ASA 8.x : VPN Access with the AnyConnect VPN Client Using Self-Signed Certificate Configuration Example

Introduction

This document describes how to use self-signed certificates to allow remote access SSL VPN connections to the ASA from the Cisco AnyConnect 2.0 client.

Prerequisites

Requirements

Ensure that you meet these requirements before you attempt this configuration:

• Basic ASA configuration that runs software version 8.0

• ASDM 6.0(2)

Components Used

The information in this document is based on these software and hardware versions:

• Cisco ASA 8.0(2), ASDM 6.0 (2)

• Cisco AnyConnect 2.0

Conventions

Refer to Cisco Technical Tips Conventions for more information on document conventions.

Background Information

The Cisco AnyConnect 2.0 client is an SSL-based VPN client. The AnyConnect client can be utilized and installed on a variety of operating systems, such as Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Linux (Multiple Distros) and MAC OS X. The AnyConnect client can be installed manually on the remote PC by the system administrator. It can also be loaded onto the security appliance and made ready for download to remote users. After the application is downloaded, it can automatically uninstall itself after the connection terminates, or it can remain on the remote PC for future SSL VPN connections. This example makes the AnyConnect client ready to download upon successful browser-based SSL authentication.

For more information on the AnyConnect 2.0 client, refer to AnyConnect 2.0 Release Notes.

Note: MS Terminal Services is not supported in conjunction with the AnyConnect client. You cannot RDP to a computer and then initiate an AnyConnect session. You cannot RDP to a client that is connected via AnyConnect.

Note: The first installation of AnyConnect requires the user to have admin rights (whether you use the standalone AnyConnect msi package or push the pkg file from the ASA). If the user does not have admin rights, a dialog box appears that states this requirement. Subsequent upgrades will not require the user that installed AnyConnect previously to have admin rights.

Configure

In order to configure the ASA for VPN access using the AnyConnect client, complete these steps:

1. Configure a Self-Issued Certificate.

2. Upload and Identify the SSL VPN Client Image.

3. Enable Anyconnect Access.

4. Create a new Group Policy.

5. Configure Access List Bypass for VPN Connections.

6. Create a Connection Profile and Tunnel Group for the AnyConnect Client Connections.

7. Configure NAT Exemption for AnyConnect Clients.

8. Add Users to the Local Database.

Step 1. Configure a Self-Issued Certificate

By default, the security appliance has a self-signed certificate that is regenerated every time the device is rebooted. You can purchase your own certificate from vendors, such as Verisign or EnTrust, or you can configure the ASA to issue an identity certificate to itself. This certificate remains the same even when the device is rebooted. Complete this step in order to generate a self-issued certificate that persists when the device is rebooted.

ASDM Procedure

1. Click Configuration, and then click Remote Access VPN.

2. Expand Certificate Management, and then choose Identity Certificates.

3. Click Add, and then click the Add a new identity certificate radio button.

4. Click New.

5. In the Add Key Pair dialog box, click the Enter new key pair name radio button.

6. Enter a name to identify the keypair.

   This example uses sslvpnkeypair.

7. Click Generate Now.

8. In the Add Identity Certificate dialog box, ensure the newly created key pair is selected.

9. For Certificate Subject DN, enter the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) that will be used to connect to the VPN terminating interface.

   CN=sslvpn.cisco.com

10. Click Advanced, and enter the FQDN used for the Certificate Subject DN field.

    For example, FQDN: sslvpn.cisco.com

11. Click OK.

12. Check the Generate Self Signed Certificate check box, and click Add Certificate.

13. Click OK.

14. Click Configuration, and then click Remote Access VPN.

15. Expand Advanced, and choose SSL Settings.

16. In the Certificates area, choose the interface that will be used to terminate the SSL VPN (outside), and click Edit.

17. In the Certificate drop-down list, choose the self-signed certificate that you generated earlier.

18. Click OK, and then click Apply.

Command Line Example

ciscoasa(config)#crypto key generate rsa label sslvpnkeypair
INFO: The name for the keys will be: sslvpnkeypair
Keypair generation process begin. Please wait...

