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End-of-Life (EoL)

Configure SCTP Security

SCTP security features allow you to inspect and filter SCTP packets. Allocate SCTP log storage so the firewall can store SCTP log information.
Before you configure SCTP security on a firewall:
  • Determine which of the SCTP Use Cases applies to your environment: roaming security, radio access network (RAN) security, or some other use case.
    • For roaming security, gather the list of interfaces where you want to inspect SCTP traffic and the IP addresses of all related network nodes. For example, for an S6a interface, gather the IP addresses of the home subscriber server (HSS) in the home network and the Mobility Management Entity (MME) in the roaming partner’s network. In another example, for an S9 interface, gather the IP addresses of the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) in the home network and the PCRF in the roaming partner’s network.
    • For RAN security, gather the list of interfaces where you want to inspect SCTP traffic and the IP addresses of all related network nodes. For example, for an S1-MME interface, gather the IP addresses of eNodeB and MME.
  • Identify the interfaces on your firewall that will receive and send SCTP traffic and note the zone to which each interface belongs.
  • Decide which SCTP payload protocols you want to allow, receive alerts about, or block.
The following procedure describes how to enable SCTP. After you enable SCTP (using either the web interface or the CLI), the other SCTP options become visible in both the web interface and CLI. You then must allocate SCTP log storage for the SCTP logs on the firewall or your commit will fail. You perform a Commit and then continue to configure SCTP security.
To inspect SCTP, create an SCTP Protection profile to apply to a Security policy rule that covers a zone for an interface where you expect to receive SCTP traffic. In the SCTP Protection profile, configure SCTP Security Measures on the Firewall, such as validating SCTP packets based on their chunk types, chunk flags, or length of the SCTP chunks. The firewall allows all SCTP chunks by default as long as they pass the state and validation checks. You can establish granular SCTP chunk-based controls by creating SCTP, Diameter, and SS7 filters to allow or block specific chunks or to generate logs based on specific chunks.
For your convenience, each supported firewall model has a predefined SCTP Protection profile named default-ss7 (this profile is read-only, but you can clone and edit the profile to create a new profile).
You can configure whether the firewall logs several chunk types that the firewall allowed, all control chunks, the start and end of SCTP associations, and state failure events.
  1. Enable SCTP security on the firewall.
    1. Select
      Device
      Setup
      Management
      and edit the General Settings.
    2. Select
      SCTP Security
      to enable SCTP.
    3. Click
      OK
      .
      If you disable SCTP, you must also
      Commit
      your change; otherwise, the firewall continues to perform SCTP stateful inspection. After you disable SCTP, the firewall does not check SCTP four-way handshakes but still checks the SCTP packets against security policy rules and still applies App-ID™.
  2. (
    Optional
    ) You can gracefully enable SCTP stateful inspection to minimize disruption when you deploy a new firewall or migrate SCTP traffic.
    1. >
      set sctp nodrop yes
      The firewall continues to perform SCTP stateful inspection and generate logs, but won’t drop SCTP packets that fail SCTP stateful inspection. When you later decide to re-enable the firewall to drop packets that fail SCTP stateful inspection, use the CLI operational command:
      set sctp nodrop no
      (this is the default setting).
    2. >
      show sctp info
      The firewall displays whether SCTP stateful inspection is gracefully enabled (
      sctp-no-drop: True
      ) or not (
      sctp-no-drop: False
      ).
  3. (
    Optional
    ) You can improve SCTP Security performance by bypassing Layer 7 scanning of Selective Acknowledgment (SACK) messages in SCTP traffic.
    1. >
      set sctp fast-sack yes
  4. Allocate SCTP log storage on the firewall.
    1. Select
      Device
      Setup
      Management
      and edit
      Session Log Storage
      in the Logging and Reporting Settings.
    2. Enter a
      Quota (%)
      for
      SCTP
      . Each SCTP quota percentage must equate to a minimum of 32MB (displayed to the right of the percentage) or your
      Commit
      will fail. The percentage you enter equates to a number of MB or GB, depending on the firewall model.
    3. (
      Optional
      ) Next to the quota is the
      Max Days
      that the firewall keeps SCTP logs. The maximum number of days is unlimited by default, but you can enter a limit for the number of days (range is 1 to 2,000).
