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Groups > linux.debian.user > #200358 > unrolled thread

Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default

Started bySubhadip Ghosh <subhadip.sky@gmail.com>
First post2018-09-21 05:10 +0200
Last post2018-09-24 20:50 +0200
Articles 20 on this page of 85 — 22 participants

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Contents

  Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Subhadip Ghosh <subhadip.sky@gmail.com> - 2018-09-21 05:10 +0200
    Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Roberto C. Sánchez <roberto@debian.org> - 2018-09-21 05:30 +0200
      Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Subhadip Ghosh <subhadip.sky@gmail.com> - 2018-09-21 05:40 +0200
        Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Roberto C. Sánchez <roberto@debian.org> - 2018-09-21 05:50 +0200
          Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default deloptes <deloptes@gmail.com> - 2018-09-21 07:10 +0200
          Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Subhadip Ghosh <subhadip.sky@gmail.com> - 2018-09-21 19:40 +0200
        Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Dan Ritter <dsr@randomstring.org> - 2018-09-21 19:10 +0200
          Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Subhadip Ghosh <subhadip.sky@gmail.com> - 2018-09-21 19:40 +0200
            Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default deloptes <deloptes@gmail.com> - 2018-09-21 20:00 +0200
              Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Subhadip Ghosh <subhadip.sky@gmail.com> - 2018-09-21 20:10 +0200
                Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2018-09-21 21:40 +0200
            Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk> - 2018-09-21 21:50 +0200
            Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default mick crane <mick.crane@gmail.com> - 2018-09-23 01:10 +0200
              Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2018-09-23 20:00 +0200
                Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Joe <joe@jretrading.com> - 2018-09-23 23:00 +0200
                  Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2018-09-24 00:00 +0200
          Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-09-22 09:40 +0200
            Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2018-09-22 11:20 +0200
              Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-09-22 13:00 +0200
                Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Dan Ritter <dsr@randomstring.org> - 2018-09-22 13:40 +0200
                  Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-09-22 17:00 +0200
                    Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2018-09-22 20:20 +0200
                      Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Richard Hector <richard@walnut.gen.nz> - 2018-09-24 05:20 +0200
                        Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2018-09-24 05:30 +0200
                          Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default <tomas@tuxteam.de> - 2018-09-24 09:10 +0200
                            Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2018-09-24 11:00 +0200
                              Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default <tomas@tuxteam.de> - 2018-09-24 11:40 +0200
                                Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2018-09-24 14:20 +0200
                    Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Dan Ritter <dsr@randomstring.org> - 2018-09-22 20:30 +0200
                      Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2018-09-22 22:20 +0200
                        Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default <tomas@tuxteam.de> - 2018-09-22 22:40 +0200
                          Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2018-09-22 23:20 +0200
                          Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Simon Kengelbacher <simon.kengelbacher@mail.ch> - 2018-09-22 23:50 +0200
                            Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-09-23 00:00 +0200
                              Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Simon Kengelbacher <simon.kengelbacher@mail.ch> - 2018-09-23 00:20 +0200
                        SSH X forwarding going awry (Was: Why does Debian allow all incoming  traffic by default) Étienne Mollier <etienne.mollier@mailoo.org> - 2018-09-23 11:40 +0200
                          Re: SSH X forwarding going awry FIXED (Was: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default) Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2018-09-23 16:10 +0200
                            Re: SSH X forwarding going awry FIXED (Was: Why does Debian allow  all incoming traffic by default) Joe <joe@jretrading.com> - 2018-09-23 23:00 +0200
                              Re: SSH X forwarding going awry FIXED (Was: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default) Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2018-09-24 04:50 +0200
                        Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Jonathan Dowland <jmtd@debian.org> - 2018-09-24 21:00 +0200
                      Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-09-23 00:00 +0200
              Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Jonathan Dowland <jmtd@debian.org> - 2018-09-24 21:00 +0200
                Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Joe <joe@jretrading.com> - 2018-09-24 21:30 +0200
                  Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Jonathan Dowland <jmtd@debian.org> - 2018-09-26 15:50 +0200
                    Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Joe <joe@jretrading.com> - 2018-09-26 17:10 +0200
                      Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Jonathan Dowland <jmtd@debian.org> - 2018-09-26 19:30 +0200
            Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2018-09-22 15:50 +0200
              Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-09-22 16:50 +0200
          Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Jonathan Dowland <jmtd@debian.org> - 2018-09-24 20:50 +0200
    Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Henning Follmann <hfollmann@itcfollmann.com> - 2018-09-21 15:00 +0200
      Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Reco <recoverym4n@gmail.com> - 2018-09-21 18:30 +0200
        Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2018-09-21 20:20 +0200
          Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Reco <recoverym4n@gmail.com> - 2018-09-21 20:40 +0200
            Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2018-09-21 21:10 +0200
            Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default deloptes <deloptes@gmail.com> - 2018-09-21 23:20 +0200
              Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Reco <recoverym4n@gmail.com> - 2018-09-21 23:40 +0200
                Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2018-09-22 00:10 +0200
                  Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Reco <recoverym4n@gmail.com> - 2018-09-22 09:10 +0200
                    Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2018-09-22 15:50 +0200
            Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-09-22 09:50 +0200
              Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Reco <recoverym4n@gmail.com> - 2018-09-22 12:00 +0200
                Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-09-22 13:00 +0200
                  Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Reco <recoverym4n@gmail.com> - 2018-09-22 13:30 +0200
                  Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default <tomas@tuxteam.de> - 2018-09-22 22:00 +0200
                    Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca> - 2018-09-22 22:20 +0200
                      Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-09-22 23:40 +0200
            Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Henning Follmann <hfollmann@itcfollmann.com> - 2018-09-22 12:10 +0200
              Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Reco <recoverym4n@gmail.com> - 2018-09-22 12:40 +0200
              Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-09-22 13:10 +0200
      netstat (was: Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default) rhkramer@gmail.com - 2018-09-21 20:00 +0200
        Re: netstat Reco <recoverym4n@gmail.com> - 2018-09-21 20:20 +0200
          Re: netstat rhkramer@gmail.com - 2018-09-22 20:50 +0200
      Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Jonathan Dowland <jmtd@debian.org> - 2018-09-24 20:50 +0200
        Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Henning Follmann <hfollmann@itcfollmann.com> - 2018-09-24 21:30 +0200
          Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Jonathan Dowland <jmtd@debian.org> - 2018-09-26 15:50 +0200
    Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Pablo Álvarez Córdoba <pabloalvarezcordoba@protonmail.ch> - 2018-09-21 18:30 +0200
      Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Subhadip Ghosh <subhadip.sky@gmail.com> - 2018-09-21 19:30 +0200
    Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default songbird <songbird@anthive.com> - 2018-09-22 00:10 +0200
      Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Joe <joe@jretrading.com> - 2018-09-22 09:40 +0200
        Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-09-22 10:40 +0200
          Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Joe <joe@jretrading.com> - 2018-09-22 13:20 +0200
            Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-09-22 17:10 +0200
              Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Joe <joe@jretrading.com> - 2018-09-23 10:50 +0200
                Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-09-27 14:00 +0200
      Re: Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default Jonathan Dowland <jmtd@debian.org> - 2018-09-24 20:50 +0200