!--- Generate an RSA key for the certificate. (The name should be unique. !--- For example, sslvpnkeypair.)

ciscoasa(config)#crypto ca trustpoint localtrust

!--- Create a trustpoint for the self-issued certificate.

ciscoasa(config-ca-trustpoint)#enrollment self
ciscoasa(config-ca-trustpoint)#fqdn sslvpn.cisco.com
ciscoasa(config-ca-trustpoint)#subject-name CN=sslvpn.cisco.com

!--- The fully qualified domain name is used for both fqdn and CN. !--- The name should resolve to the ASA outside interface IP address.

ciscoasa(config-ca-trustpoint)#keypair sslvpnkeypair

!--- The RSA key is assigned to the trustpoint for certificate creation. 

ciscoasa(config-ca-trustpoint)#crypto ca enroll localtrust noconfirm
% The fully-qualified domain name in the certificate will be: sslvpn.cisco.com
ciscoasa(config)# ssl trust-point localtrust outside

!--- Assign the trustpoint to be used for SSL connections on the outside interface.

Step 2. Upload and Identify the SSL VPN Client Image

This document uses the AnyConnect SSL 2.0 client. You can obtain this client at the Cisco Software Download Website. A separate Anyconnect image is required for each operating system that remote users plan to use. For more information, refer to Cisco AnyConnect 2.0 Release Notes.

Once you obtain the AnyConnect client, complete these steps:

ASDM Procedure

1. Click Configuration, and then click Remote Access VPN.

2. Expand Network (Client) Access, and then expand Advanced.

3. Expand SSL VPN, and choose Client Settings.

4. In the SSL VPN Client Images area, click Add, and then click Upload.

5. Browse to the location where you downloaded the AnyConnect client.

6. Select the file, and click Upload File.

   Once the client uploads, you receive a message that states the file was uploaded to flash successully.

7. Click OK.

   A dialog box appears to confirm that you want to use the newly uploaded image as the current SSL VPN client image.

8. Click OK.

9. Click OK, and then click Apply.

10. Repeat the steps in this section for each operating system-specific Anyconnect package that you want to use.

Command Line Example

ciscoasa(config)#copy tftp://192.168.50.5/anyconnect-win-2.0.0343-k9.pkg flash

Address or name of remote host [192.168.50.5]?

Source filename [anyconnect-win-2.0.0343-k9.pkg]?

Destination filename [anyconnect-win-2.0.0343-k9.pkg]?

Accessing tftp://192.168.50.5/anyconnect-win-2.0.0343-k9.pkg...!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Writing file disk0:/anyconnect-win-2.0.0343-k9.pkg...
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2635734 bytes copied in 4.480 secs (658933 bytes/sec)

!--- AnyConnect image is downloaded to ASA via TFTP.

ciscoasa(config)#webvpn
ciscoasa(config-webvpn)#svc image disk0:/anyconnect-win-2.0.0343-k9.pkg 1

!--- Specify the AnyConnect image to be downloaded by users. The image that is !--- downloaded the most should have the lowest number. This image uses 1 for the !--- AnyConnect Windows image.

Step 3. Enable Anyconnect Access

In order to allow the AnyConnect client to connect to the ASA, you must enable access on the interface that terminates SSL VPN connections. This example uses the outside interface in order to terminate Anyconnect connections.

ASDM Procedure

1. Click Configuration, and then click Remote Access VPN.

2. Expand Network (Client) Access, and then choose SSL VPN Connection Profiles.

3. Check the Enable Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client check box.

4. Check the Allow Access check box for the outside interface, and click Apply.

Command Line Example

ciscoasa(config)#webvpn
ciscoasa(config-webvpn)#enable outside
ciscoasa(config-webvpn)#svc enable

!--- Enable AnyConnect to be downloaded to remote computers.

