Table Of Contents
Cisco ASA 5500 Series Release Notes Version 7.0(4)
Determining the Software Version
Upgrading to a New Software Release
Modular Policy Framework Enhancement
Support GTP Load Balancing Across GSNs
Converting Wildcards to Network Mask in Downloadable ACL
IPSec VPN: Add support for cascading ACLs
Rate limiting of Syslog messages
Important Notes in Release 7.0
Hostname and Domain Name Limitation
ACS Radius Authorization Server
Readme Document for the Conduits and Outbound List Conversion Tool 1.2
Features not Supported in Version 7.0
Resolved Caveats - Release 7.0(4)
Software Configuration Tips on the Cisco TAC Home Page
Cisco Product Security Overview
Reporting Security Problems in Cisco Products
Obtaining Technical Assistance
Cisco Technical Support Website
Obtaining Additional Publications and Information
Cisco ASA 5500 Series Release Notes Version 7.0(4)
October 2005
Contents
This document includes the following sections:
•
Obtaining Technical Assistance
•
Obtaining Additional Publications and Information
Introduction
The Cisco ASA 5500 series security appliance delivers unprecedented levels of defense against threats to the network with deeper web inspection and flow specific analysis, improved secure connectivity through end-point security posture validation and voice and video over VPN support. It also provides enhanced support for intelligent information networks through improved network integration, resiliency, and scalability. This release introduces significant enhancements to all major functional areas, including: firewalling and inspection services, VPN services, network integration, high-availability services, and management/monitoring.
For more information on all the new features, see New Features.
Additionally, the Cisco ASA 5500 series security appliance software supports Adaptive Security Device Manager. ASDM is a browser-based, Java applet used to configure and monitor the software on the security appliances. ASDM is loaded from the security appliance, then used to configure, monitor, and manage the device.
System Requirements
The sections that follow list the system requirements for operating a Cisco ASA 5500 series security appliance. This section includes the following topics:
•
Determining the Software Version
•
Upgrading to a New Software Release
Memory Requirements
Table 1 lists the DRAM memory requirements for the Cisco ASA 5500 series security appliance.
Table 1 DRAM Memory Requirements
ASA Model DRAM MemoryASA 5510
256 MB
ASA 5520
512 MB
ASA 5540
1 GB
All Cisco ASA 5500 series security appliances require a minimum of 64 MB of internal CompactFlash.
Determining the Software Version
Use the show version command to verify the software version of your Cisco ASA 5500 series security appliance.
Upgrading to a New Software Release
If you have a Cisco.com (CDC) login, you can obtain software from the following website:
http://www.cisco.com/kobayashi/sw-center/products.shtml
New Features
This section describes the new features in this release. This section includes the following topics:
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Auto Update Over a VPN Tunnel
•
Modular Policy Framework Enhancement
•
Support GTP Load Balancing Across GSNs
•
Downloadable ACL Enhancements
•
Converting Wildcards to Network Mask in Downloadable ACL
•
IPSec VPN: Add support for cascading ACLs
•
Rate limiting of Syslog messages
4GE SSM
The 4GE Security Services Module (SSM) is an optional I/O card for the adaptive security appliance. The 4GE SSM expands the total number of ports available on the security appliance, providing four additional ports with Ethernet (RJ-45) or SFP (fiber optic) connections.
WebVPN Capture Feature
The WebVPN capture feature lets you log information about websites that do not display properly over a WebVPN connection. You can enable the WebVPN capture feature with the capture command, but note that it has an adverse affect on the performance of the security appliance. So, be sure to disable this feature after you have captured the information that you need for troubleshooting.
For more information, see the "Capturing WebVPN Data" section in the Cisco Security Appliance Command Line Configuration Guide. For a complete description of the command syntax, see the Cisco Security Appliance Command Reference.
Auto Update Over a VPN Tunnel
With this release, the auto-update server command has a new source interface argument that lets you specify an interface, such as a VPN tunnel used for management access and specified by the management-access command:
auto-update server url [source interface] [verify-certificate]
no auto-update server url [source interface] [verify-certificate]
For a complete description of the command syntax, see the Cisco Security Appliance Command Reference.