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#200358 — Why does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default

FromSubhadip Ghosh <subhadip.sky@gmail.com>
Date2018-09-21 05:10 +0200
SubjectWhy does Debian allow all incoming traffic by default
Message-ID<wAjZo-39S-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
Hi,

I am using Debian and the recently I learned that a standard Debian 
installation allows all 3 types of traffics especially incoming by 
default. I know I can easily use iptables to tighten the rules but I 
wanted to know the reasons behind the choice of this default behaviour 
and if it makes the system more vulnerable? I tried searching on the 
Internet but did not get any satisfactory explanation. It will be 
helpful if anybody knows the answers to my questions or can redirect me 
to a helpful document.

Thanks,
Subhadip

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#200359

FromRoberto C. Sánchez <roberto@debian.org>
Date2018-09-21 05:30 +0200
Message-ID<wAkiJ-3fB-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200358
On Fri, Sep 21, 2018 at 08:34:50AM +0530, Subhadip Ghosh wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I am using Debian and the recently I learned that a standard Debian
> installation allows all 3 types of traffics especially incoming by default.

What do you mean by "all 3 types of traffics"?

> I know I can easily use iptables to tighten the rules but I wanted to know
> the reasons behind the choice of this default behaviour and if it makes the
> system more vulnerable? 

The behavior you observe is likely because that is the best default that is
universally applicable.

