Error in creating alias for system path user/login

I am also unable to create an alias for user/login. I'm surprised as it's mentioned in the 'getting started' documentation.

Aside from directly modifying the table, is there a fix to this problem?

The user/login path is only accessible to anonymous users:

  $items['user/login'] = array(
    'title' => 'Log in',
    'access callback' => 'user_is_anonymous',
    'type' => MENU_DEFAULT_LOCAL_TASK,
  );

Once you're logged in, you are no longer authorized to access the user/login page...

This explains why it works when you add it to the table manually: you're bypassing the access check that happens when you enter URL aliases through the interface. I agree that it's an unfortunate example in the "Getting Started" guide.

I think the administrator should be able to insert aliases for all URLs (if they exist), even if he/she does not have access to the URL. The user/login path is a fine example: because the administrator fails the "user_is_anonymous" access check, it's impossible to set up an alias for it.

Attached is an attempt to fix this, by ignoring the access check if the user is the superadmin.

Improved the check for administrator.

#190867: Remove access check for anonymous users when creating aliases recently a patch blocking that has been uncovered so work now can commence.

Easy but slightly risky workaround...