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iptables

Can someone explain to me what the top 3 rules in my iptables config file mean with regard the [0:0]. Also, is there any significance in their order? If i change my iptables file so that :INPUT DROP[0:0] is first then everything then changes to be under Chain INPUT (policy ACCEPT). It's just my lack of understanding but trying to understand it.

# Firewall configuration written by system-config-firewall
# Manual customization of this file is not recommended.
*filter
:INPUT ACCEPT [0:0]
:INPUT DROP [0:0]
:FORWARD ACCEPT [0:0]
:OUTPUT ACCEPT [0:0]
-A INPUT -m state --state ESTABLISHED,RELATED -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p icmp -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -i lo -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -m state --state NEW -m tcp -p tcp --dport 22 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -m state --state NEW -m tcp -p tcp --dport 69 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -j REJECT --reject-with icmp-host-prohibited
-A FORWARD -j REJECT --reject-with icmp-host-prohibited
COMMIT

[root@testbox ~]# iptables -L
Chain INPUT (policy DROP)
target prot opt source destination
ACCEPT all -- anywhere anywhere state RELATED,ESTABLISHED
ACCEPT icmp -- anywhere anywhere
ACCEPT all -- anywhere anywhere
ACCEPT tcp -- anywhere anywhere state NEW tcp dpt:ssh
ACCEPT tcp -- anywhere anywhere state NEW tcp dpt:tftp
REJECT all -- anywhere anywhere reject-with icmp-host-prohibited

Chain FORWARD (policy ACCEPT)
target prot opt source destination
REJECT all -- anywhere anywhere reject-with icmp-host-prohibited

Chain OUTPUT (policy ACCEPT)
target prot opt source destination

Papertrip

Can someone explain to me what the top 3 rules in my iptables config file mean with regard the [0:0]

They are the default chains for the filter table. The 0:0 part is packets:bytes for each chain. The order will match just like normal rules match in order -- they go down the list and use the first-matched rule. So if INPUT ACCEPT is first, then INPUT DROP will never be hit... on that note I don't even know if it's possible to have 2 default rules for a chain -- this is not something that is usually done.

IMO you should only use ACCEPT during your initial rule testing setup so that you don't lock yourself out. Once you have a complete set of working rules, change all default chain rules to DROP imo.

The best way IMO is to set DROP for everything, then create ACCEPT rules as needed... just make sure you at least open up TCP/22 before changing that, unless you have console access.

lolaferrari

ASKER

OK great so below is this INPUT chain basically saying DROP everything except those mentioned underneath it's header?

Chain INPUT (policy DROP)
target prot opt source destination
ACCEPT all -- anywhere anywhere state RELATED,ESTABLISHED
ACCEPT icmp -- anywhere anywhere
ACCEPT all -- anywhere anywhere
ACCEPT tcp -- anywhere anywhere state NEW tcp dpt:ssh
ACCEPT tcp -- anywhere anywhere state NEW tcp dpt:tftp
REJECT all -- anywhere anywhere reject-with icmp-host-prohibited

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Papertrip

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Papertrip

Excuse me I meant in the chain you pasted, not table.

lolaferrari

ASKER

fantastic| thanks for that