> I tried searching on the Internet but did not get
> any satisfactory explanation. It will be helpful if anybody knows the
> answers to my questions or can redirect me to a helpful document.
> 
Where did you search or what terms did you use?

Regards,

-Roberto

-- 
Roberto C. Sánchez

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#200360

FromSubhadip Ghosh <subhadip.sky@gmail.com>
Date2018-09-21 05:40 +0200
Message-ID<wAksp-3ix-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200359
Hi Roberto,

On Friday 21 September 2018 08:51 AM, Roberto C. Sánchez wrote:
> On Fri, Sep 21, 2018 at 08:34:50AM +0530, Subhadip Ghosh wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I am using Debian and the recently I learned that a standard Debian
>> installation allows all 3 types of traffics especially incoming by default.
> What do you mean by "all 3 types of traffics"?
Incoming, Outgoing and Forward
>> I know I can easily use iptables to tighten the rules but I wanted to know
>> the reasons behind the choice of this default behaviour and if it makes the
>> system more vulnerable?
> The behavior you observe is likely because that is the best default that is
> universally applicable.
But does it make the system more vulnerable in any way to attacks over 
the network? And how will a new Debian user would know of this 
behaviour? I don't even see it mentioned on the Stretch Installation 
manual anywhere.
>
>> I tried searching on the Internet but did not get
>> any satisfactory explanation. It will be helpful if anybody knows the
>> answers to my questions or can redirect me to a helpful document.
>>
> Where did you search or what terms did you use?
Search engines (Google and Duckduckgo). Search terms were similar to the 
email subject line. I also read the wiki on Debian Firewall where it 
says about the choice of defaults but not the reasons.

Thanks,
Subhadip

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#200361

FromRoberto C. Sánchez <roberto@debian.org>
Date2018-09-21 05:50 +0200
Message-ID<wAkC5-3lx-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200360
On Fri, Sep 21, 2018 at 09:02:26AM +0530, Subhadip Ghosh wrote:
> Hi Roberto,
> 
> On Friday 21 September 2018 08:51 AM, Roberto C. Sánchez wrote:
> > On Fri, Sep 21, 2018 at 08:34:50AM +0530, Subhadip Ghosh wrote:
> > > Hi,
> > > 
> > > I am using Debian and the recently I learned that a standard Debian
> > > installation allows all 3 types of traffics especially incoming by default.
> > What do you mean by "all 3 types of traffics"?
> Incoming, Outgoing and Forward

I see.

Blocking incoming and forwarded traffic would probably not be surprising
to many people.  However, blocking outgoint traffic would be exceedingly
confusing to many people.

> > > I know I can easily use iptables to tighten the rules but I wanted to know
> > > the reasons behind the choice of this default behaviour and if it makes the
> > > system more vulnerable?
> > The behavior you observe is likely because that is the best default that is
> > universally applicable.
> But does it make the system more vulnerable in any way to attacks over the
> network? And how will a new Debian user would know of this behaviour? I
> don't even see it mentioned on the Stretch Installation manual anywhere.

I see.  Perhaps the Debian Administrator's Handbook, Chapter 14 is what
you are looking for:

https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-handbook/security.en.html

While there is possibly an argument that not configuring a firewall by
default introduces some vulnerability, it is equally valid to argue that
there are no sensible default firewall policies that can be put into
place without a defined threat model.

I suspect that the vast majority of people deploying systems are doing
so behind some sort of device that provides border security to the local
network (e.g., router/firewall/NAT/etc.).  So, if the default threat
model is "a relatively trusted network with adequate border security"
then the current default is appropriate.

Those who deploy systems directly to a location where they are in
immediate contact with the public Internet should already understand the
ramifications of that decision and tailor their installation process
accordingly.

Regards,

-Roberto

-- 
Roberto C. Sánchez

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#200366

Fromdeloptes <deloptes@gmail.com>
Date2018-09-21 07:10 +0200
Message-ID<wAlRw-4h3-9@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200361
Roberto C. Sánchez wrote:

> I suspect that the vast majority of people deploying systems are doing
> so behind some sort of device that provides border security to the local
> network (e.g., router/firewall/NAT/etc.).  So, if the default threat
> model is "a relatively trusted network with adequate border security"
> then the current default is appropriate.

