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    New User to pfSense - some doubts

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • H
      HansSolo @stephenw10
      last edited by

      There seems to be some confusion floating here, so I'm posting a screen shot of the rule that everal keep saying I need to change.

      Here is the configuration for the rule in question for pfSenseBlockerNG.
      As you can see, it is not like a regular rule configuration screen and does not allow for the changes being suggested.....
      There is nowhere to change PORTS....and the destination could be changed to the IP of the server but I get an error when I make that change.

      alt text

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      • C
        conor
        last edited by

        There is no ports option as you have Protocol set to Any, that needs to be set to TCP/UDP or one of them to see ports. For example ESP, ICMP and AH protocols do not have ports.

        200+ pfSense installs - best firewall ever.

        H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • H
          HansSolo @johnpoz
          last edited by

          @johnpoz said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

          @HansSolo said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

          So are you also agreeing that pfSenseBlockerNG has incorrectly configured their settings?

          NO!!! I just ran through the wizard and it didn't create single rule on my WAN!!

          Really ????
          I didn't create those rules. Honest.
          I wonder if it's because our configurations are different? Are you running a server behind your pfSense?
          What version pfsense are you running?

          johnpozJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • H
            HansSolo @conor
            last edited by HansSolo

            @conor said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

            There is no ports option as you have Protocol set to Any, that needs to be set to TCP/UDP or one of them to see ports. For example ESP, ICMP and AH protocols do not have ports.

            Ah!
            ok.

            It's a mystery then why those rules were created like that?

            I DID NOT create those rules and thought they were just part of the pfSenseBlockerNG setup.

            Good thing my server is still behind my WG Firebox at the moment and not the pfSense firewall.

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            • johnpozJ
              johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @HansSolo
              last edited by johnpoz

              @HansSolo said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

              I wonder if it's because our configurations are different? Are you running a server behind your pfSense?
              What version pfsense are you running?

              Yes I have ports forwarded, I run ntp server to the world via ntp pool.. I have friends and family access to my plex server.

              As to what version of pfsense I run - its in my signature.. And yes I would be running current, as any sane person should be.

              That you think an any any rule is ok on your wan - even IF some tool created it.. Is just beyond nuts...

              An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
              If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
              Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
              SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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              • stephenw10S
                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                last edited by

                They are created by pfBlocker but only because of how it's configured.

                pfBlocker can create firewall rules but does not have to. It depends what you have set the list action to.

                Typically it is set to add block rules to prevent LAN side clients reaching out to, for example, known malware sites.

                However I recommend setting the list action to Native Alias only and then using those aliases in rules you add yourself.

                Also worth noting the pfBlocker setup wizard is only in the dev version I believe.

                Steve

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                • johnpozJ
                  johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                  last edited by johnpoz

                  While the wizard might be only in dev... The older version doesn't create rules like that without being told to do it..

                  You don't install any version of pfblocker and next thing without doing anything have any any rules on your wan... That would be insane!!

                  An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                  If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                  Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                  SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                  H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • H
                    HansSolo @johnpoz
                    last edited by

                    @johnpoz said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

                    While the wizard might be only in dev... The older version doesn't create rules like that without being told to do it..

                    You don't install any version of pfblocker and next thing without doing anything have any any rules on your wan... That would be insane!!

                    ok ok...I'm probably not insane (or nuts). and no, I do not think ANY rule is "ok". Not sure where you assumed that. Just not familiar with pfsense and pfSenseBlockerNG. Day 3 with pfSense so I can't possibly know everything about how it and the blocker works under the hood. I thought it was some kind of fancy proxying of the lists and DNS manipulation.

                    I did check with my cell phone and no access was granted to any unauthorized part of the network so no harm done.

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                    • johnpozJ
                      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                      last edited by

                      @HansSolo said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

                      I do not think ANY rule is "ok". Not sure where you assumed that

                      Because you had them on your wan ;) And then asked if they were ok...

                      An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                      If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                      Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                      SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                      H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • H
                        HansSolo @johnpoz
                        last edited by HansSolo

                        @johnpoz said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

                        @HansSolo said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

                        I do not think ANY rule is "ok". Not sure where you assumed that

                        Because you had them on your wan ;) And then asked if they were ok...

                        Well think about it.....
                        If I was "insane" or "nuts", I probably wouldn't have even asked. ✌

                        Let's not beat up the noobs just because they are not totally familiar with pfsense yet and don't know right off the bat if automated configurations that they didn't put there are legit or not (even if they look odd)

                        Thanks for all the great advice everyone ! 😎

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                        • johnpozJ
                          johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                          last edited by

                          Where exactly are you seeing that rule that doesn't allow you dest port in it.. What version of pfblocker are you running the older or dev version?

                          An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                          If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                          Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                          SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                          H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • H
                            HansSolo @johnpoz
                            last edited by HansSolo

                            @johnpoz said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

                            Where exactly are you seeing that rule that doesn't allow you dest port in it.. What version of pfblocker are you running the older or dev version?

                            by the time I reply, you will probably have discovered that that was answered above ☺

                            as for the pfBlocker version.....3 days in, so I downloaded it probably yesterday. latest, I assume ?

                            Let me check and see if I can find that version.....

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                            • johnpozJ
                              johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                              last edited by johnpoz

                              @HansSolo said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

                              pfSenseBlockerNG

                              what version does it say.. that tells me not the old one... But maybe you have not updated your packages? Can not tell if you mean non dev or dev version.

