages and static assets. For the most important URL classes, keep a compact trace listing every matching rule and the final value of each changed setting. Have a second administrator review that trace after reordering. Preserve an authenticated endpoint as an explicit bypass acceptance case alongside the public asset pilot.

## Verification

For approved test requests, inspect effective matching settings through the available diagnostic tools and compare them with the intended final policy. Include an overlapping path that exercises two rules and a nearby unmatched path. Repeat after reordering, and verify redirects or blocks separately rather than assuming they follow cache-setting merge semantics.

## Official reference

[Cloudflare — Order and priority](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cache/how-to/cache-rules/order/). Reviewed October 20, 2026.

## Primary reference

- Name: Cloudflare — Order and priority
- Authority: developers.cloudflare.com
- URL: https://developers.cloudflare.com/cache/how-to/cache-rules/order/
- Source publication date: Not stated by the source

## Citation and use

Preferred citation: “Review all matching Cloudflare Cache Rules because later settings can overwrite earlier ones,” DSE Security, https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/review-all-matching-cloudflare-cache-rules-because-later-settings-can-overwrite-earlier-ones/
Publishing principles: https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/dse-updates-editorial-methodology/
Usage and citation policy: https://update.dsesecurity.com/usage/
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