Chapter 9: Access Control Lists

Routing & Switching

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Chapter 9
9.1 IP ACL Operation

9.2 Standard IPv4 ACLs

9.3 Extended IPv4 ACLSs 9.4 Contextual Unit: Debug with ACLs

9.5 Troubleshoot ACLs

9.6 Contextual Unit: IPv6 ACLs 9.7 Summary

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Chapter 9: Objectives
Explain how ACLs are used to filter traffic. Compare standard and extended IPv4 ACLs.

Explain how ACLs use wildcard masks.

Explain the guidelines for creating ACLs. Explain the guidelines for placement of ACLs.

Configure standard IPv4 ACLs to filter traffic according to networking requirements.

Modify a standard IPv4 ACL using sequence numbers.

Configure a standard ACL to secure vty access.

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Chapter 9: Objectives (continued)

Explain the structure of an extended access control entry (ACE).

Configure extended IPv4 ACLs to filter traffic according to networking requirements.

Configure an ACL to limit debug output.

Explain how a router processes packets when an ACL is applied.

Troubleshoot common ACL errors using CLI commands. Compare IPv4 and IPv6 ACL creation. Configure IPv6 ACLs to filter traffic according to networking requirements.
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Purpose of ACLs

What is an ACL?

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Purpose of ACLs

A TCP Conversation

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Purpose of ACLs

Packet Filtering
Packet filtering, sometimes called static packet filtering, controls access to a network by analyzing the incoming and outgoing packets and passing or dropping them based on given criteria, such as the source IP address, destination IP addresses, and the protocol carried within the packet. A router acts as a packet filter when it forwards or denies packets according to filtering rules. An ACL is a sequential list of permit or deny statements, known as access control entries (ACEs).

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Purpose of ACLs

Packet Filtering (Cont.)

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Purpose of ACLs

ACL Operation

The last statement of an ACL is always an implicit deny. This statement is automatically inserted at the end of each ACL even though it is not physically present. The implicit deny blocks all traffic. Because of this implicit deny, an ACL that does not have at least one permit statement will block all traffic.
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Standard versus Extended IPv4 ACLs

Types of Cisco IPv4 ACLs

Standard ACLs

Extended ACLs

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Standard versus Extended IPv4 ACLs

Numbering and Naming ACLs

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Wildcard Masks in ACLs

Introducing ACL Wildcard Masking

Wildcard masks and subnet masks differ in the way they match binary 1s and 0s. Wildcard masks use the following rules to match binary 1s and 0s: Wildcard mask bit 0 - Match the corresponding bit value in the address. Wildcard mask bit 1 - Ignore the corresponding bit value in the address. Wildcard masks are often referred to as an inverse mask. The reason is that, unlike a subnet mask in which binary 1 is equal to a match and binary 0 is not a match, in a wildcard mask the reverse is true.
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Wildcard Masks in ACLs

Wildcard Mask Examples: Hosts / Subnets

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Wildcard Masks in ACLs

Wildcard Mask Examples: Match Ranges

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Wildcard Masks in ACLs

Calculating the Wildcard Mask

Calculating wildcard masks can be challenging. One shortcut method is to subtract the subnet mask from 255.255.255.255.

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Wildcard Masks in ACLs

Wildcard Mask Keywords

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Wildcard Masks in ACLs

Examples Wildcard Mask Keywords

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Guidelines for ACL creation

General Guidelines for Creating ACLs

Use ACLs in firewall routers positioned between your internal network and an external network such as the Internet. Use ACLs on a router positioned between two parts of your network to control traffic entering or exiting a specific part of your internal network. Configure ACLs on border routers, that is routers situated at the edges of your networks.

Configure ACLs for each network protocol configured on the border router interfaces.

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Guidelines for ACL creation

General Guidelines for Creating ACLs (cont.)

The Three Ps One ACL per protocol - To control traffic flow on an interface, an ACL must be defined for each protocol enabled on the interface.

One ACL per direction - ACLs control traffic in one direction at a time on an interface. Two separate ACLs must be created to control inbound and outbound traffic. One ACL per interface - ACLs control traffic for an interface, for example, GigabitEthernet 0/0.

