Advanced Policy Firewall
Login to your server via shell as the root user.
Download the APF version 0.9.7-1 (most current version todate) to your system
bash# wget http://www.rfxnetworks.com/downloads/apf-current.tar.gz
Now you have to extract the tar file
bash# tar -zxf apf-current.tar.gz
Go to the APF directory
bash# cd apf-0.9.7-1
Run the code for installation
bash# ./install.sh
You will be alerted when the installation is complete.
Install path : /etc/apf
Config path : /etc/apf/conf.apf
Executable path : /usr/local/sbin/apf
Modify the APF config file according to your user defined requirements.
bash# vi /etc/apf/conf.apf
(Hit i to enter the INSERT mode)
Add in the ports you want to open for inbound (INGRES).
# Common ingress (inbound) TCP ports
IG_TCP_CPORTS="20,21,22,25,26,53,80,110,143,443,465,993,
995,2082,2083,2086,2087,2095,2096,3306,6666"
# Common ingress (inbound) UDP ports
IG_UDP_CPORTS="21,53,465,873"
# Common ICMP (inbound) types
IG_ICMP_TYPES="3,5,11,0,30,8"
The variables mentioned above are already present in the configuration file. You can customize the ports.
You have to particularly instruct APF to monitor outgoing (EGRESS) ports as well.
Change the line: EGF="0" to EGF="1"
Specify the outbound ports to monitor.
# Common egress (outbound) TCP ports
EG_TCP_CPORTS="21,22,25,26,37,43,53,80,110,113,443,465,873,2089,3306"
# Common egress (outbound) UDP ports
EG_UDP_CPORTS="20,21,53,465,873"
# Common ICMP (outbound) types
EG_ICMP_TYPES="all"
Specify the ports you want to block, if any.
The allow and deny trust files are located at:
/etc/apf/allow_hosts.rules
/etc/apf/deny_hosts.rules
You just have to list the ip's that you specifically wish to allow or deny in the respective files.
The format of these files are line-separated addresses, IP masking is supported.
Example:
24.202.16.11
24.202.11.0/24
Save and exit - hit 'esc' :wq 'enter'
Start APF
bash# /usr/local/sbin/apf -s
If all goes well, edit the config file and change the developer mode to 0
bash# vi /etc/apf/conf.apf
(Hit i to enter insert mode)
Change DEVM="1" to DEVM="0"
Save and quit - Hit 'esc' :wq 'enter'
Restart APF
bash# /usr/local/sbin/apf -r
This is a list of ports you may want to exclude as they are required for the usage of Cpanel
1 & 111 Portscanner (to detect scans)
20 ftp tcp inbound/outbound
21 ftp tcp,udp inbound/outbound
22 ssh tcp inbound
25 smtp tcp inbound/outbound
26 smtp tcp inbound/outbound
(this port is only needed to be open if the option in cpanel to run exim on port 26 is used.)
37 rdate tcp outbound
43 whois tcp outbound
53 DNS tcp/udp inbound/outbound
(inbound is only needed if you run your own public DNS server)
80 http tcp inbound/outbound
110 pop3 tcp inbound
113 ident tcp outbound
143 imap4 tcp inbound
443 https tcp inbound
465 smtp tls/ssl tcp/udp inbound/outbound
873 rsync tcp/udp outbound
993 imap4 ssl tcp inbound
995 pop3 ssl tcp inbound
2082 cpanel tcp inbound
2083 cpanel ssl tcp inbound
2086 whm tcp inbound/(outbound for DNS cluster)
2087 whm ssl tcp inbound/(outbound for DNS cluster)
2089 cp licence tcp outbound (see below*)
2095 Webmail tcp inbound
2096 Webmail SSL tcp inbound
3306 mysql tcp (only if you need to connect remotely)
6666 chat tcp inbound
9898 AIM tcp outbound
