PfBlocker

marcelloc

pfBlocker version 1.4 is out.

Main improvements:

Url Lists now has it's own tab and many new options, including reading local files instead of urls
Each continent as well top spammers has it's own alias and rule action.
pfBlocker now reads CIDR, ips and network rages on files/urls.
More intuitive way to choose action in lists.
More control checks to avoid pfctrl error messages

I will wait feedback about these changes and stability before coding update frequency lists.

We are almost there.

hubsd

just updated to new version and there is a problem with widget

enabling it will cause other widgets (not all) not to be displayed (ex : interface statistics)

stephenw10

Congratulations guys! :)
This looks like an outstanding package. Genuinely useful.

Steve

marcelloc

@hubsd:

just updated to new version and there is a problem with widget

enabling it will cause other widgets (not all) not to be displayed (ex : interface statistics)

~~I will take a look.~~

EDIT

Fixed. Reinstall package in about 15 minutes to get fixed widget file.

Cino

nice work!!! its working nicely on my 2.1-dev box

Cino

After a reboot, I did receive an error alert but the list still loaded:

There were error(s) loading the rules:
/tmp/rules.debug:21: cannot load "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerTopSpammers.txt": No such file or directory
/tmp/rules.debug:23: cannot load "/var/db/aliastablespfBlockerBadGuys.txt": No such file or directory
pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded - The line in question reads [21]: table <pfblockertopspammers>persist file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerTopSpammers.txt"</pfblockertopspammers>

marcelloc

This happens when pfBlocker is running While filter reloads. Boot is one of these cases.

This is not a big deal as pfBlocker call filter reload when finish.

Cino

I figured it would be normal but wanted to share just in-case

eri--

I would recommend you to detect that you are at boot phase and do not don anything.

I generally do not like that packages call filter_configure() but rather would like packages to go and use pfctl themselves and exploit the anchors, though it needs more familiarity with pfctl.

hubsd

@marcelloc:

@hubsd:

just updated to new version and there is a problem with widget

enabling it will cause other widgets (not all) not to be displayed (ex : interface statistics)

~~I will take a look.~~

EDIT

Fixed. Reinstall package in about 15 minutes to get fixed widget file.

thx, I confirm that it works now !

marcelloc

@ermal:

I would recommend you to detect that you are at boot phase and do not don anything.

OK, I will find a way.

@ermal:

I generally do not like that packages call filter_configure() but rather would like packages to go and use pfctl themselves and exploit the anchors, though it needs more familiarity with pfctl.

The first generation of this package (countryblock) was editing /tmp/rules.debug. cmd asked tommyboy to change the way package apply rules.
The fist idea to improve stability was using pfsense 2.0 native options to edit rules. So current version of pfblocker create aliases, rules and then apply with filter_configure(). This was the best way I found to apply rules when users saves pfBlocker's conf.

kevross33

Great package. I have installed the latest version and I am wondering what happened to the deny inbound/outbound option? There are cases where you may block traffic to and from these countries (like countries which both do a lot of attacks, spam etc and host a lot of malware you do not want your users contacting. Is it possible to put that back in please? Thank you

RonpfS

Re-Installed 0.1.4 working fine
one detail … Package Info link still points to Country Block http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,25732.0.html

firbc

I try to update very large blocklist and I get error:

Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 134217728 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 10106374 bytes) in /usr/local/pkg/pfblocker.inc on line 248

Same list work with IP-blocklist.

And after I put some smaller bloclist I get another error:

php: : There were error(s) loading the rules: /tmp/rules.debug:21: cannot define table pfBlockerblocklist: Cannot allocate memory pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded - The line in question reads [21]: table <pfblockerblocklist>persist file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerblocklist.txt"</pfblockerblocklist>

marcelloc

@kevross33:

Great package. I have installed the latest version and I am wondering what happened to the deny inbound/outbound option? There are cases where you may block traffic to and from these countries (like countries which both do a lot of attacks, spam etc and host a lot of malware you do not want your users contacting.

In special cases, you can choose alias only option and create your own rule using alias pfBlocker created.

You can also add this list into two aliases and block inbound one and block outbound other.

@kevross33:

Is it possible to put that back in please?

Not sure but I'll take a note.

marcelloc

@firbc:

I try to update very large blocklist and I get error:

Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 134217728 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 10106374 bytes) in /usr/local/pkg/pfblocker.inc on line 248

Same list work with IP-blocklist.