Crashinfo Enhancement
Output from the crashinfo command might contain sensitive information that is inppropriate for viewing by all users connected to the security appliance. The new crashinfo console disable command lets you suppress the output from displaying on the console.
For a complete description of the command syntax, see the Cisco Security Appliance Command Reference.
Modular Policy Framework Enhancement
The new set connection timeout command lets you configure the timeout period, after which an idle TCP connection is disconnected.
For more information, see the "Using Modular Policy Framework" section in the Cisco Security Appliance Command Line Configuration Guide. For a complete description of the command syntax, see the Cisco Security Appliance Command Reference.
Support GTP Load Balancing Across GSNs
If the security appliance performs GTP inspection, by default the security appliance drops GTP responses from GSNs that were not specified in the GTP request. This situation occurs when you use load-balancing among a pool of GSNs to provide efficiency and scalability of GPRS. You can enable support for GSN pooling by using the permit response command. This command configures the security appliance to allow responses from any of a designated set of GSNs, regardless of the GSN to which a GTP request was sent.
For more information, see the "Enabling and Configuring GTP Inspection" section in the Cisco Security Appliance Command Line Configuration Guide. For a complete description of the command syntax, see the Cisco Security Appliance Command Reference.
Downloadable ACL Enhancements
A new feature has been added to ensure that downloadable ACL requests sent to a RADIUS server come from a valid source through the Message-Authenticator attribute.
Upon receipt of a RADIUS authentication request that has a username attribute containing the name of a downloadable ACL, Cisco Secure ACS authenticates the request by checking the Message-Authenticator attribute. The presence of the Message-Authenticator attribute prevents malicious use of a downloadable ACL name to gain unauthorized network access. The Message-Authenticator attribute and its use are defined in RFC 2869, RADIUS Extensions, available at http://www.ietf.org.
For more information, see the "Configuring Any RADIUS Server for Downloadable ACLs" section in the Cisco Security Appliance Command Line Configuration Guide. For a complete description of the command syntax, see the Cisco Security Appliance Command Reference.
Converting Wildcards to Network Mask in Downloadable ACL
Some Cisco products, such as the VPN 3000 concentrator and Cisco IOS routers, require you to configure dowloadable ACLs with wildcards instead of network masks. The Cisco ASA 5500 adaptive security appliance, on the other hand, requires you to configure downloadable ACLs with network masks. This new feature allows the security appliance to convert a wildcard to a netmask internally. Translation of wildcard netmask expressions means that downloadable ACLs written for Cisco VPN 3000 series concentrators can be used by the security appliance without altering the configuration of the downloadable ACLs on the RADIUS server.
You can configure ACL netmask conversion on a per-server basis, using the acl-netmask-convert command, available in the AAA-server configuration mode. For more information about configuring a RADIUS server, see the"Identifying AAA Server Groups and Servers" section in the Cisco Security Appliance Command Line Configuration Guide. For a complete description of the command syntax, see the Cisco Security Appliance Command Reference.
HTTP proxy applet
The HTTP proxy is an Internet Proxy, that supports both HTTP and HTTPS connections. The HTTP proxy code modifies the browser proxy configuration dynamically to redirect all browser HTTP/S requests to the new proxy configuration. This allows the Java Applet to take over as the proxy for the browser.
HTTP Proxy can be used in conjunction with the Port Forwarding (Application Access) feature or by itself.
Note
The HTTP proxy feature only works when using Internet Explorer.
On some of the older computers, running Windows XP, the RunOnce Reg-Key is not available, causing the Port Forwarding HTTP-Proxy feature to fail when attempting to modify Proxy settings on Internet Explorer.
You can mannually change the registry. Complete the following steps to change the registry manually:
a.
Click Start | Run.
b.
Type regedit in the open text box, and click OK.
c.
Open this folder: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
d.
Right click inside the CurrentVersion and select New | Key.
e.
Name the new key RunOnce.
f.
Click OK.
To configure file access and file browsing, MAPI Proxy, HTTP Proxy, and URL entry over WebVPN for this user or group policy, use the functions command in WebVPN mode.
For a complete description of the command syntax, see the Cisco Security Appliance Command Reference.