    4. Scroll up and enter a
      Quota (%)
      for
      SCTP Summary
      ; the percentage must equate to a minimum of 32MB.
    5. (
      Optional
      ) The
      Max Days
      that the firewall keeps SCTP Summary logs is unlimited by default, but you can enter a limit for the number of days (range is 1 to 2,000).
    6. Enter percentage quotas for
      Hourly SCTP Summary
      ,
      Daily SCTP Summary
      , and
      Weekly SCTP Summary
      ; each percentage must equate to a minimum of 32MB.
    7. (
      Optional
      ) The
      Max Days
      that the firewall keeps
      Hourly SCTP Summary
      logs,
      Daily SCTP Summary
      logs, and
      Weekly SCTP Summary
      logs is unlimited by default, but you can enter a limit for the number of days (range is 1 to 2,000).
    8. Click
      OK
      .
  5. Commit
    your changes.
  6. Create an SCTP Protection profile and configure validation of SCTP packets.
    1. Select
      Objects
      Security Profiles
      SCTP Protection
      and
      Add
      a profile by
      Name
      .
      Alternatively, you can select the check box next to the predefined SCTP Protection profile default-ss7 and select
      Clone
      , enter a
      Name
      for the new profile, and click
      OK
      .
    2. Enter a
      Description
      for the profile.
    3. (Hardware-based firewalls only)
      Select
      Shared
      to apply the profile to all virtual systems.
  7. Configure the validity checks that the firewall performs on SCTP traffic.
    1. On the
      SCTP Inspection
      tab, select the firewall response if an SCTP node transmits an
      Unknown Chunk
      in an SCTP packet. (SCTP Security Measures on the Firewall explains unknown chunks.)
      • allow
        (default)—Allow the packet to pass without modification
      • alert
        —Allow the packet to pass without modification and generate an SCTP log.
      • block
        —Nullify the chunk before inspecting the next chunk and generate an SCTP log. The firewall nullifies the chunk by changing the data chunk payload slightly so that the data chunk is ignored by the endpoint.
    2. Select the response to
      Chunk Flags
      in the event the chunk flags don’t comply with RFC 4960:
      • allow
        (default)—Allow the packet to pass without modification
      • alert
        —Allow the packet to pass without modification and generate an SCTP log.
      • block
        —Drop the packet and generate an SCTP log.
    3. Select the response to
      Invalid Length
      of an SCTP chunk:
      • Allow
        (default)—Allow the packet to pass without modification
      • Block
        —Drop the packet and generate an SCTP log.
  8. Specify the
    IP address limit for multihoming
    for the profile—The maximum number of IP addresses you can configure for SCTP Multihoming for an endpoint before the firewall generates an alert message (range is 1 to 8; default is 4). If the path to one IP address for the endpoint fails, SCTP uses one of the other addresses for the association to keep that association functioning.
  9. Select the Log Settings for the profile—Options to generate SCTP logs for allowed chunks, association start or end, and state failure events. The default for a new profile is to
    Log State Failure Events
    .
  10. Configure the filtering that the firewall performs on SCTP traffic.
    1. On the
      Filtering Options
      tab, select
      SCTP Filtering
      to filter payload protocols.
    2. Add
      an SCTP filter by
      Name
      using a maximum of 20 characters—numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, periods, hyphens, and underscores.
    3. Select an SCTP payload protocol ID (
      PPID
      ); the firewall takes the action you specify on the data chunk that includes the specified PPID. Select
      any
      to configure the firewall to take the action you specified for all SCTP data chunks. Alternatively, enter a valid PPID value to configure the firewall the action only for specific types of SCTP data chunks; for example, the PPID value for Service Area Broadcast Protocol (SABP) data chunks is 31.
      Each SCTP filter can specify only one PPID or
      any
      PPID.
    4. Specify the
      Action
      the firewall takes on data chunks containing the specified PPID:
      • allow
        (default)—Allow the chunk to pass without modification
      • alert
        —Allow the chunk to pass without modification before inspecting the next chunk and generate an SCTP log.
      • block
        —Nullify the chunk before inspecting the next chunk and generate an SCTP log. The firewall nullifies the chunk by changing the data chunk payload slightly so that the data chunk is ignored by the endpoint.
