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    Request for dhcp from strange address?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved DHCP and DNS
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    • K Offline
      kpa
      last edited by

      That's the standard reply from the DHCP server to a DHCP client after client has made the request for a lease in the case there are no existing leases for the client. If you ignore the "strange" looking source address there's nothing out of the ordinary in it.

      http://www.linklogger.com/UDP67_68.htm

      Why that address is another matter. Maybe your ISP has acquired some unused subnet from the Dept. of Defense and have taken it into use. Remember that your WAN network can have multiple DHCP servers (which is the exact reason for the broadcast addresses used, unicasts wouldn't work in the initial lease negotiation) as your ISP sees fit for redundancy, each of them with slightly different settings for IP address range and gateways.

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      • J Offline
        JonH
        last edited by

        Thank you for the link.  It did have some info I was unaware of.

        I know that the log entry shows the standard dhcp server/client transaction.  It was the odd IP that concerned me.  It only shows in the firewall log, not in the dhcp log.

        Everytime my wan lease is renewed (4 hrs) I've been getting messages in dhcp log that there are 2 servers.  I blocked the offending 'DoD' IP and now I am not getting messages about 2 servers.  But now I'm also not getting other msgs that I'm used to seeing.  I usually see "bound to My_Wan_IP" and the time remaining on the lease.  Since blocking that odd IP I don't see that anymore but the Wan lease does renew.

        My ISP is Charter Communications so I don't know if they would be using a subnet registered to someone else.

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        • johnpozJ Offline
          johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
          last edited by

          Here is the thing, just because IP range is owned by company xyz.. Doesn't mean its really them.. There are lots and lots of people that use IP address they pull out of thin are with no concern to actually owns it.

          If you have concerns contact your ISP..  But more than likely its some idiot..  Here is the the thing traffic from that box can not go anywhere other than the local layer 2 its on..

          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 25.07.1 | Lab VMs 2.8.1, 25.07.1

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          • JKnottJ Offline
            JKnott
            last edited by

            It only shows in the firewall log, not in the dhcp log.

            That only shows the firewall is doing it's job.  It shouldn't be allowing DHCP requests from the WAN.

            PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
            i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel 1 Gb Ethernet ports.
            UniFi AC-Lite access point

            I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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            • J Offline
              JonH
              last edited by

              I'd like to thank everyone for their responses here.  They were very helpful.

              Even tho I have maintained a connection on my WAN with the strange IP that I had blocked, once I unblocked it, pfSense immediately issued a DHCPREQUEST to a different Charter Communications server than it usually sends to (not the same subnet that was blocked).

              So I'll accept it as it is, I don't understand how it is all interconnected, the fact that that IP was owned by the DoD had me scratching my head.  It all seems to be working so I'll leave well enough alone.

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              • JKnottJ Offline
                JKnott
                last edited by

                Given that the Internet started as a Dept of Defense research project, a lot of addresses were "owned" by the DoD.  When it first started, the 'net was used only by military contractors and researchers, including some universities.

                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Internet

                PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
                i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel 1 Gb Ethernet ports.
                UniFi AC-Lite access point

                I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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                • J Offline
                  JonH
                  last edited by

                  I would think that ARIN WHOIS data is relatively up to date.  Maybe I expect too much ::)

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                  • JKnottJ Offline
                    JKnott
                    last edited by

                    Hmmm…

                    Whatismyipaddress.com shows it's DoD, located in Utah.  Maybe it has something to do with Area 51.  ;-)

                    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugway_Proving_Ground#UFO_speculation

                    PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
                    i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel 1 Gb Ethernet ports.
                    UniFi AC-Lite access point

                    I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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                    • johnpozJ Offline
                      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                      last edited by

                      Area 51 is in Nevada ;)  Groom Lake!

                      Yeah ARIN is pretty up to date.. Not sure they would have a wrong listing for 30 address..  Are you saying you got your dhcp IP from this IP address??  I am confused on what this address has to do with anything to be honest?  Or what does it matter?  Maybe the dod uses your same ISP??  And they are running multiple layer 3 networks on the same layer 2 ;)

                      What that looks like is a dhcpack.. So your saying that is what is giving you your IP??  Then either your ISP is the DOD ;)  Or what is more likely is they are using IPs that are not theirs because they don't think anyone will be talking to those IPs..  While its BAD practice, it is common practice..  Again its BAD practice.. but happens more than you think.. Companies to lazy to do proper IPAM or subnetting or natting when required..  Hey lets grab these /8's that are owned by DOD - nobody is going to be going there ;)

                      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 25.07.1 | Lab VMs 2.8.1, 25.07.1

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                      • JKnottJ Offline
                        JKnott
                        last edited by

                        Area 51 is in Nevada ;)  Groom Lake!

                        From the article "[Dugway is] the new Area 51. And probably the new military spaceport.".  ;)

                        Or what is more likely is they are using IPs that are not theirs because they don't think anyone will be talking to those IPs..

                        My cell carrier did that prior to switching over to IPv6.  I'd get an address in the 25 block, IIRC, which NATed to the 24 block.  Now my phone is IPv6 only and uses 464XLAT to provide IPv4 access.

                        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPv6_transition_mechanism#464XLAT

                        PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
                        i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel 1 Gb Ethernet ports.
                        UniFi AC-Lite access point

                        I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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                        • johnpozJ Offline
                          johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                          last edited by

                          Oh you meant R-6413 ;)  Yeah that is in Utah…

                          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 25.07.1 | Lab VMs 2.8.1, 25.07.1

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                          • J Offline
                            JonH
                            last edited by

                            @johnpoz:

                            Yeah ARIN is pretty up to date.. Not sure they would have a wrong listing for 30 address..  Are you saying you got your dhcp IP from this IP address??  I am confused on what this address has to do with anything to be honest?  Or what does it matter?  Maybe the dod uses your same ISP??  And they are running multiple layer 3 networks on the same layer 2 ;)

                            I'm confused too, that is why I posted here looking for suggestions.  My logs have wrapped around since I started this so I don't have documentation now.