IPSec VPN: Add support for cascading ACLs
Cascading ACLs involves the insertion of deny ACEs to bypass evaluation against an ACL and resume evaluation against a subsequent ACL in the crypto map set. Because you can associate each crypto map with different IPSec settings, you can use deny ACEs to exclude special traffic from further evaluation in the corresponding crypto map, and match the special traffic to permit statements in another crypto map to provide or require different security. The sequence number assigned to the crypto ACL determines its position in the evaluation sequence within the crypto map set.
For more information, see the "Defining Crypto Maps" section in the Cisco Security Appliance Command Line Configuration Guide. For a complete description of the command syntax, see the Cisco Security Appliance Command Reference.
Rate limiting of Syslog messages
The logging rate limit enables you to limit the rate at which system log messages are generated. You can limit the number of system messages that are generated during a specified time interval.
You can limit the message generation rate for all messages, a single message ID, a range of message IDs, or all messages with a particular severity level. To limit the rate at which system log messages are generated, use the logging rate-limit command.
For a complete description of the command syntax, see the Cisco Security Appliance Command Reference.
Important Notes
Important Notes in Release 7.0
This section lists important notes related to release 7.0(4).
Common Criteria EAL4+
For information on common criteria EAL4+, see the Installation and Configuration for Common Criteria EAL4+ Evaluated Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance, Version 7.0(4) document.
FIPS 140-2
The Cisco ASA 5500 series security appliance is on the FIPS 140-2 Pre-Validation List.
Hostname and Domain Name Limitation
When using ASDM, the hostname and domain names combined should not be more than 63 characters long. If the hostname and domain names combined is more than 63 characters, you will get an error message.
WebVPN ACLS and DNS Hostname
When a deny webtype URL ACL (DNS-based) is defined, but the DNS-based URL is not reachable, a "DNS Error" popup is displayed on the browser. The ACL hitcounter is also not incremented.
If the URL ACL is defined by an IP instead of DNS name, then the traffic flow hitting the ACL will be recorded in the hitcounter and a "Connection Error" is displayed on the browser.
Proxy Server and ASA
If WebVPN is configured to use an HTTP(S)-proxy server to service all requests for browsing HTTP and/or HTTPS sites, the client/browser may expect the following behavior:
1.
If the ASA cannot communicate with the HTTPS or HTTPS proxy server, a "connection error" is displayed on the client browser.
2.
If the HTTP(S) proxy cannot resolve or reach the requested URL, it should send an appropriate error to the ASA, which in turn will display it to the client browser.
Only when the HTTP(S) proxy server notifies the ASA of the inaccessible URL, can the ASA notify the error to the client browser.
Mismatch PFS
The PFS setting on the VPN client and the security appliance must match.
ACS Radius Authorization Server
When certificate authentication is used in conjuction with Radius authorization, the ACS server sends a bogus Group=CISCOACS:0003b9c6/5a940131/username and is displayed in the vpn-session database.
Readme Document for the Conduits and Outbound List Conversion Tool 1.2
The Cisco ASA 5500 series security appliance Outbound/Conduit Conversion tool assists in converting configurations with outbound or conduit commands to similar configurations using ACLs. ACL-based configurations provide uniformity and leverage the powerful ACL feature set. ACL based configurations provide the following benefit:
•
ACE Insertion capability - System configuration and management is greatly simplified by the ACE insertion capability that allows users to add, delete or modify individual ACEs.
User Upgrade Guide
•
For a list of deprecated features, and user upgrade information, go to the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/multisec/asa_sw/v_70/migr_vpn/index.htm
Features not Supported in Version 7.0
The following features are not supported in Version 7.0(4):
•
PPPoE
•
L2TP over IPSec
•
PPTP
MIB Supported
For information on MIB Support, go to:
http://www.cisco.com/public/sw-center/netmgmt/cmtk/mibs.shtml
Downgrade to Previous Version
To downgrade to a previous version of the operating system software (software image), use the downgrade command in privileged EXEC mode. For more information and a complete description of the command syntax, see the Cisco Security Appliance Command Reference.
Caveats
The following sections describe the caveats for the 7.0(4) release.
