SMTP and ESMTP Connections Inspection with Cisco IOS Firewall Configuration Example

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Updated:March 3, 2006
Document ID:69309

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Introduction

This document provides a sample configuration for the inspection of inbound Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) or Extended Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (ESMTP) connections using Cisco IOS® Firewall in Cisco IOS. Such inspection is similar to the MailGuard feature found in the Cisco PIX 500 Series Security Appliances.

Prerequisites

Requirements

There are no specific requirements for this document.

Components Used

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

  • Cisco IOS Software Release 12.3(4)T or later

  • Cisco 3640 Router

The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, make sure that you understand the potential impact of any command.

Conventions

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

Background Information

SMTP inspection causes SMTP commands to be inspected for illegal commands. Packets with illegal commands are modified to a pattern of "xxxx" and forwarded to the server. This process causes the server to send a negative reply, which forces the client to issue a valid command. An illegal SMTP command is any command except for these commands:

  • DATA
  • HELO
  • HELP
  • MAIL
  • NOOP
  • QUIT
  • RCPT
  • RSET
  • SAML
  • SEND
  • SOML
  • VRFY

ESMTP inspection operates in the same way that SMTP inspection does. Packets with illegal commands are modified to an "xxxx" pattern and forwarded to the server, which triggers a negative reply. An illegal ESMTP command is any command except for these commands:

  • AUTH
  • DATA
  • EHLO
  • ETRN
  • HELO
  • HELP
  • HELP
  • MAIL
  • NOOP
  • QUIT
  • RCPT
  • RSET
  • SAML
  • SEND
  • SOML
  • VRFY

ESMTP inspection also examines these extensions via deeper command inspection:

  • Message Size Declaration (SIZE)

  • Remote Queue Processing Declaration (ETRN)

  • Binary MIME (BINARYMIME)

  • Command Pipelining

  • Authentication

  • Delivery Status Notification (DSN)

  • Enhanced Status Code (ENHANCEDSTATUSCODE)

  • 8-bit MIMEtransport (8BITMIME)

Note:  SMTP and ESMTP inspection cannot be configured simultaneously. An attempt to configure both results in an error message.

Note: In Cisco IOS Software Release 12.3(4)T and later, Cisco IOS Firewall no longer creates dynamic access-list entries to permit traffic. Cisco IOS Firewall now maintains a session state table to control the security of inspected connections.

Configure

In this section, you are presented with the information to configure the features described in this document.

Note: Use the Command Lookup Tool (registered customers only) to obtain more information on the commands used in this section.

Network Diagram

This document uses this network setup:

smtp-esmtp-cbac-1.gif

Configurations

This document uses this configuration:

3640 Router 
3640-123#show running-config
Building configuration...

Current configuration : 1432 bytes
!
version 12.3
service config
service timestamps debug datetime msec
service timestamps log datetime msec
service password-encryption
!
hostname 3640-123
!
boot-start-marker
boot-end-marker
!
enable password 7 02050D4808095E731F
!
no aaa new-model
!
resource policy
!
voice-card 3
!
ip subnet-zero
!
!
ip cef
no ip dhcp use vrf connected
!
!

!--- This is the Cisco IOS Firewall configuration.


!--- IN-OUT is the inspection rule for traffic that flows !--- from the inside interface of the router to the outside interface.

ip inspect name IN-OUT tcp
ip inspect name IN-OUT udp
ip inspect name IN-OUT ftp
ip inspect name IN-OUT http
ip inspect name IN-OUT icmp


!--- OUT-IN is the inspection rule for traffic that flows !--- from the outside interface of the router to the inside interface. !--- This rule is where SMTP/ESMTP inspection is specified.

ip inspect name OUT-IN smtp
!
no ip ips deny-action ips-interface
!
no ftp-server write-enable
!
!
!
!
controller T1 3/0
 framing sf
 linecode ami
!
!
!
!
!

!--- The outside interface.

interface Ethernet2/0
 ip address 172.22.1.16 255.255.255.0


!--- Apply the access list to permit SMTP/ESMTP connections !--- to the mail server. This also allows Cisco IOS Firewall !--- to inspect SMTP or ESMTP commands.

 ip access-group 101 in
 ip nat outside


!--- Apply the inspection rule OUT-IN inbound on this interface. This is !--- the rule that defines SMTP/ESMTP inspection.

 ip inspect OUT-IN in
 ip virtual-reassembly
 half-duplex
!
interface Serial2/0
 no ip address
 shutdown
!

!--- The inside interface.

interface Ethernet2/1
 ip address 10.10.10.1 255.255.255.0
 ip nat inside


!--- Apply the inspection rule IN-OUT inbound on this interface.

 ip inspect IN-OUT in
 ip virtual-reassembly
 half-duplex
!
ip http server
no ip http secure-server
ip classless
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 172.22.1.1
!
!