I agree completely. The default policy in RedHat or CentOS is annoying. I
have to disable those every time after installation.

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#200390

FromSubhadip Ghosh <subhadip.sky@gmail.com>
Date2018-09-21 19:40 +0200
Message-ID<wAxzj-2ya-9@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200361
Hi Roberto,
> Blocking incoming and forwarded traffic would probably not be surprising
> to many people.  However, blocking outgoint traffic would be exceedingly
> confusing to many people.
Yep. Totally agreed.
> https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-handbook/security.en.html 
Thanks.
> While there is possibly an argument that not configuring a firewall by
> default introduces some vulnerability, it is equally valid to argue that
> there are no sensible default firewall policies that can be put into
> place without a defined threat model.
>
> I suspect that the vast majority of people deploying systems are doing
> so behind some sort of device that provides border security to the local
> network (e.g., router/firewall/NAT/etc.).  So, if the default threat
> model is "a relatively trusted network with adequate border security"
> then the current default is appropriate.
>
> Those who deploy systems directly to a location where they are in
> immediate contact with the public Internet should already understand the
> ramifications of that decision and tailor their installation process
> accordingly.

I don't disagree.

Thanks,
Subhadip

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#200387

FromDan Ritter <dsr@randomstring.org>
Date2018-09-21 19:10 +0200
Message-ID<wAx6h-2p2-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200360
On Fri, Sep 21, 2018 at 09:02:26AM +0530, Subhadip Ghosh wrote:
> Hi Roberto,
> 
> On Friday 21 September 2018 08:51 AM, Roberto C. Sánchez wrote:
> > On Fri, Sep 21, 2018 at 08:34:50AM +0530, Subhadip Ghosh wrote:
> > > Hi,
> > > 
> > > I am using Debian and the recently I learned that a standard Debian
> > > installation allows all 3 types of traffics especially incoming by default.
> > What do you mean by "all 3 types of traffics"?
> Incoming, Outgoing and Forward
> > > I know I can easily use iptables to tighten the rules but I wanted to know
> > > the reasons behind the choice of this default behaviour and if it makes the
> > > system more vulnerable?
> > The behavior you observe is likely because that is the best default that is
> > universally applicable.
> But does it make the system more vulnerable in any way to attacks over the
> network? And how will a new Debian user would know of this behaviour? I
> don't even see it mentioned on the Stretch Installation manual anywhere.
> > 
> > > I tried searching on the Internet but did not get
> > > any satisfactory explanation. It will be helpful if anybody knows the
> > > answers to my questions or can redirect me to a helpful document.
> > > 
> > Where did you search or what terms did you use?
> Search engines (Google and Duckduckgo). Search terms were similar to the
> email subject line. I also read the wiki on Debian Firewall where it says
> about the choice of defaults but not the reasons.

The basic reason is this: it makes sense.

Let's suppose Debian installs a basic firewall by default. How
basic? Let's say:

    - outbound: permit
    - forward: deny
    - inbound: accept NTP, DHCP, DNS, and any TCP packet which is a
      response to an outbound packet

Now, what should happen when a user installs an SSH daemon?
Should it automatically change the firewall? Of course,
otherwise everyone who installs SSH would discover that it
doesn't work.

How many packages now have to have scripts written to update the
firewall?

What happens when a user installs a multi-protocol daemon like
Dovecot? Does it automatically open POP, POP/S, IMAP and IMAP/S?
All of them? None of them?

There are an infinite number of questions to be asked, all of
which can be summarized as "please read the user's mind and find
out what they want". This is particularly difficult when the
user doesn't know what they want.

Remember, Debian isn't a laptop OS. Debian isn't a desktop OS.
Debian isn't a phone OS. Debian isn't a server OS. Debian isn't
a supercomputing OS. Debian isn't an embedded device OS.

Debian is a Universal OS. 