Step 4. Create a new Group Policy

A group policy specifies the configuration parameters that should be applied to clients when they connect. This example creates a group policy named SSLClientPolicy.

ASDM Procedure

1. Click Configuration, and then click Remote Access VPN.

2. Expand Network (Client) Access, and choose Group Policies.

3. Click Add.

4. Choose General, and enter SSLClientPolicy in the Name field.

5. Uncheck the Address Pools Inherit check box.

6. Click Select, and then click Add.

   The Add IP Pool dialog box appears.

7. Configure the address pool from an IP range that is not currently in use on your network.

   This example uses these values:

   • Name: SSLClientPool

   • Starting IP Address: 192.168.25.1

   • Ending IP Address: 192.168.25.50

   • Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

8. Click OK.

9. Choose the newly created pool, and click Assign.

10. Click OK, and then click More Options.

11. Uncheck the Tunneling Protocols Inherit check box.

12. Check SSL VPN Client.

13. In the left pane, choose Servers.

14. Uncheck the DNS Servers Inherit check box, and enter the IP address of the internal DNS server that the AnyConnect clients will use.

    This example uses 192.168.50.5.

15. Click More Options.

16. Uncheck the Default Domain Inherit check box.

17. Enter the domain used by your internal network. For example, tsweb.local .

18. Click OK, and then click Apply.

Command Line Example

ciscoasa(config)#ip local pool SSLClientPool 192.168.25.1-192.168.25.50 mask 255.255.255.0

!--- Define the IP pool. The IP pool should be a range of IP addresses !--- not already in use on the internal network. 

ciscoasa(config)#group-policy SSLCLientPolicy internal
ciscoasa(config)#group-policy SSLCLientPolicy attributes
ciscoasa(config-group-policy)#dns-server value 192.168.50.5

!--- Specify the internal DNS server to be used.

ciscoasa(config-group-policy)#vpn-tunnel-protocol svc

!--- Specify VPN tunnel protocol to be used by the Group Policy.
 
ciscoasa(config-group-policy)#default-domain value tsweb.local

!--- Define the default domain assigned to VPN users.

ciscoasa(config-group-policy)#address-pools value SSLClientPool

!--- Assign the IP pool created to the SSLClientPolicy group policy.

Configure Access List Bypass for VPN Connections

When you enable this option, you allow the SSL/IPsec clients to bypass the interface access list.

ASDM Procedure

1. Click Configuration, and then click Remote Access VPN.

2. Expand Network (Client) Access, and then expand Advanced.

3. Expand SSL VPN, and choose Bypass Interface Access List.

4. Ensure the Enable inbound SSL VPN and IPSEC Sessions to bypass interface access lists check box is checked, and click Apply.

Command Line Example

ciscoasa(config)#sysopt connection permit-vpn

!--- Enable interface access-list bypass for VPN connections. !--- This example uses the vpn-filter command for access control.

ciscoasa(config-group-policy)#

Step 6. Create a Connection Profile and Tunnel Group for the AnyConnect Client Connections

When VPN clients connect to the ASA, they connect to a connection profile or tunnel group. The tunnel group is used to define connection parameters for specific types of VPN connections, such as IPsec L2L, IPsec remote access, clientless SSL, and client SSL.

ASDM Procedure

1. Click Configuration, and then click Remote Access VPN.

2. Expand Network (Client) Access, and then expand SSL VPN.

3. Choose Connection Profiles, and click Add.

4. Choose Basic, and enter these values:

   • Name: SSLClientProfile

   • Authentication: LOCAL

   • Default Group Policy: SSLClientPolicy

5. Ensure the SSL VPN Client Protocol check box is checked.

6. In the left pane, expand Advanced, and choose SSL VPN.

7. Under Connection Aliases, click Add, and enter a name to which users can associate their VPN connections. For example, SSLVPNClient.