!--- The static translation for the mail server.

ip nat inside source static 10.10.10.2 172.22.1.110
ip nat inside source static 10.10.10.5 172.22.1.111
!

!--- The access list to permit SMTP and ESMTP to the mail server. !--- Cisco IOS Firewall inspects permitted traffic.

access-list 101 permit tcp any host 172.22.1.110 eq smtp
!
!
!
control-plane
!
!
!
voice-port 1/0/0
!
voice-port 1/0/1
!
voice-port 1/1/0
!
voice-port 1/1/1
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
line con 0
line aux 0
line vty 0 4
 password 7 121A0C0411045D5679
 login
!
!
end

Verify

Use this section to confirm that your configuration works properly.

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

  • show ip inspect all—Verifies the configuration of Cisco IOS Firewall inspection rules and their application to interfaces.

    3640-123#show ip inspect all
Session audit trail is disabled
Session alert is enabled
one-minute (sampling period) thresholds are [400:500] connections
max-incomplete sessions thresholds are [400:500]
max-incomplete tcp connections per host is 50. Block-time 0 minute.
tcp synwait-time is 30 sec -- tcp finwait-time is 5 sec
tcp idle-time is 3600 sec -- udp idle-time is 30 sec
dns-timeout is 5 sec
Inspection Rule Configuration
 Inspection name IN-OUT
    tcp alert is on audit-trail is off timeout 3600
    udp alert is on audit-trail is off timeout 30
    ftp alert is on audit-trail is off timeout 3600
    http alert is on audit-trail is off timeout 3600
    icmp alert is on audit-trail is off timeout 10
 Inspection name OUT-IN
    smtp max-data 20000000 alert is on audit-trail is off timeout 3600

Interface Configuration
 Interface Ethernet2/1
  Inbound inspection rule is IN-OUT
    tcp alert is on audit-trail is off timeout 3600
    udp alert is on audit-trail is off timeout 30
    ftp alert is on audit-trail is off timeout 3600
    http alert is on audit-trail is off timeout 3600
    icmp alert is on audit-trail is off timeout 10
  Outgoing inspection rule is not set
  Inbound access list is not set
  Outgoing access list is not set
 Interface Ethernet2/0
  Inbound inspection rule is OUT-IN
    smtp max-data 20000000 alert is on audit-trail is off timeout 3600
  Outgoing inspection rule is not set
  Inbound access list is 101
  Outgoing access list is not set

  • debug ip inspect smtp—Displays messages about Cisco IOS Firewall SMTP inspection events.

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

    ausnml-3600-02#debug ip inspect smtp
INSPECT SMTP Inspection debugging is on
ausnml-3600-02#
*Oct 18 21:51:35.886: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:51:35.886: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 64, match_len:64, reply_re_state:18
*Oct 18 21:51:35.886: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:51:35.886: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:10
*Oct 18 21:51:35.886: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:0 ,len:64


!--- The client issues a command.

*Oct 18 21:51:40.810: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:1, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:9
*Oct 18 21:51:40.994: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:2, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:24
*Oct 18 21:51:41.190: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:3, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:40
*Oct 18 21:51:41.390: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:4, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:56
*Oct 18 21:51:41.390: CBAC SMTP: VERB - match id:5
*Oct 18 21:51:42.046: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:5, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:7
*Oct 18 21:51:43.462: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:6, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:2
*Oct 18 21:51:43.594: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:7, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:2
*Oct 18 21:51:43.794: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:9, match_len:2, cmd_re_state:2
*Oct 18 21:51:43.994: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:10, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:2
*Oct 18 21:51:44.194: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:12, match_len:2, cmd_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:51:44.194: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - match id:6
*Oct 18 21:51:44.194: CBAC SMTP: End Of Command Line - index:1, len:12


!--- The server replies.

*Oct 18 21:51:44.198: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:51:44.198: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 11, match_len:11, reply_re_state:18
*Oct 18 21:51:44.198: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:51:44.198: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:10
*Oct 18 21:51:44.198: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:1 ,len:11


!--- The client issues a command.

*Oct 18 21:51:49.482: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:1, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:51:50.222: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:2, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:15
*Oct 18 21:51:50.618: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:3, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:31
*Oct 18 21:51:50.954: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:4, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:46
*Oct 18 21:51:50.954: CBAC SMTP: VERB - match id:15
*Oct 18 21:51:51.642: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:5, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:7
*Oct 18 21:51:51.914: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:6, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:2
*Oct 18 21:51:52.106: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:7, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:2
*Oct 18 21:51:54.754: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:8, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:4
*Oct 18 21:51:55.098: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:9, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:2
*Oct 18 21:51:55.322: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:11, match_len:2, cmd_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:51:55.322: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - match id:6
*Oct 18 21:51:55.322: CBAC SMTP: End Of Command Line - index:2, len:11


!--- The server replies.

