XF 2.3 Error: ValueError: inet_pton(): Argument #1 ($ip) must not contain any null bytes src/XF/Util/Ip.php:14

[Mr Lucky]

I am getting this error and seems to be related to one user who is unable to login.

Does anyone know what this might be? It has been happening since I did an import from another xenforo 2.3. database but no idea if it is related or coincidence.

ValueError: inet_pton(): Argument #1 ($ip) must not contain any null bytes src/XF/Util/Ip.php:14
Generated by: Unknown account Feb 4, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Stack trace
#0 src/XF/Util/Ip.php(14): inet_pton([invalid])
#1 src/XF/Entity/Ip.php(25): XF\Util\Ip::stringToBinary([invalid], false)
#2 src/XF/Mvc/Entity/Entity.php(842): XF\Entity\Ip->verifyIp([invalid], 'ip', 6, Array)
#3 src/XF/Mvc/Entity/Entity.php(683): XF\Mvc\Entity\Entity->_verifyValueCustom([invalid], 'ip', 6, Array)
#4 src/XF/Mvc/Entity/Entity.php(618): XF\Mvc\Entity\Entity->set('ip', [invalid])
#5 src/XF/Repository/IpRepository.php(29): XF\Mvc\Entity\Entity->__set('ip', [invalid])
#6 src/addons/SV/UserEssentials/XF/Repository/Ip.php(18): XF\Repository\IpRepository->logIp(8105, [invalid], 'post', 621976, '')
#7 src/XF/Service/Post/PreparerService.php(254): SV\UserEssentials\XF\Repository\Ip->logIp(8105, [invalid], 'post', 621976)
#8 src/XF/Service/Post/PreparerService.php(199): XF\Service\Post\PreparerService->writeIpLog([invalid])
#9 src/addons/SV/UserEssentials/Service/Mentionable.php(20): XF\Service\Post\PreparerService->afterInsert()
#10 src/XF/Service/Thread/ReplierService.php(236): SV\UserEssentials\XF\Service\Post\Preparer->afterInsert()
#11 src/XF/Service/ValidateAndSavableTrait.php(42): XF\Service\Thread\ReplierService->_save()
#12 src/XF/PreRegAction/Thread/Reply.php(47): XF\Service\Thread\ReplierService->save()
#13 src/XF/PreRegAction/AbstractHandler.php(132): XF\PreRegAction\Thread\Reply->executeAction(Object(XF\Entity\PreRegAction), Object(SV\UserEssentials\XF\Entity\ThreadPatch2), Object(SV\ConversationEssentials\XF\Entity\User))
#14 src/XF.php(914): XF\PreRegAction\AbstractHandler->XF\PreRegAction\{closure}()
#15 src/XF/PreRegAction/AbstractHandler.php(125): XF::asVisitor(Object(SV\ConversationEssentials\XF\Entity\User), Object(Closure))
#16 src/XF/Repository/PreRegActionRepository.php(96): XF\PreRegAction\AbstractHandler->completeAction(Object(XF\Entity\PreRegAction), Object(SV\ConversationEssentials\XF\Entity\User))
#17 src/XF/Repository/PreRegActionRepository.php(126): XF\Repository\PreRegActionRepository->completeUserAction(Object(SV\ConversationEssentials\XF\Entity\User), NULL)
#18 src/XF/ControllerPlugin/LoginPlugin.php(199): XF\Repository\PreRegActionRepository->completeUserActionIfPossible(Object(SV\ConversationEssentials\XF\Entity\User), NULL)
#19 src/addons/SV/UserEssentials/XF/ControllerPlugin/Login.php(19): XF\ControllerPlugin\LoginPlugin->completeLogin(Object(SV\ConversationEssentials\XF\Entity\User), false)
#20 src/XF/Pub/Controller/LoginController.php(183): SV\UserEssentials\XF\ControllerPlugin\Login->completeLogin(Object(SV\ConversationEssentials\XF\Entity\User), false)
#21 src/XF/Mvc/Dispatcher.php(362): XF\Pub\Controller\LoginController->actionLogin(Object(XF\Mvc\ParameterBag))
#22 src/XF/Mvc/Dispatcher.php(264): XF\Mvc\Dispatcher->dispatchClass('XF:Login', 'Login', Object(XF\Mvc\RouteMatch), Object(DigitalPoint\Cloudflare\XF\Pub\Controller\Login), NULL)
#23 src/XF/Mvc/Dispatcher.php(121): XF\Mvc\Dispatcher->dispatchFromMatch(Object(XF\Mvc\RouteMatch), Object(DigitalPoint\Cloudflare\XF\Pub\Controller\Login), NULL)
#24 src/XF/Mvc/Dispatcher.php(63): XF\Mvc\Dispatcher->dispatchLoop(Object(XF\Mvc\RouteMatch))
#25 src/XF/App.php(2824): XF\Mvc\Dispatcher->run()
#26 src/XF.php(814): XF\App->run()
#27 index.php(23): XF::runApp('XF\\Pub\\App')
#28 {main}
Request state
array(4) {
  ["url"] => string(12) "/login/login"
  ["referrer"] => string(26) "https://cafesaxophone.com/"
  ["_GET"] => array(0) {
  }
  ["_POST"] => array(4) {
    ["_xfToken"] => string(8) "********"
    ["login"] => string(5) "turf3"
    ["password"] => string(8) "********"
    ["_xfRedirect"] => string(26) "https://cafesaxophone.com/"
  }
}

 

[M@rc]

See this:

Thread 'inet_pton(): Argument #1 ($ip) must not contain any null bytes src/XF/Util/Ip.php:14'

Jan 16, 2026

Server Info:
PHP 8.3.29
10.6.24-MariaDB

Tested on my test forum with no addons.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Enable Writing before registering.
2. From a logged out account, write a reply and hit Post Reply.
3. Click the Login button.

The screen will return the error:

A server error occurred. Please try again later.

The server error log will have:

ValueError: inet_pton(): Argument #1 ($ip) must not contain any null bytes src/XF/Util/Ip.php:14
Generated by: Unknown account Jan 16, 2026 at 9:58 PM

Stack trace
#0...

• M@rc
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Bug reports

I got this on my test forum with no addons and another forum I was trying to log into (both using Cloudflare & PHP 8.3.29).

Another guy got the same error when doing an import:

Thread 'inet_pton(): Argument #1 ($ip) must not contain any null bytes'

Jan 24, 2026

I am trying to import users, nodes, threads and posts from another XF 2.3.8 forum to an existing XF 2.3.8.
However, I keep getting the error below. Any ideas?

php cmd.php xf:import
Starting import from XenForo 2.3...
 - Step 1 of 8: User groups               00:00:00 [4]
 - Step 2 of 8: Custom user fields        00:00:00 [0]
 - Step 3 of 8: Users                     00:00:00 [1]
 - Step 4 of 8: Nodes                     00:00:00 [2]
 - Step 5 of 8: Thread prefixes           00:00:00 [0]
 - Step 6 of 8: Custom thread fields      00:00:00 [0]
 - Step 7 of 8: Threads...

• Saarbruecken
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Importer bug reports

 

[Mr Lucky]

I got this on my test forum with no addons and another forum I was trying to log into (both using Cloudflare & PHP 8.3.29).

I'm using Cloudflare, PHP 8.3.30 and just done an import.