8. Click OK, and then click OK again.

9. At the bottom of the ASDM window, check the Allow user to select connection, identified by alias in the table above at login page check box, and click Apply.

Command Line Example

ciscoasa(config)#tunnel-group SSLClientProfile type remote-access

!--- Define tunnel group to be used for VPN remote access connections.

ciscoasa(config)#tunnel-group SSLClientProfile general-attributes
ciscoasa(config-tunnel-general)#default-group-policy SSLCLientPolicy
ciscoasa(config-tunnel-general)#tunnel-group SSLClientProfile webvpn-attributes
ciscoasa(config-tunnel-webvpn)#group-alias SSLVPNClient enable

!--- Assign alias for tunnel group.

ciscoasa(config-tunnel-webvpn)#webvpn
ciscoasa(config-webvpn)#tunnel-group-list enable

!--- Enable alias/tunnel group selection for SSL VPN connections.

Step 7. Configure NAT Exemption for AnyConnect Clients

NAT exemption should be configured for any IP addresses or ranges you want to allow the SSL VPN clients to access. In this example, the SSL VPN clients need access to the internal IP 192.168.50.5 only.

Note: If NAT-control is not enabled, this step is not required. Use the show run nat-control command to verify. In order to verify through ASDM, click Configuration, click Firewall, and choose Nat Rules. If the Enable traffic through the firewall without address translation check box is checked, you can skip this step.

ASDM Procedure

1. Click Configuration, and then click Firewall.

2. Choose Nat Rules, and click Add.

3. Choose Add NAT Exempt Rule, and enter these values:

   • Action: Exempt

   • Interface: inside

   • Source: 192.168.50.5

   • Destination: 192.168.25.0/24

   • NAT Exempt Direction: NAT Exempt outbound traffic from interface 'inside' to lower security interfaces (Default)

4. Click OK, and then click Apply.

Command Line Example

ciscoasa(config)#access-list no_nat extended permit 
                  ip host 192.168.50.5 192.168.25.0 255.255.255.0

!--- Define access list to be used for NAT exemption. 

ciscoasa(config)#nat (inside) 0 access-list no_nat

!--- Allow external connections to untranslated internal !--- addresses defined by access lisy no_nat.

ciscoasa(config)#

Step 8. Add Users to the Local Database

If you use local authentication (the default), you must define user names and passwords in the local database for user authentication.

ASDM Procedure

1. Click Configuration, and then click Remote Access VPN.

2. Expand AAA Setup, and choose Local Users.

3. Click Add, and enter these values:

   • Username: matthewp

   • Password: p@ssw0rd

   • Confirm Password: p@ssw0rd

4. Select the No ASDM, SSH, Telnet or Console Access radio button.

5. Click OK, and then click Apply.

6. Repeat this step for additional users, and then click Save.

Command Line Example

ciscoasa(config)#username matthewp password p@ssw0rd
ciscoasa(config)#username matthewp attributes
ciscoasa(config-username)#service-type remote-access

!--- Assign user remote access only. No SSH, Telnet, ASDM access allowed.

ciscoasa(config-username)#write memory

!--- Save the configuration.

Verify

Use this section in order to verify that the SSL VPN configuration is successful

Connect to the ASA with the AnyConnect Client

Install the client directly on a PC, and connect to the ASA outside interface, or enter https and the FQDN/IP address of the ASA in a web browser. If you use a web browser, the client installs itself upon successful login.

