In this case I don't know. Anyway you have mod_security enabled, disable it then

I guess I can do that but doesn't this lower my security on apache?

This is our hosting requirement, mod_security should be off

ok well i uninstalled it and refreshed apache and still no change.

well, the error is still there, mod_security is still enabled

I do not see what u are seeing

Loaded Modulescore prefork http_core mod_so mod_auth_basic mod_auth_digest mod_authn_file mod_authn_alias mod_authn_anon mod_authn_dbm mod_authn_default mod_authz_host mod_authz_user mod_authz_owner mod_authz_groupfile mod_authz_dbm mod_authz_default util_ldap mod_authnz_ldap mod_include mod_log_config mod_logio mod_env mod_ext_filter mod_mime_magic mod_expires mod_deflate mod_headers mod_usertrack mod_setenvif mod_mime mod_dav mod_status mod_autoindex mod_info mod_dav_fs mod_vhost_alias mod_negotiation mod_dir mod_actions mod_speling mod_userdir mod_alias mod_substitute mod_rewrite mod_proxy mod_proxy_balancer mod_proxy_ftp mod_proxy_http mod_proxy_ajp mod_proxy_connect mod_cache mod_suexec mod_disk_cache mod_cgi mod_version mod_cloudflare mod_evasive20 mod_qos mod_php5 mod_ssl

In this case please check whether the tmp folder exists:

ow_userfiles/plugins/base/avatars//tmp/avatar_original_562f3b2381628.jpg?1445936816801 

and ow_userfiles folder has 777 permissions and all files and folder within it as well. the permissions should be set recursively

and see if the issue persists. 

Im thinking mod Security wasn't the problem. There is just a tweak in the code some where that is stopping this.

whats with the double slash  //temp?        that might be the problem. I use aws cloud and never had that directory

can you check whether you have tmp folder according to the path ow_userfiles/plugins/base/avatars/tmp

yes i have that folder

please check whether the ow_userfiles folder and all inside folders and files have 777 permissions

if yes, can you please check one more thing, disable amazon storage and try to upload new avatar and change it for some profile. does it work this way?

they do. You can upload files, pictures, everything to it just can't change the avatar

Can you change avatar with amazon disabled?

i just uploaded a picture to photo album no prob.

It does the same thing when it is disabled

please disable amazon and I'll check again by myself

ok it is disabled