    5. Add
      more SCTP filters by PPID for the SCTP Protection profile to filter additional payload protocols. The order of filters in the list makes a difference because the firewall takes the action (allow, alert, or block) specified by the first filter that matches the PPID in a chunk. The firewall then examines the PPID of the next chunk to see which filter that PPID matches. After the firewall takes action on a PPID (chunk), a subsequent filter for the same PPID has no effect. For example, if SCTP filter 1 specifies that the firewall send an
      alert
      for PPID
      SUA
      , then, if SCTP filter 3 specifies that the firewall
      block
      PPID
      SUA
      , SCTP filter 3 will never be applied because PPID
      SUA
      will always match filter 1 first and the firewall will take that action. However, you can select a filter and
      Move Up
      or
      Move Down
      to change its order in the SCTP Filtering list. You can also
      Delete
      a filter. In the search field ( ) enter a PPID and then search ( ) for that PPID in the list.
  11. Select
    Diameter Filtering
    to apply granular-level filtering on Diameter applications and their messages.
    1. Add
      a Diameter filter by
      Name
      using a maximum of 20 characters—numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, periods, hyphens, and underscores.
    2. Specify the
      Action
      the firewall takes on a chunk that includes any of the specified Diameter application IDs, command codes, or attribute-value pair (AVP) codes:
      • allow
        (default)—Allow the Diameter chunk to pass without modification
      • alert
        —Allow the chunk to pass without modification before inspecting the next chunk, and generate an SCTP log.
      • block
        —Nullify the chunk before inspecting the next chunk, and generate an SCTP log. The firewall nullifies the chunk by changing the data chunk payload slightly so that the data chunk is ignored by the endpoint.
      The firewall does not apply Diameter filtering on Data chunks that an endpoint has fragmented.
    3. Select a
      Diameter Application ID
      for which the firewall takes action or select
      any
      to configure the firewall to take the action you specified for all Diameter application IDs.
    4. Add
      one or more
      Diameter Command Codes
      from the list, or select
      Any
      . The only codes listed are those that apply to the Diameter Application ID you selected.
    5. Add
      one or more
      Diameter AVP
      codes or values (range is 1 to 16,777,215) or select
      Any
      .
    6. Click
      OK
      to save the Diameter filter. A chunk that matches any one of the AVP codes and any one of the Diameter command codes for the specified Diameter application ID matches the criteria for the filter.
    7. Add
      more Diameter filters for the SCTP Protection profile to filter additional Diameter applications and messages. The order of filters makes a difference. For example, if you configure the first Diameter filter with an application ID, a command code, and AVP 1032 with the action set to alert, and then you configure a second filter for the same application ID and command code but you configure it to block any AVP, then when a Diameter chunk with the specified application ID, command code, and AVP 1032 arrives, it matches the first filter and causes an alert but is never blocked. If the order of filters were reversed, the chunk with AVP 1032 would arrive and match the filter set to block the chunk with any AVP. To change the order, select a filter and
      Move Up
      or
      Move Down
      through the Diameter filtering list. You can also
      Delete
      a filter or select a filter and
      Clone
      it to make a copy of the filter, which you can modify. In the search field, enter a filter name and search ( ) for a Diameter filter.
    8. Click
      OK
      to save the Diameter filter.
  12. Select
    SS7 Filtering
    to apply granular-level filtering on applications using SCCP signaling and messages of MAP and CAP.
    1. Add
      an SS7 filter by
      Name
      using a maximum of 20 characters—numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, periods, hyphens, and underscores.
    2. Specify the
      Action
      the firewall takes on specified SS7 chunks:
      • allow
        (default)—Allow the chunk to pass without modification
      • alert
        —Allow the chunk to pass without modification before inspecting the next chunk, and generate an SCTP log.
      • block
        —Nullify the chunk before inspecting the next chunk, and generate an SCTP log. The firewall nullifies the chunk by changing the data chunk payload slightly so that the data chunk is ignored by the endpoint.
      The firewall does not apply SS7 filtering to Data chunks that an endpoint has fragmented.
    3. Select an
      SCCP Calling Party SSN
      entry or select
      any-map
      . If you select
      INAP
      or
      SCCP Management
      , you cannot enter an Operation Code.