                            This is a typical entry from dhcp log.  I do note the acknowledging server is from a different IP than yesterday but this IP is registered to my ISP, which is the cable company Charter Communications.  My connection is via cable modem.

                            Nov 21 04:07:42 	dhclient 	27954 	DHCPREQUEST on igb0 to 68.114.36.9 port 67
                            Nov 21 04:07:42 	dhclient 	27954 	DHCPACK from 68.114.36.9
                            Nov 21 04:07:42 	dhclient 		RENEW
                            Nov 21 04:07:42 	dhclient 		Creating resolv.conf
                            Nov 21 04:07:42 	dhclient 	27954 	bound to x.x.x.x -- renewal in 12752 seconds.
                            Nov 21 04:41:30 	dhcpd 		Wrote 0 deleted host decls to leases file.
                            Nov 21 04:41:30 	dhcpd 		Wrote 0 new dynamic host decls to leases file.
                            Nov 21 04:41:30 	dhcpd 		Wrote 16 leases to leases file. 
                            

                            What that looks like is a dhcpack.. So your saying that is what is giving you your IP??  Then either your ISP is the DOD ;)  Or what is more likely is they are using IPs that are not theirs because they don't think anyone will be talking to those IPs..  While its BAD practice, it is common practice..  Again its BAD practice.. but happens more than you think.. Companies to lazy to do proper IPAM or subnetting or natting when required..  Hey lets grab these /8's that are owned by DOD - nobody is going to be going there ;)

                            Or for the really paranoid, it's the NSC's backdoor into a large US customer base.

                            I cannot say that 30.85.128.1 is giving me my IP.  For the last month or so I've noticed everytime my lease was renewed there is a message in the log that there are 2 dhcp servers.  That is news to me.  But now that I have found this DoD server maybe that is the cause of that message.

                            I can only say that this IP is in my firewall log.  My dhcp log shows my request being ack by Charter's IP.  I first discovered this when I did a halt on pfSense so I could relocate the SG2440.  I then looked at the logs after restarting, I had never done a cold startup since putting it into service.  I found that odd IP in the firewall log about the same point in time that my DHCP request was being ACK.  I didn't recognize it and did a whois.  That started this thread.  I blocked that IP and it continued to hammer 2x every 10 minutes throughout the night.  I recently unblocked that rule.

                            Now that I've been through this discussion and looked at the logs for awhile, I'd have to repeat that cold startup and capture the logs to review.  I think it's pretty crazy.

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                            • JKnottJ Offline
                              JKnott
                              last edited by

                              Hey lets grab these /8's that are owned by DOD - nobody is going to be going there

                              Except aliens.  ;)

                              PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
                              i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel 1 Gb Ethernet ports.
                              UniFi AC-Lite access point

                              I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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                              • johnpozJ Offline
                                johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                                last edited by

                                I don't see how its crazy.. Since this is broadcast traffic and can only be on layer 2, which is your ISP.. Contact your ISP if your curious/concerned.  But going to say this yet again.  Just because the IP is registered to the DOD doesn't mean its not your ISP using it, or could just be some idiot down the street running a dhcp server on his wan and he is using dod address space..

                                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 25.07.1 | Lab VMs 2.8.1, 25.07.1

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                                • D Offline
                                  doktornotor Banned
                                  last edited by

                                  @johnpoz:

                                  could just be some idiot down the street running a dhcp server on his wan and he is using dod address space..

                                  One, two, three of them just here on the forum…

                                  ;D ;D ;D

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                                  • johnpozJ Offline
                                    johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                                    last edited by

                                    ^ heheh exactly!!!  So see if they plugged that interface into their isp device the wrong way.. Big Bang Zoom there you go a dod address space dhcp server on some ISP layer 2 network.  Where all the users on that network could see the traffic..  Hopefully they don't get an IP from it ;)  You would HOPE!!!! That the isp is running stuff to prevent unauthorized dhcp servers on the layer 2 between them and their customers.  But you never know….

                                    So what I would do is email your isp support, showing them dhcp traffic and the IP and asking if that is them...  Or one of their other idiot users..

                                    Whats the mac address coming from that 30 address?  We can look it up and see what kind of hardware it is, or the maker of it..

                                    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 25.07.1 | Lab VMs 2.8.1, 25.07.1

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                                    • J Offline
                                      JonH
                                      last edited by

                                      @johnpoz:

                                      Whats the mac address coming from that 30 address?  We can look it up and see what kind of hardware it is, or the maker of it..

                                      So I would need to have a packet trace running at the moment in time that the misconfigured device makes a request?  Or is there another way that I am not thinking about?

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                                      • K Offline
                                        kpa
                                        last edited by

                                        ARP table, it's there exactly for the purpose of seeing the MAC addresses of network peers on the same network segment.

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                                        • JKnottJ Offline
                                          JKnott
                                          last edited by

                                          ^^^^
                                          An arp cache has a limited lifetime, so he'd have to check it within a short period of time.  However, if he can ping that address and get a response, the arp cache would have the MAC.  Failing that, just let the packet capture run, filtering on that IP address.

                                          PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
                                          i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel 1 Gb Ethernet ports.
                                          UniFi AC-Lite access point

                                          I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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                                          • J Offline
                                            JonH
                                            last edited by

                                            The IP does not respond to a ping.  But my ISP's dhcp does respond to a ping.

                                            I think the only option is a packet capture.  Not sure I want to leave it running for an extended period of time.

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