PfBlocker not updating after initial list download and only trying once a day

mallwri

Hello.

pfSense 2.1 and pfBlock 1.02 on both standard 32-bit and NanoBSD releases do not update lists after initial download and only update once a day at 12h30 inspite of being set to update every 12 hours.

The logs say:

Oct 20 12:30:44 php: rc.update_urltables: /etc/rc.update_urltables: pfBlockerMDL does not need updated.
Oct 20 12:30:44 php: rc.update_urltables: /etc/rc.update_urltables: pfBlockerET does not need updated.
Oct 20 12:30:44 php: rc.update_urltables: /etc/rc.update_urltables: pfBlockerDShield10 does not need updated.
Oct 20 12:30:44 php: rc.update_urltables: /etc/rc.update_urltables: pfBlockerSpamHausDrop does not need updated.

the "crontab" file only has an entry that will trigger at 12h30:

30 12 * * * root /usr/bin/nice -n20 /etc/rc.update_urltables

And it is set to update every 12 hours in the configuration XML file.

The number of CIDRs has not changed for any of the list since first installing pfBlocker about 6 weeks ago. The log always indicates "does not need updated"; I have manually download the current lists and they have changed since the initial version.

Anybody else seeing this? I have disabled and re-enabled pfBlocker - no change. Rebooting - no change. Tried on
different hardware (also 2.1 pfSense) - same result. Anybody have any other ideas to fix this?

Thanks.

Mark.

marcelloc

Did you tried to change update frequency on list configuration tab? ???

mallwri

Hello.

Yes I tried that. See the attached image. Both systems were previously on pfSense 2.0 and upgraded to pfSense 2.1 before the pfBlocker package was installed. Only package I have installed is pfBlocker. I do have some rules that have time schedules but the rest is pretty standard both boxes.

In the XML configuration code the "updatefreq" is "32" for pfBlocker; seems an odd value for 12 hours.

-<aliases>-<alias><name>pfBlockerET</name><url>https://127.0.0.1:443/pfblocker.php?pfb=pfBlockerET</url><updatefreq>32</updatefreq>

<address>-<type>urltable</type>- <detail></detail> -<alias><name>pfBlockerMDL</name><url>https://127.0.0.1:443/pfblocker.php?pfb=pfBlockerMDL</url><updatefreq>32</updatefreq>

<address>-<type>urltable</type>- <detail></detail>

And the snip for the "crontab":

-<minute>30</minute><hour>12</hour><mday></mday><month></month><wday>*</wday><who>root</who><command></command>/usr/bin/nice -n20 /etc/rc.update_urltables

And the pfBlocker snip:

<menu><name>pfBlocker</name><tooltiptext>Configure pfblocker</tooltiptext>Firewall<url>/pkg_edit.php?xml=pfblocker.xml</url></menu>

-<tab><text>General</text><url>/pkg_edit.php?xml=pfblocker.xml&id=0</url><active></active></tab>-<pfblocker>-<config><enable_cb>on</enable_cb><enable_log>on</enable_log><inbound_interface>wan</inbound_interface><inbound_deny_action>block</inbound_deny_action><outbound_interface>opt1,opt2,opt3,opt4,opt5</outbound_interface><outbound_deny_action>reject</outbound_deny_action><credits><donation></donation></credits></config></pfblocker>-<pfblockerlists>-<config><aliasname>ET</aliasname>--<row><format>txt</format><url>http://rules.emergingthreats.net/fwrules/emerging-Block-IPs.txt</url></row>-<row><format>txt</format><url>http://rules.emergingthreats.net/blockrules/compromised-ips.txt</url></row><action>Deny_Both</action><cron>12hours</cron></config>-<config><aliasname>MDL</aliasname>--<row><format>txt</format><url>http://www.malwaredomainlist.com/hostslist/ip.txt</url></row><action>Deny_Both</action><cron>12hours</cron></config></pfblockerlists>

Thanks.

Mark.

pfblocker001.png_thumb </address></alias> </address></alias></aliases>

marcelloc

Did you enabled pfblocker on general tab?