-dsr-

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#200389

FromSubhadip Ghosh <subhadip.sky@gmail.com>
Date2018-09-21 19:40 +0200
Message-ID<wAxzj-2ya-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200387
Hi Dan,
> The basic reason is this: it makes sense.
>
> Let's suppose Debian installs a basic firewall by default. How
> basic? Let's say:
>
>      - outbound: permit
>      - forward: deny
>      - inbound: accept NTP, DHCP, DNS, and any TCP packet which is a
>        response to an outbound packet
>
> Now, what should happen when a user installs an SSH daemon?
> Should it automatically change the firewall? Of course,
> otherwise everyone who installs SSH would discover that it
> doesn't work.
>
> How many packages now have to have scripts written to update the
> firewall?
>
> What happens when a user installs a multi-protocol daemon like
> Dovecot? Does it automatically open POP, POP/S, IMAP and IMAP/S?
> All of them? None of them?
>
> There are an infinite number of questions to be asked, all of
> which can be summarized as "please read the user's mind and find
> out what they want". This is particularly difficult when the
> user doesn't know what they want.
>
> Remember, Debian isn't a laptop OS. Debian isn't a desktop OS.
> Debian isn't a phone OS. Debian isn't a server OS. Debian isn't
> a supercomputing OS. Debian isn't an embedded device OS.
>
> Debian is a Universal OS.

I wouldn't say whatever you said, doesn't make sense. I wish there were 
an easier way to know about it when I started using the OS, something to 
warn me that I need to configure the firewall to suit my needs. Maybe 
because I came from a different OS where the defaults were stricter, my 
expectations about the defaults were different.

Thanks,
Subhadip

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#200392

Fromdeloptes <deloptes@gmail.com>
Date2018-09-21 20:00 +0200
Message-ID<wAxSG-2EA-5@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200389
Subhadip Ghosh wrote:

> something to
> warn me that I need to configure the firewall to suit my needs.

You mean the Windows warning "Your system is not protected"?

How mature shouldone be to know what it means to use the internet?

Where this message should come from?

Imagine I install 450MB debian as my firewall or server - no gui, or I
install debian with arbitrary desktop - who is going to do the warning.
If it is the installer, what should happen next - should I install something
or not and even if I install it and then I decide to use a different
solution - who is going to manage it?

It overcomplicates things.

I personally would be also glad to have some kind of handy firewall.

regards

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#200393

FromSubhadip Ghosh <subhadip.sky@gmail.com>
Date2018-09-21 20:10 +0200
Message-ID<wAy2l-2WV-9@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200392
> You mean the Windows warning "Your system is not protected"?
>
> How mature shouldone be to know what it means to use the internet?
>
> Where this message should come from?
The last thing I want is a Windows like warning. I expected more like a 
line in the Installation manual warning about the default firewall 
configuration.
> Imagine I install 450MB debian as my firewall or server - no gui, or I
> install debian with arbitrary desktop - who is going to do the warning.
> If it is the installer, what should happen next - should I install something
> or not and even if I install it and then I decide to use a different
> solution - who is going to manage it?
>
> It overcomplicates things.
>
> I personally would be also glad to have some kind of handy firewall.
There is a firewall program that comes installed by default in Debian. 
It's called iptables.

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#200399

FromBrian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk>
Date2018-09-21 21:40 +0200
Message-ID<wAzrs-3Ec-3@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200393
On Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 23:37:11 +0530, Subhadip Ghosh wrote:

> 
> > You mean the Windows warning "Your system is not protected"?
> > 
> > How mature shouldone be to know what it means to use the internet?
> > 
> > Where this message should come from?
> The last thing I want is a Windows like warning. I expected more like a line
> in the Installation manual warning about the default firewall configuration.

That's a fair enough comment. Perhaps an inquiry to -doc and/or -boot
might elicit some response.

-- 
Brian.