                              its listed right in your package manager
                              example
                              pfBlockerNG-devel 2.2.5_22

                              there should be really screaming red flags on the pfblocker gui that its going to create an any any rule.. If that is what its doing.

                              Where exactly did you go in pfblocker to create said rule.

                              Paging @BBcan177 if pfblocker creates any any rules on the wan without huge warnings to the user.. That really should be changed..

                              An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                              If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                              Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                              SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                              H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • H
                                HansSolo @johnpoz
                                last edited by HansSolo

                                @johnpoz said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

                                @HansSolo said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

                                pfSenseBlockerNG

                                what version does it say.. that tells me not the old one... But maybe you have not updated your packages? Can not tell if you mean non dev or dev version.

                                its listed right in your package manager
                                example
                                pfBlockerNG-devel 2.2.5_22

                                there should be really screaming red flags on the pfblocker gui that its going to create an any any rule.. If that is what its doing.

                                Where exactly did you go in pfblocker to create said rule.

                                Paging @BBcan177 if pfblocker creates any any rules on the wan without huge warnings to the user.. That really should be changed..

                                pfBlockerNG net 2.1.4_16

                                Agreed. Unless......that rule doesn't actually give said access.
                                Let's hope the developer will reply regardless of the outcome.

                                I KNOW I didn't create those rules intentionally.....but maybe they got created some how that I'm not aware of other than by pfBlockerNG ?

                                My gut feeling is that they were created intentionally and do not allow the access it appears.
                                That said...I've changed them all as suggested.....to be safe. (And I have not yet reconnected pfsense, still using WG)

                                And as mentioned, I DID CHECK WITH MY CELL PHONE and was not able to find any compromised connections.

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                                • johnpozJ
                                  johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                                  last edited by

                                  @HansSolo said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

                                  Agreed. Unless......that rule doesn't actually give said access.

                                  It DOES!! since its a rule on your WAN...

                                  An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                                  If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                                  Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                                  SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                                  H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • H
                                    HansSolo @johnpoz
                                    last edited by HansSolo

                                    @johnpoz said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

                                    @HansSolo said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

                                    Agreed. Unless......that rule doesn't actually give said access.

                                    It DOES!! since its a rule on your WAN...

                                    But in the source it lists a pfBlockerNG file, NOT a network location. What do you interpret that to mean?

                                    OTOH...I can't speak for anyone else, but there's so much information to absorb in such a short time, brain farts do occur.
                                    And it's possible I experienced a real winner.

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                                    • johnpozJ
                                      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                                      last edited by

                                      Doesn't matter if it only allows source IPs.. it is allowing to ANY ANY as dest.. So if user had a port forward to say 443 behind pfsense.. And it created a any any rule above that even if locked down to only NA... It now allows access to pfsense web gui and anything else that listens on pfsense wan, say dns, etc. etc.

                                      Which is BAD!!! I just installed that version, enabled it and did an update.. No rules on the WAN, only the rule on my lan blocking outbound access to stuff.

                                      An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                                      If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                                      Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                                      SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                                      H 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • H
                                        HansSolo @johnpoz
                                        last edited by

                                        @johnpoz said in New User to pfSense - some doubts:

                                        Doesn't matter if it only allows source IPs.. it is allowing to ANY ANY as dest.. So if user had a port forward to say 443 behind pfsense.. And it created a any any rule above that even if locked down to only NA... It now allows access to pfsense web gui and anything else that listens on pfsense wan, say dns, etc. etc.

                                        Which is BAD!!! I just installed that version, enabled it and did an update.. No rules on the WAN, only the rule on my lan blocking outbound access to stuff.

                                        Ok.
                                        Then I have no clue how that rule got there and where it came from.
                                        I may have to chalk it up to trying to learn too much too fast over the last 3 days.

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                                        • stephenw10S
                                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                          last edited by

                                          pfBlocker just by itself can be pretty confusing IMO. There's a LOT there to take it.

                                          I like to have full control of what rules are where which is why I recommend the Native Aliases approach. It's easier to understand the resulting ruleset when you have added everything yourself.

                                          pfSense is guilty of that in other areas, you have to add firewall rules to allow OpenVPN traffic but IPSec traffic is passed by default by rules added automatically. You can disable that at least. If we changed that now it would break hundreds of thousands of VPNs though! 🙄

                                          Steve

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                                          • johnpozJ
                                            johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                                            last edited by johnpoz

                                            So I see this warning

                                            Also consider protecting just the specific open WAN ports and it's just as important to protect the outbound LAN traffic.

                                            And if you open the advanced, you can limit to specific ports..

                                            But yeah if just set to inbound us, it creates this rule

                                            ===[  Aliastables / Rules  ]================================
                                            
                                            Firewall rule changes found, applying Filter Reload
                                            

                                            Yeah this is a HORRIBLE implementation... Just freaking HORRIBLE!!

                                            wanrule.png

                                            That should be limited to wan address on specific PORTS, unless the user changes it... Then that would be on them.. But I can see how new users might just open wide their wan... Arrrgghhh!!

                                            Or anything behind pfsense if they had a routed netblock, etc. etc.

                                            paging @BBcan177 again, I don't see how such a thing would be ok... Ultimately its on the admin of the firewall to understand what they are doing, and what is set... But pfsense does try and keep the users from shooting themselves in the foot.. This is not doing that at all..

                                            An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                                            If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                                            Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                                            SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                                            BBcan177B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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