Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    Considering 1:1 NAT security with Virtuals IPs

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved NAT
    2 Posts 2 Posters 791 Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • S
      sallain
      last edited by

      Hi All,

      Quiet new with pfsense, I watched this video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrBr0N0WrTY detailing 1:1 NAT + Virtual IP's.

      The video explains HowTo use several public IP's and 1:1 NAT + firewall rules associated.

      As 1:1 NAT exposes the target server, is the associated firewall rule that will allow only a certain traffic (HTTP as an example) should be completed by a second rule that will block everything, expect HTTP as described ?

      In real terms, is there a risk with a such configuration or not ? Is 1:1 NAT + firewall rule to be considered safe ?

      Sorry if this question might be consider as a dummy one, but I will appreciate your nice replies ;-)

      Regards

      PS
      pfsense Definitive Guide says :

      Just keep this fact in mind when configuring your firewall rules, and as always, avoid permitting anything that is not required.

      Do you add personally a firewall rule WAN to LAN that will Block everything as default ? And then adding rules to allow some traffic when 1:1 NAT is used ?

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • P
        podilarius
        last edited by

        Without firewall rules, a 1:1 NAT rule only redirects and does not expose the protected resource. I know it says in the book (probably near the front) that everything is blocked unless expressly allowed by a rule. This does not apply to float rules though.
        Port forward rules by themselves won't expose a protected resource. The default now is to create a rules automatically when you create the port forward rule.
        I use 1:1 rules all the time without any problems.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • First post
          Last post
        Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.