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#200400

FromDavid Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk>
Date2018-09-21 21:50 +0200
Message-ID<wAzB7-3Hn-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200389
On Fri 21 Sep 2018 at 22:59:57 (+0530), Subhadip Ghosh wrote:
> 
> Hi Dan,
> > The basic reason is this: it makes sense.
> > 
> > Let's suppose Debian installs a basic firewall by default. How
> > basic? Let's say:
> > 
> >      - outbound: permit
> >      - forward: deny
> >      - inbound: accept NTP, DHCP, DNS, and any TCP packet which is a
> >        response to an outbound packet
> > 
> > Now, what should happen when a user installs an SSH daemon?
> > Should it automatically change the firewall? Of course,
> > otherwise everyone who installs SSH would discover that it
> > doesn't work.
> > 
> > How many packages now have to have scripts written to update the
> > firewall?
> > 
> > What happens when a user installs a multi-protocol daemon like
> > Dovecot? Does it automatically open POP, POP/S, IMAP and IMAP/S?
> > All of them? None of them?
> > 
> > There are an infinite number of questions to be asked, all of
> > which can be summarized as "please read the user's mind and find
> > out what they want". This is particularly difficult when the
> > user doesn't know what they want.
> > 
> > Remember, Debian isn't a laptop OS. Debian isn't a desktop OS.
> > Debian isn't a phone OS. Debian isn't a server OS. Debian isn't
> > a supercomputing OS. Debian isn't an embedded device OS.
> > 
> > Debian is a Universal OS.
> 
> I wouldn't say whatever you said, doesn't make sense. I wish there
> were an easier way to know about it when I started using the OS,
> something to warn me that I need to configure the firewall to suit my
> needs. Maybe because I came from a different OS where the defaults
> were stricter, my expectations about the defaults were different.

The naive user is not going to know what to make of this warning,
so it will be as useless as Proposition 65. If/when they learn what
a firewall is, they should probably turn their attention firstly to
their router and modem combination and their ISP (particularly if it
"owns" the said devices).

OTOH default packet filtering on Debian machines could lead to an
explosion of support queries. That probably suits commercial providers
as they can then charge for their responses. Here, it just increases
the list traffic.

But if you're serious, the normal way is to write a suitable paragraph
and submit it as a wishlist bug against the debian-installer. Then it
might be discussed by people more expert than me.

Cheers,
David.

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#200459

Frommick crane <mick.crane@gmail.com>
Date2018-09-23 01:10 +0200
Message-ID<wAZce-1Ys-3@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200389
On 2018-09-21 18:29, Subhadip Ghosh wrote:
  Debian is a Universal OS.
> 
> I wouldn't say whatever you said, doesn't make sense. I wish there
> were an easier way to know about it when I started using the OS,
> something to warn me that I need to configure the firewall to suit my
> needs. Maybe because I came from a different OS where the defaults
> were stricter, my expectations about the defaults were different.
> 

fell foul of this years ago. installed OS, naively went on IRC while 
looking about at what was installed.
"oh, I seem to have ports open"
20 seconds later somebody took over my account"
Rapidly pulls cable and reinstalls.

Some sort of a warning during installation.
"there is no firewall running, You should probably set up some rules"

would be helpful.


mick


-- 
Key ID    4BFEBB31

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#200506

FromBrian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk>
Date2018-09-23 20:00 +0200
Message-ID<wBgPL-3IA-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200459
On Sun 23 Sep 2018 at 00:05:58 +0100, mick crane wrote:

> On 2018-09-21 18:29, Subhadip Ghosh wrote:
>  Debian is a Universal OS.
> > 
> > I wouldn't say whatever you said, doesn't make sense. I wish there
> > were an easier way to know about it when I started using the OS,
> > something to warn me that I need to configure the firewall to suit my
> > needs. Maybe because I came from a different OS where the defaults
> > were stricter, my expectations about the defaults were different.
> > 
> 
> fell foul of this years ago. installed OS, naively went on IRC while looking
> about at what was installed.
> "oh, I seem to have ports open"
> 20 seconds later somebody took over my account"

Tough.

> Rapidly pulls cable and reinstalls.

And never used IRC again. :)

> Some sort of a warning during installation.
> "there is no firewall running, You should probably set up some rules"
> 
> would be helpful.

The ordinary user's eyes would glaze over. The installation process is
ok as it is.

-- 
Brian.

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#200517

FromJoe <joe@jretrading.com>
Date2018-09-23 23:00 +0200
Message-ID<wBjDX-5n4-3@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200506
On Sun, 23 Sep 2018 18:58:07 +0100
Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> wrote:

