Are there any common causes related to URL rewriting that can trigger this error?

Yes, incorrect URL rewriting rules can easily lead to 400 errors. If you have URL rewriting configured in IIS Express (e.g., using URL Rewrite module), ensure the rules are correctly defined and that they don't inadvertently introduce invalid hostname constructs. A common mistake is misconfiguring rewrite patterns that attempt to modify or validate the hostname in a way that causes it to become invalid.