    4. Add
      one or more
      SCCP Calling Party GT
      strings of digits (0 to 9); the minimum length is 1 and the maximum length is 15. Alternatively, select
      Any
      . A string of 1234567 does not match a data chunk in an SCCP Calling Party GT of 123456789012345. An asterisk (*) at the end of a string acts like a wildcard and matches any number of trailing digits in the SCCP Calling Party GT. For example, a string of 12345* matches an SCCP Calling Party GT of 123456789012345. Only one asterisk is allowed per string and it must be in the last position in the string.
      You can filter MAP and CAP messages in ANSI format using Calling Party SSN and Operation Code only.
    5. Add
      an
      Operation Code
      (or multiple codes) or select
      Any
      .
    6. Click
      OK
      to save the SS7 filter. An SS7 chunk that matches any one of the Operation Codes and any one of the SCCP Calling Party GT values for the specified SCCP Calling Party SSN matches the filter.
    7. Add
      more SS7 filters for the SCTP Protection profile to apply filtering on additional applications using SCCP signaling and messages of MAP and CAP. The order of filters makes a difference because the first filter that an SS7 chunk matches determines the action the firewall takes on the chunk. Select a filter and
      Move Up
      or
      Move Down
      through the SS7 filtering list. You can also
      Delete
      a filter or
      Clone
      a filter to make a copy and modify it. In the search field ( ), enter a filter name and search ( ) for an SS7 filter.
  13. Click
    OK
    to save the SCTP Protection profile. If none of the SCTP, Diameter, or SS7 filters match the SCTP packet, the firewall allows the packet by default.
  14. Apply the SCTP Protection profile to a Security policy rule.
    1. Select
      Policies
      Security
      and select a Security policy rule, or
      Add
      a new Security policy rule.
    2. For the
      Source Zone
      , select a zone that includes the interface where you want to secure SCTP associations.
    3. On the
      Application
      tab, select
      sctp
      as the App-ID.
      Other SCTP-based App-IDs (such as s1ap, diameter-over-sctp, and m3ua) become non-functional when you enable SCTP security.
    4. On the
      Actions
      tab, select an
      Action
      and in the Profile Setting section, select the
      SCTP Protection
      profile you just created.
    5. Continue to Create a Security Policy Rule, making sure that you allow packets from the proper IP address of each SCTP endpoint.
    6. Click
      OK
      to save the Security policy rule.
  15. (
    Optional
    ) Change the default SCTP session timeouts, which affect an SCTP Association. For example, if your SCTP endpoints use shorter or custom timeouts, you can adjust timeouts on the firewall to be more in line with your endpoint timeouts.
    1. Select
      Device
      Setup
      Session
      and edit the various Session Timeouts as needed:
      • SCTP INIT
        timeout (in seconds)—The maximum length of time after receiving an INIT chunk that the firewall must receive the INIT-ACK chunk before the firewall stops the SCTP association initiation (range is 1 to 60; default is 5).
      • SCTP COOKIE
        timeout (in seconds)—The maximum length of time after receiving an INIT-ACK chunk with the STATE COOKIE parameter that the firewall must receive the COOKIE ECHO chunk containing the cookie before the firewall stops the SCTP association initiation (range is 1 to 600; default is 60).
      • Discard SCTP
        timeout (in seconds)—The maximum length of time that an SCTP association remains open after it is denied based on a Security policy rule configured on the firewall (range is 1 to 604,800; default is 30).
      • SCTP
        timeout (in seconds)—The maximum length of time that an SCTP association and its related SCTP sessions remain open without a response after an SCTP association is in the Established state (after the handshake is complete and/or data is being transmitted); range is 1 to 604,800; default is 3,600.
      • SCTP Shutdown
        timeout (in seconds)—The maximum length of time that the firewall waits after a SHUTDOWN chunk to receive a SHUTDOWN-ACK chunk before the firewall stops the SCTP association termination (range is 1 to 600; default is 30).
    2. Click
      OK
      to save your SCTP session timeout changes.
  16. (
    Optional
    ) Configure the firewall to apply newly committed Security policy rules to SCTP sessions in progress.
    1. Select
      Device
      Setup
      Session
      and edit Session Settings.
    2. Select
      Rematch Sessions
      .
    3. Click
      OK
      .
  17. Commit
    your changes.

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