For your convenience in locating caveats in Cisco's Bug Toolkit, the caveat titles listed in this section are drawn directly from the Bug Toolkit database. These caveat titles are not intended to be read as complete sentences because the title field length is limited. In the caveat titles, some truncation of wording or punctuation may be necessary to provide the most complete and concise description. The only modifications made to these titles are as follows:
•
Commands are in boldface type.
•
Product names and acronyms may be standardized.
•
Spelling errors and typos may be corrected.
Note
If you are a registered cisco.com user, view Bug Toolkit on cisco.com at the following website:
http://www.cisco.com/support/bugtools
To become a registered cisco.com user, go to the following website:
http://tools.cisco.com/RPF/register/register.do
Open Caveats - Release 7.0(4)
Resolved Caveats - Release 7.0(4)
Related Documentation
For additional information on the Cisco ASA 5500 series security appliance, refer to the following documentation found on Cisco.com:
•
Cisco ASA 5500 Hardware Installation Guide
•
Cisco ASA 5500 Quick Start Guide
•
Cisco Security Appliance Command Line Configuration Guide
•
Cisco Security Appliance Command Reference
•
Migrating to ASA for VPN 3000 Series Concentrator Administrators
Software Configuration Tips on the Cisco TAC Home Page
The Cisco Technical Assistance Center has many helpful pages. If you have a CDC account you can visit the following websites for assistance:
TAC Troubleshooting, Sample Configurations, Hardware Info, Software Installations and more:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/vpndevc/ps2030/tsd_products_support_series_home.html
Obtaining Documentation
Cisco documentation and additional literature are available on Cisco.com. Cisco also provides several ways to obtain technical assistance and other technical resources. These sections explain how to obtain technical information from Cisco Systems.
Cisco.com
You can access the most current Cisco documentation at this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/home/home.htm
You can access the Cisco website at this URL:
You can access international Cisco websites at this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/public/countries_languages.shtml
Documentation DVD
Cisco documentation and additional literature are available in a Documentation DVD package, which may have shipped with your product. The Documentation DVD is updated regularly and may be more current than printed documentation. The Documentation DVD package is available as a single unit.
Registered Cisco.com users (Cisco direct customers) can order a Cisco Documentation DVD (product number DOC-DOCDVD=) from the Ordering tool or Cisco Marketplace.
Cisco Ordering tool:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/ordering/
Cisco Marketplace:
http://www.cisco.com/go/marketplace/
Ordering Documentation
You can find instructions for ordering documentation at this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/es_inpck/pdi.htm
You can order Cisco documentation in these ways:
•
Registered Cisco.com users (Cisco direct customers) can order Cisco product documentation from the Ordering tool:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/ordering/
•
Nonregistered Cisco.com users can order documentation through a local account representative by calling Cisco Systems Corporate Headquarters (California, USA) at 408 526-7208 or, elsewhere in North America, by calling 1 800 553-NETS (6387).
Documentation Feedback
You can send comments about technical documentation to bug-doc@cisco.com.
You can submit comments by using the response card (if present) behind the front cover of your document or by writing to the following address:
Cisco Systems
Attn: Customer Document Ordering
170 West Tasman Drive
San Jose, CA 95134-9883We appreciate your comments.
Cisco Product Security Overview
Cisco provides a free online Security Vulnerability Policy portal at this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/products_security_vulnerability_policy.html
From this site, you can perform these tasks:
•
Report security vulnerabilities in Cisco products.
•
Obtain assistance with security incidents that involve Cisco products.
•
Register to receive security information from Cisco.
A current list of security advisories and notices for Cisco products is available at this URL:
If you prefer to see advisories and notices as they are updated in real time, you can access a Product Security Incident Response Team Really Simple Syndication (PSIRT RSS) feed from this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/products_psirt_rss_feed.html
Reporting Security Problems in Cisco Products
Cisco is committed to delivering secure products. We test our products internally before we release them, and we strive to correct all vulnerabilities quickly. If you think that you might have identified a vulnerability in a Cisco product, contact PSIRT:
•
Emergencies — security-alert@cisco.com
•
Nonemergencies — psirt@cisco.com
Tip
We encourage you to use Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) or a compatible product to encrypt any sensitive information that you send to Cisco. PSIRT can work from encrypted information that is compatible with PGP versions 2.x through 8.x.