I've tested on 2.1 and it's working fine.

mallwri

Hello.

pfBlocker is enabled in the general tab.

Looking at "ls -l /var/db/aliastables" it is clear the tables are being updated. There does not appear to be a direct log entry for each table with a "updated" or "does not need updated" entry for each time this runs; I guess this is what initially confused me.

What I do not understand is why there is an additional update at 12h30 every day with a "updated" or "does not need updated" log entry every day. There is an entry in the "/etc/crontab" file that starts this process.

Thanks for the help.

Mark.

marcelloc

This is a system update for url tables. It's not related to pfblocker update code.

if you can see a pfblocker php on cron tab, then it's working fine.

mallwri

Hello.

OK, that makes sense.

In summary pfBlocker is working fine with pfSense 2.1.

Thanks for the help.

Mark.

MarkVLK

I'm actually seeing the same issue on 2.1.4

In the system logs, it says none of the three lists that I have need updating but I've compared the rules of at least one of the lists to the actual list at the link I provided it and the IPs are not the same. I had it set to update every 24 hours but changed it to 12 hours though seems like nothing has changed and the IPs are still outdated.

ashes00

@MarkVLK:

I'm actually seeing the same issue on 2.1.4

In the system logs, it says none of the three lists that I have need updating but I've compared the rules of at least one of the lists to the actual list at the link I provided it and the IPs are not the same. I had it set to update every 24 hours but changed it to 12 hours though seems like nothing has changed and the IPs are still outdated.

MarkVLK - I'm seeing the same thing on 2.1.3. None of the lists are updating even thought their file date changes. DI you ever find a solution to this? Thanks
Ash,

MarkVLK

@ashes00:

@MarkVLK:

I'm actually seeing the same issue on 2.1.4

In the system logs, it says none of the three lists that I have need updating but I've compared the rules of at least one of the lists to the actual list at the link I provided it and the IPs are not the same. I had it set to update every 24 hours but changed it to 12 hours though seems like nothing has changed and the IPs are still outdated.

MarkVLK - I'm seeing the same thing on 2.1.3. None of the lists are updating even thought their file date changes. DI you ever find a solution to this? Thanks
Ash,

Unfortunately I have not yet found a solution. The lists do appear to update occasionally, just not every time. Not sure what's causing this behavior.

ashes00

@MarkVLK:

@ashes00:

@MarkVLK:

I'm actually seeing the same issue on 2.1.4

In the system logs, it says none of the three lists that I have need updating but I've compared the rules of at least one of the lists to the actual list at the link I provided it and the IPs are not the same. I had it set to update every 24 hours but changed it to 12 hours though seems like nothing has changed and the IPs are still outdated.

MarkVLK - I'm seeing the same thing on 2.1.3. None of the lists are updating even thought their file date changes. DI you ever find a solution to this? Thanks
Ash,

Unfortunately I have not yet found a solution. The lists do appear to update occasionally, just not every time. Not sure what's causing this behavior.

MarkVLK - Quick Question are you using an embedded version (NANO)?
Ash,

tobi64

I see this behaviour on the embedded version 2.1.5 (nanobsd) whenever the media read/write status is read-only.

ashes00

@tobi64:

I see this behaviour on the embedded version 2.1.5 (nanobsd) whenever the media read/write status is read-only.

tobi64 - Thanks for the heads up. I am starting to think this is a NANO platform related issue. I have changed my NANO file system to RW, and tried the rc.updatealiastables command, and nothing changes. I ordered a SSD, and will be installing the Full version, and testing against that in the coming weeks.

tobi64

May be I'm wrong, but in my eyes the command 'rc.updatealiastables' has nothing to do with pfblocker. The periodically update uses the command 'php -q /usr/local/www/pfblocker.php cron'. I tried it on page 'Diagnostics / Command Prompt' without success. But it works over ssh using Putty.exe. But only if the media read/write status is read-write.

ashes00

tobi64 - I found in the pf forums that pfblocker relies on pfsense to do the actual list update. That command was the one that people were using to force update the URL alias lists. I think its broke as it has never forked for me though. Ill continue with my plan to swap out pfsense HDD with Full install HDD, and continue trouble shooting.