Verify SSL VPN Client Connections

Use the show vpn-sessiondb svc command in order to verify connected SSL VPN clients.

ciscoasa(config-group-policy)#show vpn-sessiondb svc

Session Type: SVC

Username     : matthewp               Index        : 6
Assigned IP  : 192.168.25.1           Public IP    : 172.18.12.111
Protocol     : Clientless SSL-Tunnel DTLS-Tunnel
Encryption   : RC4 AES128             Hashing      : SHA1
Bytes Tx     : 35466                  Bytes Rx     : 27543
Group Policy : SSLClientPolicy        Tunnel Group : SSLClientProfile
Login Time   : 20:06:59 UTC Tue Oct 16 2007
Duration     : 0h:00m:12s
NAC Result   : Unknown
VLAN Mapping : N/A                    VLAN         : none

ciscoasa(config-group-policy)#

The vpn-sessiondb logoff name username command logs off users by user name. An Administrator Reset message is sent to the user when disconnected.

ciscoasa(config)#vpn-sessiondb logoff name matthewp
Do you want to logoff the VPN session(s)? [confirm]
INFO: Number of sessions with name "matthewp" logged off : 1

ciscoasa(config)#

For more information about the AnyConnect 2.0 client, refer to Cisco AnyConnect VPN Administrator Guide.

Troubleshoot

This section provides information you can use to troubleshoot your configuration.

Troubleshooting Commands (Optional)

The Output Interpreter Tool (registered customers only) (OIT) supports certain show commands. Use the OIT to view an analysis of show command output.

Note: Refer to Important Information on Debug Commands before you use debug commands.

• debug webvpn svc 255 —Displays debug messages about connections to SSL VPN clients over WebVPN.

  Successful AnyConnect Login

  ciscoasa(config)#debug webvpn svc 255
  INFO: debug webvpn svc enabled at level 255.
  ciscoasa(config)#ATTR_FILTER_ID: Name: 
   SSLVPNClientAccess 
  , Id: 1, refcnt: 1
  webvpn_rx_data_tunnel_connect
  CSTP state = HEADER_PROCESSING
  http_parse_cstp_method()
  ...input: 'CONNECT /CSCOSSLC/tunnel HTTP/1.1'
  webvpn_cstp_parse_request_field()
  ...input: 'Host: 10.10.1.5' - 
  !--- Outside IP of ASA
  
  Processing CSTP header line: 'Host: 10.10.1.5'
  webvpn_cstp_parse_request_field()
  ...input: 'User-Agent: Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client 2, 0, 0343' - 
  !--- AnyConnect Version
  
  Processing CSTP header line: 'User-Agent: Cisco AnyConnect 
                                            VPN Client 2, 0, 0343'
  Setting user-agent to: 'Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client 2, 0, 0343'
  webvpn_cstp_parse_request_field()
  ...input: 'Cookie: webvpn=3338474156@28672@1192565782@EFB9042D72C
                     63CE02164F790435897AC72EE70AE'
  Processing CSTP header line: 'Cookie: webvpn=3338474156@28672@119
                     2565782@EFB9042D72C63CE02164F790435897AC72EE70AE'
  Found WebVPN cookie: 'webvpn=3338474156@28672@1192565782@EFB9042D72C
                     63CE02164F790435897AC72EE70AE'
  WebVPN Cookie: 'webvpn=3338474156@28672@1192565782@EFB9042D72C63CE02
                     164F790435897AC72EE70AE'
  IPADDR: '3338474156', INDEX: '28672', LOGIN: '1192565782'
  webvpn_cstp_parse_request_field()
  ...input: 'X-CSTP-Version: 1'
  Processing CSTP header line: 'X-CSTP-Version: 1'
  Setting version to '1'
  webvpn_cstp_parse_request_field()
  ...input: 'X-CSTP-Hostname: wkstation1' - 
  !--- Client desktop hostname
  