*Oct 18 21:51:55.326: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:51:55.326: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 19, match_len:19, reply_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:51:55.326: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:51:55.326: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:2 ,len:19

*Oct 18 21:51:57.070: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:1, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:51:57.402: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:2, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:15
*Oct 18 21:51:58.162: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:3, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:31
*Oct 18 21:51:58.462: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:4, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:46
*Oct 18 21:51:58.466: CBAC SMTP: VERB - match id:15
*Oct 18 21:51:58.746: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:5, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:7
*Oct 18 21:51:59.006: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:6, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:2
*Oct 18 21:51:59.234: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:7, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:2
*Oct 18 21:51:59.418: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:9, match_len:2, cmd_re_state:2
*Oct 18 21:51:59.618: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:10, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:2
*Oct 18 21:51:59.818: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:12, match_len:2, cmd_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:51:59.818: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - match id:6
*Oct 18 21:51:59.818: CBAC SMTP: End Of Command Line - index:3, len:12

*Oct 18 21:51:59.818: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:51:59.818: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 19, match_len:19, reply_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:51:59.822: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:51:59.822: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:3 ,len:19

*Oct 18 21:52:04.974: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:1, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:9
*Oct 18 21:52:05.170: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:2, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:24
*Oct 18 21:52:05.326: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:3, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:40
*Oct 18 21:52:05.526: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:4, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:55
*Oct 18 21:52:05.526: CBAC SMTP: VERB - match id:6
*Oct 18 21:52:05.742: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:6, match_len:2, cmd_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:52:05.742: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - match id:6
*Oct 18 21:52:05.742: CBAC SMTP: End Of Command Line - index:4, len:6

*Oct 18 21:52:05.746: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:52:05.746: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 54, match_len:54, reply_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:52:05.746: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:52:05.746: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:4 ,len:54

*Oct 18 21:52:05.746: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:52:05.746: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 15, match_len:15, reply_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:52:05.746: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:52:05.746: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:5 ,len:15

*Oct 18 21:52:05.746: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:52:05.746: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 15, match_len:15, reply_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:52:05.746: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:52:05.746: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:6 ,len:15

*Oct 18 21:52:05.746: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:52:05.750: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 6, match_len:6, reply_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:52:05.750: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:52:05.750: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:7 ,len:6

*Oct 18 21:52:05.750: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:52:05.750: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 19, match_len:19, reply_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:52:05.750: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:52:05.750: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:8 ,len:19

*Oct 18 21:52:05.750: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:52:05.750: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 17, match_len:17, reply_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:52:05.750: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:52:05.750: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:9 ,len:17

*Oct 18 21:52:05.750: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:52:05.750: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 6, match_len:6, reply_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:52:05.750: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:52:05.754: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:10 ,len:6

*Oct 18 21:52:05.754: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:52:05.754: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 6, match_len:6, reply_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:52:05.754: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:52:05.754: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:11 ,len:6

*Oct 18 21:52:05.754: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:52:05.754: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 6, match_len:6, reply_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:52:05.754: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:52:05.754: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:12 ,len:6

*Oct 18 21:52:05.754: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:52:05.754: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 3, match_len:3, reply_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:52:05.754: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:52:05.754: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:13 ,len:3

*Oct 18 21:52:15.646: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:1, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:6
*Oct 18 21:52:15.838: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:3, match_len:2, cmd_re_state:37
*Oct 18 21:52:16.206: CBAC SMTP: VERB - Cmd len:4, match_len:1, cmd_re_state:52
*Oct 18 21:52:16.206: CBAC SMTP: VERB - match id:9
*Oct 18 21:52:18.954: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - Cmd len:6, match_len:2, cmd_re_state:3
*Oct 18 21:52:18.958: CBAC SMTP: CMD PARAM - match id:6
*Oct 18 21:52:18.958: CBAC SMTP: End Of Command Line - index:5, len:6

*Oct 18 21:52:18.958: CBAC SMTP: reply_type OTHERS 
*Oct 18 21:52:18.958: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY - Reply len: 21, match_len:21, reply_re_state:18
*Oct 18 21:52:18.958: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:13
*Oct 18 21:52:18.958: CBAC SMTP: OTHER REPLY match id:10
*Oct 18 21:52:18.958: CBAC SMTP: End Of Reply Line - index:14 ,len:21

Troubleshoot

There is currently no specific troubleshooting information available for this configuration.

Related Information

Revision History

Revision Publish Date Comments
1.0
03-Mar-2006
Initial Release

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