On another note….. I have another PFsense (Full Install) that just had every list, other than Country lists, disappear in all location (Aliases>URLs, PFblocker widget, and /var/db/aliatables/*. They are still referenced in Firewall>Pf blocker>lists though!?! WTH Getting tired of this PFblocker acting like a fool. I think I'm just going to add/remove the package,and set it up from fresh. Grrrr...

BBcan177

Hi ashes00,

@ashes00:

tobi64 - I found in the pf forums that pfblocker relies on pfsense to do the actual list update.

pfBlocker should update on its own. the rc.update_urltables will update once every 32 days only.

What settings are you using for the "Action" in the Alias TAB?

On another note….. I have another PFsense (Full Install) that just had every list, other than Country lists, disappear in all location (Aliases>URLs, PFblocker widget, and /var/db/aliatables/*. They are still referenced in Firewall>Pf blocker>lists though!?! WTH Getting tired of this PFblocker acting like a fool. I think I'm just going to add/remove the package,and set it up from fresh. Grrrr...

From the comment above, either pfBlocker was Disabled, or the Action is set as "Disabled" or the Update Frequency is set to "Never"

If that is not the case, reply back…

ashes00

BBcan177 - Thanks for responding! :)

What settings are you using for the "Action" in the Alias TAB?

General Settings TAB Inbound Action = Block, and Outbound action - reject. Lists TAB Deny_Both for all but 1 list.

From the comment above, either pfBlocker was Disabled, or the Action is set as "Disabled" or the Update Frequency is set to "Never"

If that is not the case, reply back… --> This is my 2nd pfsense,and the actions are the same as 1st pfsesne system.

My update frequency is always set to 4 Hours for both pfsense routers.

Hope this helps.

Also I have upgraded pfsesne unit 1 from NANO build v2.1.3 to Full Install v2.1.5 on Friday night. I still have 2 lists that are not updating to what www.iblocklist.com says the CIDRs count should equal. Lists not updating = spyware and hijacked (bluetrack version).

Ash

BBcan177

Which lists are you having issues with? What are you expecting the count to be?

ashes00

@BBcan177:

Which lists are you having issues with? What are you expecting the count to be?

1. I am using the following iblocklist.com lists. (with a paid subscription)

hijacked - Bluetack (p2p, gz) [Number of ranges = 496, Last updated 11/11/14]
spyware - Bluetrack (p2p, gz) [Number of ranges = 3201, Last updated 11/11/14]

On 2 different PFsense systems report the following CIDR counts

PF01 (Full install v2.1.5)
hijacked = 536 CIDRs
spyware = 3565 CIDRs

PF02 (Full install v2.1.3)
hijacked = 536 CIDRs
spyware = 3565 CIDRs

I am expecting to see the following on both PFsense systems.
hijacked = 496 CIDRs
spyware = 3201 CIDRs

2. Side note, what is the best/proper iblocklist.com (paid subscription) File Format? p2p, dat, cidr, or hosts? I picked p2p after reading tons of PFsense PFblocker threads, but not 100% sure what the best choice is here.

3. Also thanks so much for all you do. From what I read you seem to be leading the path for the rebirth/redesign of PFBLOCKER. Keep up the great work, and THANK YOU!!!!!! Is there anytime line on when the newer PFBLOCKER might come out in "Available Packages"?

Ash

BBcan177

You would use p2p,gz format.

With my version of pfBlockerNG, I have the following counts for those Lists:

http://list.iblocklist.com/?list=usrcshglbiilevmyfhse&fileformat=p2p&archiveformat=gz
wc -l IBlock_BT_Hijack.orig
536 IBlock_BT_Hijack.orig

http://list.iblocklist.com/?list=llvtlsjyoyiczbkjsxpf&fileformat=p2p&archiveformat=gz
wc -l IBlock_BT_Spy.orig
3565 IBlock_BT_Spy.orig

If you want to help Beta Test, send me a PM. The Devs are busy with 2.2, so when they have time I hope they will review.