Question

Open ports on windows XP firewall

Asked by: flasht

Hi.
How do i programally open ports on Windows XP firewall? Alot of application does that... how?
Thanks for your help!
FlashT

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Asked On
2007-01-14 at 01:39:32ID22122056
Tags

firewall

,

open

,

port

,

xp

,

windows

Topic

Delphi Programming

Participating Experts
3
Points
250
Comments
11

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Answers

 

by: tobjectpascalPosted on 2007-01-14 at 02:23:05ID: 18311304

ports should be closed unless something is listening / using the port like a server of some kind http/ftp/smtp etc etc.

 

by: ciulyPosted on 2007-01-14 at 02:51:29ID: 18311364

quoting from a borland public group:

Take a look in the registry at

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile

There you can change all firewall settings, including enabling and
disabling the entire firewall and setting a certain executable as an
exception to the firewall, setting ports and IPs on which that program
is allowed to work normally.

Note that you should leave the firewall as restrictive as possible for
your application and preferably you'd warn the user before changing his
firewall settings.

I myself have disabled the winxp firewall (SP1) and maybe that's why I don't have that registry path. or maybe it's for SP2 only.

you can also read this thread: http://groups.google.com/group/borland.public.delphi.thirdpartytools.general/browse_thread/thread/daccb17e2f33c85b/def131d3705614a7

you might also contact the author of this: Windows Firewall Ports & Applications Manager and ask for the sources (http://www.torry.net/authorsmore.php?id=6081)

 

by: flashtPosted on 2007-01-14 at 15:55:10ID: 18313339

Ok but its not what i mean. Some applications (like Emule) have option to open firewall ports on start and close it on exit. Changing registry wont take instant effect.

 

by: ciulyPosted on 2007-01-14 at 22:36:06ID: 18314547

it will if you restart the windows firewall service. there is an API for (at least) the SP2 windows firewall:
http://www.codeproject.com/w2k/WinXPSP2Firewall.asp (I couldn't find a delphi version, but since it's mainly COM you should be able to easily adapt)
or you could try the tntfirewall: http://www.sam-solutions.net/products/description.php?prdPack=8&prd=8
(have you also tried contacting the guy from the torry.net link?

 

by: rllibbyPosted on 2007-01-15 at 08:14:13ID: 18317032

Example of both adding and removing a tcp port from the globaly open ports list (in Windows XP firewall)

Regards,
Russell

// Include ActiveX and ComObj in uses clause (also Variants for D6 and up)

const
  NET_FW_PROFILE_DOMAIN      =  0;
  NET_FW_PROFILE_STANDARD    =  1;

const
  NET_FW_IP_PROTOCOL_TCP     = 6;
  NET_FW_IP_PROTOCOL_UDP     = 17;

const
  NET_FW_SCOPE_ALL           =  0;

const
  NET_FW_IP_VERSION_ANY      =  2;

implementation
{$R *.DFM}

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var  ovMgr:         OleVariant;
     ovProfile:     OleVariant;
     ovPort:        OleVariant;
begin

  // Create manager interface
  ovMgr:=CreateOleObject('HNetCfg.FwMgr');

  // Resource protection
  try
     // Get local profile interface
     ovProfile:=ovMgr.LocalPolicy.CurrentProfile;
     // Resource protection
     try
        // Create new port interface
        ovPort:=CreateOleObject('HNetCfg.FwOpenPort');
        try
           // Set port properties
           ovPort.Port:=81;
           ovPort.Name:='Whatever';
           ovPort.Scope:=NET_FW_SCOPE_ALL;
           ovPort.IpVersion:=NET_FW_IP_VERSION_ANY;
           ovPort.Protocol:=NET_FW_IP_PROTOCOL_TCP;
           ovPort.Enabled:=True;
           // Resource protection
           try
              // Add to globally open ports
              ovProfile.GloballyOpenPorts.Add(ovPort);

              ////
              // .... do whatever ....
              ////

           finally
              // Remove from globally open ports
              ovProfile.GloballyOpenPorts.Remove(81, NET_FW_IP_PROTOCOL_TCP);
           end;
        finally
           // Release interface
           ovPort:=Unassigned;
        end;
     finally
        // Release interface
        ovProfile:=Unassigned;
     end;
  finally
     // Release interface
     ovMgr:=Unassigned;
  end;

end;

 

by: flashtPosted on 2007-01-15 at 09:28:18ID: 18317618

I'll test it right away when i'll get a computer with Windows XP into my hands, but one question... if its so easy to open a port on windows firewall what kinda protection is that??

 

by: rllibbyPosted on 2007-01-15 at 09:38:43ID: 18317688


That is a question better suited for MS... <g>

Russell

 

by: ciulyPosted on 2007-01-16 at 00:04:41ID: 18322200

windows firewall is not intended to be a serious firewall but rather to protect the beginner against the massive worm attack. (I think I read something like this in msdn!) so basically, if you download the worm yourself and that opens the ports ... well, life sucks :)

 

by: flashtPosted on 2007-01-19 at 02:19:18ID: 18348027

Ok. Any code to add application as trusted on Windows XP Firewall?

 

by: flashtPosted on 2007-01-19 at 02:28:37ID: 18348068

Got the code but there is one question:
If it contains " profile := fwMgr.LocalPolicy.CurrentProfile;", what happens when it will get called by system service? Would it create a global rule that would be applied on every local profile?

 

by: rllibbyPosted on 2007-01-19 at 06:39:01ID: 18349279

>> what happens when it will get called by system service?
The same thing that happens when run from an application.

The CurrentProfile is the profile that is currently in effect, and its only going to be one of 2 things: StandardProfile (pc is not part of the domain) or DomainProfile. Its not based on user profile


Russell

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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