> On Sun 23 Sep 2018 at 00:05:58 +0100, mick crane wrote:
> 
> > On 2018-09-21 18:29, Subhadip Ghosh wrote:
> >  Debian is a Universal OS.  
> > > 
> > > I wouldn't say whatever you said, doesn't make sense. I wish there
> > > were an easier way to know about it when I started using the OS,
> > > something to warn me that I need to configure the firewall to
> > > suit my needs. Maybe because I came from a different OS where the
> > > defaults were stricter, my expectations about the defaults were
> > > different. 
> > 
> > fell foul of this years ago. installed OS, naively went on IRC
> > while looking about at what was installed.
> > "oh, I seem to have ports open"
> > 20 seconds later somebody took over my account"  
> 
> Tough.
> 
> > Rapidly pulls cable and reinstalls.  
> 
> And never used IRC again. :)
> 
> > Some sort of a warning during installation.
> > "there is no firewall running, You should probably set up some
> > rules"
> > 
> > would be helpful.  
> 
> The ordinary user's eyes would glaze over. The installation process is
> ok as it is.
> 

There are firewall applications which can produce fairly sensible
defaults painlessly, towards which a hint might be made. If you need
more control, learn iptables early, you will eventually anyway.

-- 
Joe

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#200520

FromBrian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk>
Date2018-09-24 00:00 +0200
Message-ID<wBkA1-5Vi-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200517
On Sun 23 Sep 2018 at 21:59:38 +0100, Joe wrote:

> On Sun, 23 Sep 2018 18:58:07 +0100
> Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> > On Sun 23 Sep 2018 at 00:05:58 +0100, mick crane wrote:
> > 
> > > On 2018-09-21 18:29, Subhadip Ghosh wrote:
> > >  Debian is a Universal OS.  
> > > > 
> > > > I wouldn't say whatever you said, doesn't make sense. I wish there
> > > > were an easier way to know about it when I started using the OS,
> > > > something to warn me that I need to configure the firewall to
> > > > suit my needs. Maybe because I came from a different OS where the
> > > > defaults were stricter, my expectations about the defaults were
> > > > different. 
> > > 
> > > fell foul of this years ago. installed OS, naively went on IRC
> > > while looking about at what was installed.
> > > "oh, I seem to have ports open"
> > > 20 seconds later somebody took over my account"  
> > 
> > Tough.
> > 
> > > Rapidly pulls cable and reinstalls.  
> > 
> > And never used IRC again. :)
> > 
> > > Some sort of a warning during installation.
> > > "there is no firewall running, You should probably set up some
> > > rules"
> > > 
> > > would be helpful.  
> > 
> > The ordinary user's eyes would glaze over. The installation process is
> > ok as it is.
> > 
> 
> There are firewall applications which can produce fairly sensible
> defaults painlessly, towards which a hint might be made. If you need
> more control, learn iptables early, you will eventually anyway.

Such applications exist. They have never been part of a default
installation of Debian or ever mentioned. Deduce from that what
you will.

iptables is available. I've never needed to use it. The vast
majority of users won't need it either.

-- 
Brian.

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#200415

FromPascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org>
Date2018-09-22 09:40 +0200
Message-ID<wAKGd-1MF-5@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200387
Le 21/09/2018 à 19:09, Dan Ritter a écrit :
> 
> Let's suppose Debian installs a basic firewall by default. How
> basic? Let's say:
> 
>      - outbound: permit
>      - forward: deny
>      - inbound: accept NTP, DHCP, DNS, and any TCP packet which is a
>        response to an outbound packet

Why should unsolicited NTP, DHCP and DNS inbound packets be allowed ?

Why should only TCP inbound responses be allowed ? What about UDP-based 
protocols, ping replies (ICMP echo reply), ICMP error messages, and so on ?

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#200422

FromGene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net>
Date2018-09-22 11:20 +0200
Message-ID<wAMeZ-2Mf-5@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200415
On Saturday 22 September 2018 03:34:45 Pascal Hambourg wrote:

> Le 21/09/2018 à 19:09, Dan Ritter a écrit :
> > Let's suppose Debian installs a basic firewall by default. How
> > basic? Let's say:
> >
> >      - outbound: permit
> >      - forward: deny
> >      - inbound: accept NTP, DHCP, DNS, and any TCP packet which is a
> >        response to an outbound packet
>
> Why should unsolicited NTP, DHCP and DNS inbound packets be allowed ?
>
Because you can set an ntp corrected machine as a broadcaster, therefore 
reducing the load on the tier 2 servers such as debian maintains by 
using their pool.debian.org or the tier 1 servers at pool.ntp.org. That 
way I have 7 machines here, all synchronized to the first or 2nd tier of 
time servers on the planet. This machine is a slave to my router, it 
broadcasts to the other 6 machines, so I have all synched and well 
within a millisecond.