The way pfBlocker downloads list is different then ipblocklist.
To increase php memory limit, edit php.ini:

php.ini location path is:
/usr/local/lib/php.ini or
/usr/local/etc/php.ini

Edit the memory_limit cvar to 256
ie. memory_limit = 256

save file and reboot

@firbc:

And after I put some smaller bloclist I get another error:
php: : There were error(s) loading the rules: /tmp/rules.debug:21: cannot define table pfBlockerblocklist: Cannot allocate memory pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded - The line in question reads [21]: table <pfblockerblocklist>persist file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerblocklist.txt"</pfblockerblocklist>

check this:

Increase even more Firewall Maximum Table Entries
clear ipblocklist table in diagnostics-> table
check if the value of table-entries in /tmp/rules.debug is the same in Firewall Maximum Table Entries
check also if table-entries is declared twice in /tmp/rules.debug

BUT
The most important thing is: read list description you are including and see if it is realy a bad guys or nasty list.

One example of not bad list is leve1 ip-blocklist file.
See its description:
Author's description:
Companies or organizations who are clearly involved with trying to stop filesharing.
Companies which anti-p2p activity has been seen from.
Companies that produce or have a strong financial interest in copyrighted material.
Government ranges or companies that have a strong financial interest in doing work for governments.
Legal industry ranges.
IPs or ranges of ISPs from which anti-p2p activity has been observed.

marcelloc

@RonpfS:

Re-Installed 0.1.4 working fine
one detail … Package Info link still points to Country Block http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,25732.0.html

~~Thanks, I'll fix it.~~

Ok, package info fixed.

Thank's for your feedback

RonpfS

@marcelloc:

In special cases, you can choose alias only option and create your own rule using alias pfBlocker created.

You can also add this list into two aliases and block inbound one and block outbound other.

Great if we use the same table inbound and outbound, we can just use one list ;o) and create a FW rule with that list aliasname ;o)

Quinn1981

Nice going guys. :) Having trouble having lists work. I get this when the filter reloads.

There were error(s) loading the rules: /tmp/rules.debug:17: cannot define table pfBlockerantitorrentin: Cannot allocate memory/tmp/rules.debug:19: cannot define table pfBlockerantitorrentout: Cannot allocate memory pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded - The line in question reads [17]: table persist file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerantitorrentin.txt" …

Going to try the fixes I see in the thread and report back. Thanks again!

marcelloc

After doing tests, don't forget to save pfBlocker config again.

Quinn1981

Reinstalled after the max tables resize and it works a treat. Thanks! :)

RonpfS

I am getting this from time to time: 404 - Not Found

marcelloc

Can you paste the url that gets 404 error?

RonpfS

https://12.34.56.78/pkg_edit.php?xml=pfblocker.xml

this happened at the same time as snort was misbehaving … I removed snort now

marcelloc

the url is fine.

while using some packages, the menu url is prefixed with /packages/something/.
when you choose other url in menu, this prefix persists, and then a 404 error occur.

This is not a problem related to pfBlocker.

hubsd

I discovered a new problem today, pfsense takes more than 1 minute to finish boot (9 minutes to be accurate !)
I noticed that it's blocked most on the time on "Configuring firewall" step.

Without plugin, no problem so…

There is also that usual "Warning message" in webgui after reboot in webgui (then need to "acknowledge all")

Setup is Alix 2c3 + pfsense nanobsd + compact flash 2 GB

Widget and lists :

RAM/CPU/TABLE usage

Packages used

log side, I have this messages (x10)

php: : New alert found: There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:18: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerEurope.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:20: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerInternetTrash.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:22: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerBlizzard.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:24: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockeripfilterX.txt" contains bad data pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded The line in question reads [ /tmp/rules.debug]:

php: : The command '/sbin/pfctl -o basic -f /tmp/rules.debug' returned exit code '1', the output was 'no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:18: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerEurope.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:20: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerInternetTrash.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:22: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerBlizzard.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:24: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockeripfilterX.txt" contains bad data pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded'

ghm

@hubsd:

I discovered a new problem today, pfsense takes more than 1 minute to finish boot (9 minutes to be accurate !)