Never use a revoked or an expired encryption key. The correct public key to use in your correspondence with PSIRT is the one that has the most recent creation date in this public key server list:
http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?search=psirt%40cisco.com&op=index&exact=on
In an emergency, you can also reach PSIRT by telephone:
•
1 877 228-7302
•
1 408 525-6532
Obtaining Technical Assistance
For all customers, partners, resellers, and distributors who hold valid Cisco service contracts, Cisco Technical Support provides 24-hour-a-day, award-winning technical assistance. The Cisco Technical Support Website on Cisco.com features extensive online support resources. In addition, Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) engineers provide telephone support. If you do not hold a valid Cisco service contract, contact your reseller.
Cisco Technical Support Website
The Cisco Technical Support Website provides online documents and tools for troubleshooting and resolving technical issues with Cisco products and technologies. The website is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Access to all tools on the Cisco Technical Support Website requires a Cisco.com user ID and password. If you have a valid service contract but do not have a user ID or password, you can register at this URL:
http://tools.cisco.com/RPF/register/register.do
Note
Use the Cisco Product Identification (CPI) tool to locate your product serial number before submitting a web or phone request for service. You can access the CPI tool from the Cisco Technical Support Website by clicking the Tools & Resources link under Documentation & Tools. Choose Cisco Product Identification Tool from the Alphabetical Index drop-down list, or click the Cisco Product Identification Tool link under Alerts & RMAs. The CPI tool offers three search options: by product ID or model name; by tree view; or for certain products, by copying and pasting show command output. Search results show an illustration of your product with the serial number label location highlighted. Locate the serial number label on your product and record the information before placing a service call.
Submitting a Service Request
Using the online TAC Service Request Tool is the fastest way to open S3 and S4 service requests. (S3 and S4 service requests are those in which your network is minimally impaired or for which you require product information.) After you describe your situation, the TAC Service Request Tool provides recommended solutions. If your issue is not resolved using the recommended resources, your service request is assigned to a Cisco TAC engineer. The TAC Service Request Tool is located at this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/techsupport/servicerequest
For S1 or S2 service requests or if you do not have Internet access, contact the Cisco TAC by telephone. (S1 or S2 service requests are those in which your production network is down or severely degraded.) Cisco TAC engineers are assigned immediately to S1 and S2 service requests to help keep your business operations running smoothly.
To open a service request by telephone, use one of the following numbers:
Asia-Pacific: +61 2 8446 7411 (Australia: 1 800 805 227)
EMEA: +32 2 704 55 55
USA: 1 800 553-2447For a complete list of Cisco TAC contacts, go to this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/techsupport/contacts
•
World-class networking training is available from Cisco. You can view current offerings at this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/index.html
Obtaining Additional Publications and Information
Information about Cisco products, technologies, and network solutions is available from various online and printed sources.
•
Cisco Marketplace provides a variety of Cisco books, reference guides, and logo merchandise. Visit Cisco Marketplace, the company store, at this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/go/marketplace/
•
Cisco Press publishes a wide range of general networking, training and certification titles. Both new and experienced users will benefit from these publications. For current Cisco Press titles and other information, go to Cisco Press at this URL:
•
Packet magazine is the Cisco Systems technical user magazine for maximizing Internet and networking investments. Each quarter, Packet delivers coverage of the latest industry trends, technology breakthroughs, and Cisco products and solutions, as well as network deployment and troubleshooting tips, configuration examples, customer case studies, certification and training information, and links to scores of in-depth online resources. You can access Packet magazine at this URL:
•
iQ Magazine is the quarterly publication from Cisco Systems designed to help growing companies learn how they can use technology to increase revenue, streamline their business, and expand services. The publication identifies the challenges facing these companies and the technologies to help solve them, using real-world case studies and business strategies to help readers make sound technology investment decisions. You can access iQ Magazine at this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/go/iqmagazine
•
Internet Protocol Journal is a quarterly journal published by Cisco Systems for engineering professionals involved in designing, developing, and operating public and private internets and intranets. You can access the Internet Protocol Journal at this URL:
•
World-class networking training is available from Cisco. You can view current offerings at this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/index.html
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