  Processing CSTP header line: 'X-CSTP-Hostname: wkstation1'
  Setting hostname to: 'wkstation1'
  webvpn_cstp_parse_request_field()
  ...input: 'X-CSTP-Accept-Encoding: deflate;q=1.0'
  Processing CSTP header line: 'X-CSTP-Accept-Encoding: deflate;q=1.0'
  webvpn_cstp_parse_request_field()
  ...input: 'X-CSTP-MTU: 1206'
  Processing CSTP header line: 'X-CSTP-MTU: 1206'
  webvpn_cstp_parse_request_field()
  ...input: 'X-CSTP-Address-Type: IPv4'
  Processing CSTP header line: 'X-CSTP-Address-Type: IPv4'
  webvpn_cstp_parse_request_field()
  ...input: 'X-DTLS-Master-Secret: 72B8AD72F327059AE22CBB451CB0948AFBE98296FD849
                            49EB6CAEDC203865C76BDBD634845FA89634C668A67152ABB51'
  Processing CSTP header line: 'X-DTLS-Master-Secret: 72B8AD72F327059AE22CBB451C
         B0948AFBE98296FD84949EB6CAEDC203865C76BDBD634845FA89634C668A67152ABB51'
  webvpn_cstp_parse_request_field()
  ...input: 'X-DTLS-CipherSuite: AES256-SHA:AES128-SHA:DES-CBC3-SHA:DES-CBC-SHA'
  Processing CSTP header line: 'X-DTLS-CipherSuite: AES256-SHA:AES128-SHA:
                                DES-CBC3-SHA:DES-CBC-SHA'
  Validating address: 0.0.0.0
  CSTP state = WAIT_FOR_ADDRESS
  webvpn_cstp_accept_address: 192.168.25.1/255.255.255.0 - 
  !--- IP assigned from IP Pool
  
  CSTP state = HAVE_ADDRESS
  SVC: NP setup
  np_svc_create_session(0x7000, 0xD41612C8, TRUE)
  webvpn_svc_np_setup
  SVC ACL Name: NULL
  SVC ACL ID: -1
  SVC ACL ID: -1
  vpn_put_uauth success!
  SVC IPv6 ACL Name: NULL
  SVC IPv6 ACL ID: -1
  SVC: adding to sessmgmt
  SVC: Sending response
  Unable to initiate NAC, NAC might not be enabled or invalid policy
  CSTP state = CONNECTED
  webvpn_rx_data_cstp
  webvpn_rx_data_cstp: got internal message
  Unable to initiate NAC, NAC might not be enabled or invalid policy

  Unsuccessful AnyConnect Login (Bad Password)

  webvpn_portal.c:ewaFormSubmit_webvpn_login[1808]
  ewaFormSubmit_webvpn_login: tgCookie = 0
  ewaFormSubmit_webvpn_login: cookie = d53d2990
  ewaFormSubmit_webvpn_login: tgCookieSet = 0
  ewaFormSubmit_webvpn_login: tgroup = NULL
  webvpn_portal.c:http_webvpn_kill_cookie[627]
  webvpn_auth.c:http_webvpn_pre_authentication[1905]
  WebVPN: calling AAA with ewsContext (-717386088) and nh (-717388536)!
  WebVPN: started user authentication...
  webvpn_auth.c:webvpn_aaa_callback[4380]
  WebVPN: AAA status = (REJECT)
  webvpn_portal.c:ewaFormSubmit_webvpn_login[1808]
  ewaFormSubmit_webvpn_login: tgCookie = 0
  ewaFormSubmit_webvpn_login: cookie = d53d2990
  ewaFormSubmit_webvpn_login: tgCookieSet = 0
  ewaFormSubmit_webvpn_login: tgroup = NULL
  webvpn_auth.c:http_webvpn_post_authentication[1180]
  WebVPN: user: (matthewp) rejected.
  http_remove_auth_handle(): handle 9 not found!
  webvpn_portal.c:ewaFormServe_webvpn_login[1749]
  webvpn_portal.c:http_webvpn_kill_cookie[627]

Related Information

• Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client Administrator Guide, Version 2.0
• Release Notes for AnyConnect VPN Client, Release 2.0
• Technical Support & Documentation - Cisco Systems

Revision History