Setup is Alix 2c3 + pfsense nanobsd + compact flash 2 GB

Same here - massive issues on 2.0 embedded (Countryblock works apart from logging though). I see loads of:

Nov 4 14:14:29 	php: : There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:24: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerEurope.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:26: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerNorthAmerica.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:28: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerOceania.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:30: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerSouthAmerica.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:32: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerTopSpammers.txt" contains bad data pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded - The line in question reads [ /tmp/rules.debug]:
Nov 4 14:14:29 	php: : New alert found: There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:24: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerEurope.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:26: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerNorthAmerica.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:28: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerOceania.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:30: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerSouthAmerica.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:32: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerTopSpammers.txt" contains bad data pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded The line in question reads [ /tmp/rules.debug]:
Nov 4 14:14:28 	php: : The command '/sbin/pfctl -o basic -f /tmp/rules.debug' returned exit code '1', the output was 'no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:24: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerEurope.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:26: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerNorthAmerica.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:28: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerOceania.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:30: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerSouthAmerica.txt" contains bad data no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:32: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerTopSpammers.txt" contains bad data pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded'

The firewall seems to be blocked then altogether. I guess there's an issue with rw mounting nanobsd…
Went back to Countryblock for the time being.
Featurewise pfBlocker seems great though!

marcelloc

I found a fetch issue While booting and on url table pfblocker get file function. ~~I'm fixing it today.~~

EDIT

version 0.1.4.1 released with fixes in:

boot process
embedded platform
url table get file package function

Many thanks for all of you that are helping us with this package.

Hugovsky

Very nice package, indeed. No errors to report so far. pfsense 2.0 release amd64.

hubsd

ok, now it takes 3/4 minutes to finish boot (better than 9 minutes)

I still have those warning messages

There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep:
/tmp/rules.debug:18: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerEurope.txt" contains bad data
pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded The line in question reads [
/tmp/rules.debug]:

There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep:
/tmp/rules.debug:18: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerEurope.txt" contains bad data
pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded The line in question reads [
/tmp/rules.debug]:

There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep:
/tmp/rules.debug:18: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerEurope.txt" contains bad data
pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded The line in question reads [
/tmp/rules.debug]:

There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep:
/tmp/rules.debug:18: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerEurope.txt" contains bad data
pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded The line in question reads [
/tmp/rules.debug]:

There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep:
/tmp/rules.debug:18: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerEurope.txt" contains bad data
pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded The line in question reads [
/tmp/rules.debug]:

There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep:
/tmp/rules.debug:18: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerEurope.txt" contains bad data
pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded The line in question reads [
/tmp/rules.debug]:

There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep:
/tmp/rules.debug:18: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerEurope.txt" contains bad data
pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded The line in question reads [
/tmp/rules.debug]:

There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep:
/tmp/rules.debug:18: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerEurope.txt" contains bad data
pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded The line in question reads [
/tmp/rules.debug]:

There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep:
/tmp/rules.debug:18: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerEurope.txt" contains bad data
pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded The line in question reads [
/tmp/rules.debug]:

marcelloc

what version are you using?

I have no embedded hardware to test it, I'm looking a way to do this using virtualbox.

hubsd

pfSense 2.0-RELEASE (i386) / nanobsd on Compact Flash 2 Gb
pfBlocker-dev 0.1.4.1

I have a 4 Gb microdrive somewhere, should I give it a try ?

marcelloc

I' ve tested virtualbox + pfsense 2.0 amd64 embedded kernel with no issues.

I'm not sure if embedded kernel will work the same way nanobsd on Compact Flash 2 Gb will do.

I found some posts on forum saying that is not easy to run nanobsd img on virtualbox, but I'm still trying..

marcelloc

hubsd,

Second test, first problem:

I've changed /etc/platform to nanobsd.
after a reboot mount -a returns:

/dev/ad0s1a on / (ufs, local, noatime, read-only, synchronous)
devfs on /dev (devfs, local)
/dev/md0 on /tmp (ufs, local)
/dev/md1 on /var (ufs, local)

So, read-only file system.

installed and configured pfblocker with no issues.

after a reboot,
I got the same error:


php: : The command '/sbin/pfctl -o basic -f /tmp/rules.debug' returned exit code '1', the output was 'no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:15: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerTopSpammers.txt" contains bad data pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded'
php: : New alert found: There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:15: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerTopSpammers.txt" contains bad data pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded The line in question reads [ /tmp/rules.debug]:
php: : There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:15: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerTopSpammers.txt" contains bad data pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded - The line in question reads [ /tmp/rules.debug]:

But, without saving any new config, I've looked at diagnostics-> table and pfBlockerTopSpammers was filled up normally, alias was there and firewall rules too.

