Blocking sites with PF?

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I recently switched to pf from ipfw and trying to figure out how to block a list of sites from a file? I tried google, but must be using the wrong keywords.

In ipfw I just had a list of sites: /etc/badguys.txt and had a simple bash script to loop though and do this for each line:

Code:
ipfw add $id deny ip from any to "$url"

Is there a way to do this with pf?

The list changes a lot, so don't want to hardcode it in /etc/pf.conf
 
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pf(4) has support for persistent tables, at least of IP addresses. Haven't tried domain names or URLs, but be aware that domain names don't always resolve to the same IP.
 
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Reactions: sdf
Maybe not an answer to your question, but use squid proxy/dansguardian for content filtering, way more effective than to let firewall do this.
 
bbzz said:
Maybe not an answer to your question, but use squid proxy/dansguardian for content filtering, way more effective than to let firewall do this.

We do have squid and block some sites though that; but we need to block more than websites. For example, one user got a virus that keeps "calling home" and needed a quick way to just stop all that traffic. There is nothing valid on that IP that anyone needed, so a way to block all traffic would have been quite useful.
 
wblock@ said:
pf(4) has support for persistent tables, at least of IP addresses. Haven't tried domain names or URLs, but be aware that domain names don't always resolve to the same IP.

Thanks, I've been trying that; but hasn't been working:

/etc/pf.conf
Code:
table <blockedips> persist file "/etc/pf.blocked.ip.conf"

ext_if="em0"
int_if="em1"
int_net="{ 192.168.17.0/24 }"

set skip on lo
scrub in

nat on $ext_if from $int_net to any -> ($ext_if)

block in
block drop in log (all) quick on $ext_if from <blockedips> to any
block drop out log (all) quick on $ext_if from <blockedips> to any
pass out

pass quick on $int_if no state
antispoof quick for { lo $int_if }

# allow dns queries on local
pass out on $int_if proto udp from any to any port 53 keep state

# ssh
pass in on $ext_if proto tcp to ($ext_if) port ssh
# http
pass in on $ext_if proto tcp to ($ext_if) port http
pass in on $ext_if proto tcp to ($ext_if) port https

#pass out on $ext_if inet proto icmp from any to ($ext_if) icmp-type { unreach,redir,timex }

/etc/pf.blocked.ip.conf has one IP address (for testing).

I reloaded rules with /etc/rc.d/pf reload - but still can get to that IP. Ping, tcp port 80, are all still accessible.

I also tried adding the block statements to bottom, but same result. Any ideas?
 
Version of FreeBSD may be important, pf(4) varies.

On FreeBSD 8, I have
Code:
block in quick on $ext_if from <annoyingips> to any

The "to" and "from" on your second rule look backwards.
 
It's RELENG_9_0, not sure what version of pf (whatever is the default).

If I change to/from I get a syntax error
Code:
/etc/pf.conf:21: syntax error
 
Hello, change

Code:
block drop out log (all) quick on $ext_if from <blockedips> to any

to
Code:
block drop out log (all) quick on $ext_if from any to <blockedips>

Regards,
CoTones
 
feralape said:
We do have squid and block some sites though that; but we need to block more than websites. For example, one user got a virus that keeps "calling home" and needed a quick way to just stop all that traffic. There is nothing valid on that IP that anyone needed, so a way to block all traffic would have been quite useful.

Quick solution, block all outgoing traffic. Force everyone through a proxy and only allow the proxy to connect to the internet. Use proper content filtering on the proxy.

Malware tends to contact its command & control servers directly. Same for any spamming, the malware will try to deliver the email directly to the receiving mailservers. For this reason you shouldn't allow any machine direct access to the internet. That way you keep control on what's going in or out your network.
 
CoTones said:
Hello, change

Code:
block drop out log (all) quick on $ext_if from <blockedips> to any

to
Code:
block drop out log (all) quick on $ext_if from any to <blockedips>

Regards,
CoTones

Thanks! That worked like a charm.
 
SirDice said:
Quick solution, block all outgoing traffic. Force everyone through a proxy and only allow the proxy to connect to the internet.

Depends on the environment, but here that won't be a quick solution as it could be potentially high impact and far reaching.. We would need approvals, testing and all sorts of red tape. It's a viable long term solution though.
 
That quote is from a long time ago, and the person is unlikely to respond. I just updated to give this thread an answer for closure.

...
But I use pf because there's more documentation available, it has more features, and it comes from a security oriented operating system. I use it in conjunction with IPFW and one of it's generic configuration. IPF was replaced by PF, so I see it as obsolete specifically for a BSD environment.
 
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