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    Next-Generation Firewall

    Device > Certificate Management > SSL Decryption Exclusion

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    Device > Certificate Management > SSL Decryption Exclusion

    View and manage SSL/TLS decryption exclusions
    . There are two types of decryption exclusions, predefined exclusions and custom exclusions:
    • Predefined decryption exclusions allow applications and services that might break when the firewall decrypts them to remain encrypted. Palo Alto Networks defines and regularly updates the list of predefined decryption exclusions as part of Applications and Threats content updates. Predefined exclusions are enabled by default, but you can disable them as needed.
    • You can create custom decryption exclusions to exclude server traffic from decryption. All traffic originating from or destined to the targeted server remains encrypted.
      You can also exclude traffic from decryption
      based on application, source, destination, URL category, or service.
    Use the settings on this page to modify or add a decryption exclusion and to manage decryption exclusions.
    SSL Decryption Exclusions Settings
    Description
    Modify or Add a Decryption Exclusion
    Hostname
    Enter a Hostname to define a custom decryption exclusion. The firewall compares the hostname to the SNI requested by the client or to the CN presented in the server certificate. The firewall excludes sessions in which the server presents a CN that contains the defined domain from decryption.
    You can use asterisks (*) as wildcards to create decryption exclusions for multiple hostnames associated with a domain. Asterisks behave the same way that carets (^) behave for URL category exceptions—each asterisk controls one variable subdomain (label) in the hostname. This enables you to create both very specific and very general exclusions. For example:
    • mail.*.com matches mail.company.com but does not match mail.company.sso.com
    • *.company.com matches tools.company.com but does not match eng.tools.company.com
    • *.*.company.com matches eng.tools.company.com but does not match eng.company.com
    • *.*.*.company.com matches corp.exec.mail.company.com but does not match corp.mail.company.com
    • mail.google.* matches mail.google.com but does not match mail.google.uk.com
    • mail.google.*.* matches mail.google.co.uk but does not match mail.google.com
    To exclude video-stats.video.google.com from decryption but not video.google.com, add *.*.google.com to the SSL Decryption Exclusion list.
    Hostnames should be unique for each entry. If a predefined entry is delivered to the firewall that matches an existing custom entry, the custom entry takes precedence.
    You cannot edit the hostname for a predefined decryption exclusion.
    Shared
    Select Shared to share a decryption exclusion across all virtual systems in a multiple virtual system firewall.
    While predefined decryption exclusions are shared by default, you can enable and disable both predefined and custom entries for a specific virtual system.
    Description
    (Optional) Describe the application that you are excluding from decryption, including why the application breaks when decrypted.
    Exclude
    Exclude the application from decryption. Disable this option to start decrypting an application that was previously excluded from decryption.
    Manage Decryption Exclusions
    Enable
    Enable one or more entries to exclude them from decryption.
    Disable
    Disable one or more predefined decryption exclusions. This effectively removes support for the applications because they break decryption.
    Use this option to ensure certain encrypted applications do not enter your network.
    Show obsoletes
    Select Show obsoletes to view predefined entries that Palo Alto Networks no longer defines as decryption exclusions.
    More about obsolete entries:
    Updates to predefined decryption exclusions (including the removal of a predefined entry) are delivered to the firewall as part of Applications and Threats content updates. Predefined entries with Exclude from decryption enabled are automatically removed from the list of SSL decryption exclusions when the firewall receives a content update that no longer includes that entry.
    However, predefined entries with Exclude from decryption disabled remain on the SSL decryption exclusion list even after the firewall receives a content update that no longer includes that entry. When you select Show obsoletes, you will see disabled predefined entries that are no longer enforced. You can remove these entries manually as needed.
    Show Local Exclusion Cache
    Show Local Exclusion Cache displays sites that the firewall automatically excluded from decryption due to technical issues that prevent decryption, such as pinned certificates, client authentication, or unsupported ciphers. Each cache entry includes information about the application, the server, the reason the firewall excluded the site from decryption, the decryption profile applied to the traffic, and the virtual system (vsys).
    The firewall populates the Local SSL Decryption Cache with locally discovered decryption exceptions, based on the settings of the decryption profile associated with the decryption policy rule that controls the traffic. Sites remain in the local cache for 12 hours and then age out.
    The Local SSL Decryption Cache differs from the SSL Decryption Exclusion List (DeviceCertificate ManagementSSL Decryption Exclusion). The SSL Decryption Exclusion List is for more permanent exclusions. It contains predefined sites identified by Palo Alto Networks as preventing decryption and exclusions you choose to add.

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