So, Isn't it just a 'until boot finishes issue'?

Can you check if it happens the same way on your installation?

I know system alerts are annoying and have to be fixed but if package is still working, isn't it a minor issue?

Second problem:
boot takes 3 to 4 minutes.
it's a problem in fetch call that has no time out(or 01:15 timeout), I'll include a timeout patch to pfsense-tools.inc file on next release.

hubsd

Quick update, i exported my nanobsd config and imported it in a microdrive + classic embedded installation (so no nanobsd)

I can confirm that I have zero issue now and boot time takes 2 minutes.

So the problems I noticed are only while using nanobsd.

hubsd

@marcelloc:

hubsd,

Second test, first problem:

I've changed /etc/platform to nanobsd.
after a reboot mount -a returns:
/dev/ad0s1a on / (ufs, local, noatime, read-only, synchronous)
devfs on /dev (devfs, local)
/dev/md0 on /tmp (ufs, local)
/dev/md1 on /var (ufs, local)
So, read-only file system.

installed and configured pfblocker with no issues.

after a reboot,
I got the same error:
php: : The command '/sbin/pfctl -o basic -f /tmp/rules.debug' returned exit code '1', the output was 'no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:15: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerTopSpammers.txt" contains bad data pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded'
php: : New alert found: There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:15: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerTopSpammers.txt" contains bad data pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded The line in question reads [ /tmp/rules.debug]:
php: : There were error(s) loading the rules: no IP address found for grep: /tmp/rules.debug:15: file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerTopSpammers.txt" contains bad data pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded - The line in question reads [ /tmp/rules.debug]:
But, without saving any new config, I've looked at diagnostics-> table and pfBlockerTopSpammers was filled up normally, alias was there and firewall rules too.

So, Isn't it just a 'until boot finishes issue'?

Can you check if it happens the same way on your installation?

I know system alerts are annoying and have to be fixed but if package is still working, isn't it a minor issue?

Second problem:
boot takes 3 to 4 minutes.
it's a problem in fetch call that has no time out(or 01:15 timeout), I'll include a timeout patch to pfsense-tools.inc file on next release.

Just saw your answer, well the problem is only until boot finishes issue yes ! It slow down boot time + spam warning messages. pfBlocker works fine so yes it's not a major issue and is because of nanobsd …

marcelloc

Version 0.1.4.2 includes fixes to 3-9 minutes boot on embedded systems.

hubsd

thanks !

just installed pfsense and this tonight…. getting emails of this:

There were error(s) loading the rules: /tmp/rules.debug:17: cannot define table pfBlockerAfrica: Cannot allocate memory
/tmp/rules.debug:19: cannot define table pfBlockerAsia: Cannot allocate memory
/tmp/rules.debug:21: cannot define table pfBlockerEurope: Cannot allocate memory
/tmp/rules.debug:23: cannot define table pfBlockerNorthAmerica: Cannot allocate memory
/tmp/rules.debug:25: cannot define table pfBlockerOceania: Cannot allocate memory
/tmp/rules.debug:27: cannot define table pfBlockerSouthAmerica: Cannot allocate memory
/tmp/rules.debug:29: cannot define table pfBlockerTopSpammers: Cannot allocate memory
/tmp/rules.debug:31: cannot define table pfBlockerBlockedLists: Cannot allocate memory
pfctl: Syntax error in config file: pf rules not loaded The line in question reads [17]: table <pfblockerafrica>persist file "/var/db/aliastables/pfBlockerAfrica.txt"

:( how do I fix?

edit just figured out how to up my tables size. Upped it to 100mil.

I'm testing the ad blocking lists and they aren't blocking anything. All I've done was add the lists and tell it to deny_inbound. Is there anything else I should be doing to make this work? Thanks.

Also if anyone knows of any great ad lists to help me block all the advertisements I possibly can please do let me know! :)</pfblockerafrica>

marcelloc

While blocking adwares, proxies, spywares the default way is outbound

Take a look in ipblocklist, the are many lists there.

Also pay attention on direction.
If you want to do not access somewhere, the action is deny outbound.
If you want that someone in somewhere do not access your network, the action is deny inbound.

If 100mil means you Speaker portuguese, there is also a pfBlocker topic in portuguese forum.