One could use his main machine that way.
Some routers can also serve as servers, dd-wrt installed  on a Buffalo 
NetFinity can also do this. So it has become the broadcaster to my all 
natted home network. I finally did that conversion last spring, cutting 
out the 2nd npt request traffic.

> Why should only TCP inbound responses be allowed ? What about
> UDP-based protocols, ping replies (ICMP echo reply), ICMP error
> messages, and so on ?

I probably should have iptables running on all my machines, but in 15 
years, only one person as gotten thru dd-wrt to this machine, and I had 
to give him the login credentials, I needed help configuring something, 
on a long since replaced fedora install.  So there is no firewall 
enabled on any of the machines here. And because everytime Andrew 
Triggel sits down at a keyboard cifs dies, same for NFS, I've found that 
ssh and sshfs as local networking tools Just Work, so I don't have to 
putz near as much with access maintenance. No NFS shares, no sammba/cifs 
shares.  And life is so much simpler.

Computers should work for you, not the other way around, forcing you to 
remember how to push 17 buttons just to answer an incoming email.  This 
message only required 1 button click and all this typing. Everything 
else is handled automatically by scripts.

-- 
Cheers, Gene Heskett
--
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
 soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
-Ed Howdershelt (Author)
Genes Web page <http://geneslinuxbox.net:6309/gene>

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#200426

FromPascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org>
Date2018-09-22 13:00 +0200
Message-ID<wANNL-3x4-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200422
Le 22/09/2018 à 11:12, Gene Heskett a écrit :
> On Saturday 22 September 2018 03:34:45 Pascal Hambourg wrote:
> 
>> Le 21/09/2018 à 19:09, Dan Ritter a écrit :
>>> Let's suppose Debian installs a basic firewall by default. How
>>> basic? Let's say:
>>>
>>>       - outbound: permit
>>>       - forward: deny
>>>       - inbound: accept NTP, DHCP, DNS, and any TCP packet which is a
>>>         response to an outbound packet
>>
>> Why should unsolicited NTP, DHCP and DNS inbound packets be allowed ?
>>
> Because you can set an ntp corrected machine as a broadcaster

Does the client NTP daemon accepts inbound broadcast messages from any 
source by default ? If so, this seems quite insecure to me and the 
firewall should not allow this by default. If not, it requires some 
configuration, and allowing inbound NTP broadcast from the broadcaster 
address only should be part of this configuration.

>> Why should only TCP inbound responses be allowed ? What about
>> UDP-based protocols, ping replies (ICMP echo reply), ICMP error
>> messages, and so on ?
> 
> I probably should have iptables running on all my machines, but in 15
> years, only one person as gotten thru dd-wrt to this machine, and I had
> to give him the login credentials, I needed help configuring something,
> on a long since replaced fedora install.  So there is no firewall
> enabled on any of the machines here. And because everytime Andrew
> Triggel sits down at a keyboard cifs dies, same for NFS, I've found that
> ssh and sshfs as local networking tools Just Work, so I don't have to
> putz near as much with access maintenance. No NFS shares, no sammba/cifs
> shares.  And life is so much simpler.
> 
> Computers should work for you, not the other way around, forcing you to
> remember how to push 17 buttons just to answer an incoming email.  This
> message only required 1 button click and all this typing. Everything
> else is handled automatically by scripts.

I do not see how all this replies to my question :

Why should only TCP inbound responses be allowed ? What about UDP-based 
protocols, ping replies (ICMP echo reply), ICMP error messages, and so on ?

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#200431

FromDan Ritter <dsr@randomstring.org>
Date2018-09-22 13:40 +0200
Message-ID<wAOqt-3Yr-9@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#200426
On Sat, Sep 22, 2018 at 12:55:24PM +0200, Pascal Hambourg wrote:
> I do not see how all this replies to my question :
> 
> Why should only TCP inbound responses be allowed ? What about UDP-based
> protocols, ping replies (ICMP echo reply), ICMP error messages, and so on ?

Given that my entire point was that no firewall policy other
than "configure it yourself" will work, it's really you missing
the point to expect me to describe a complete firewall policy tuned
to your desires.

-dsr-

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