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Guidelines for ACL creation

ACL Best Practices

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Guidelines for ACL Placement

Where to Place ACLs

Every ACL should be placed where it has the greatest impact on efficiency. The basic rules are: Extended ACLs - Locate extended ACLs as close as possible to the source of the traffic to be filtered.

Standard ACLs - Because standard ACLs do not specify destination addresses, place them as close to the destination as possible.
Placement of the ACL and therefore the type of ACL used may also depend on: the extent of the network administrators control, bandwidth of the networks involved, and ease of configuration.
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Guidelines for ACL Placement

Standard ACL Placement

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Guidelines for ACL Placement

Extended ACL Placement

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Configure Standard IPv4 ACLs

Entering Criteria Statements

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Configure Standard IPv4 ACLs

Configuring a Standard ACL

Example ACL
access-list 2 deny host 192.168.10.10 access-list 2 permit 192.168.10.0 0.0.0.255 access-list 2 deny 192.168.0.0 0.0.255.255 access-list 2 permit 192.0.0.0 0.255.255.255
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Configure Standard IPv4 ACLs

Configuring a Standard ACL (cont.)

The full syntax of the standard ACL command is as follows:
Router(config)# access-list access-list-number deny permit remark source [ source-wildcard ] [ log ]

To remove the ACL, the global configuration no accesslist command is used. The remark keyword is used for documentation and makes access lists a great deal easier to understand.

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Configure Standard IPv4 ACLs

Internal Logic
Cisco IOS applies an internal logic when accepting and processing standard access list statements. As discussed previously, access list statements are processed sequentially. Therefore, the order in which statements are entered is important.

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Configure Standard IPv4 ACLs

Applying Standard ACLs to Interfaces

After a standard ACL is configured, it is linked to an interface using the ip access-group command in interface configuration mode: Router(config-if)# ip access-group { access-list-number | access-list-name } { in | out } To remove an ACL from an interface, first enter the no ip access-group command on the interface, and then enter the global no access-list command to remove the entire ACL.

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Configure Standard IPv4 ACLs

Applying Standard ACLs to Interfaces (Cont.)

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Configure Standard IPv4 ACLs

Creating Named Standard ACLs

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Configure Standard IPv4 ACLs

Commenting ACLs

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Modify IPv4 ACLs

Editing Standard Numbered ACLs

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Modify IPv4 ACLs

Editing Standard Numbered ACLs (cont.)

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Modify IPv4 ACLs

Editing Standard Named ACLs

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Modify IPv4 ACLs

Verifying ACLs

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Modify IPv4 ACLs

ACL Statistics

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Modify IPv4 ACLs

Standard ACL Sequence Numbers

Another part of the IOS internal logic involves the internal sequencing of standard ACL statements. Range statements that deny three networks are configured first followed by five host statements. The host statements are all valid statements because their host IP addresses are not part of the previously entered range statements. The host statements are listed first by the show command, but not necessarily in the order that they were entered. The IOS puts host statements in an order using a special hashing function. The resulting order optimizes the search for a host ACL entry.
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Securing VTY ports with a Standard IPv4 ACL

Configuring a Standard ACL to Secure a VTY Port

Filtering Telnet or SSH traffic is typically considered an extended IP ACL function because it filters a higher level protocol. However, because the access-class command is used to filter incoming or outgoing Telnet/SSH sessions by source address, a standard ACL can be used. Router(config-line)# access-class access-list-number { in [ vrf-also ] | out }

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Securing VTY ports with a Standard IPv4 ACL

Verifying a Standard ACL used to Secure a VTY Port

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Structure of an Extended IPv4 ACL

Extended ACLs

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Structure of an Extended IPv4 ACL

Extended ACLs (Cont.)

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Configure Extended IPv4 ACLs

Configuring Extended ACLs

The procedural steps for configuring extended ACLs are the same as for standard ACLs. The extended ACL is first configured, and then it is activated on an interface. However, the command syntax and parameters are more complex to support the additional features provided by extended ACLs.

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Configure Extended IPv4 ACLs

Applying Extended ACLs to Interfaces

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Configure Extended IPv4 ACLs

Filtering Traffic with Extended ACLs

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Configure Extended IPv4 ACLs

Creating Named Extended ACLs

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Configure Extended IPv4 ACLs

Verifying Extended ACLs

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Configure Extended IPv4 ACLs

Editing Extended ACLs

Editing an extended ACL can be accomplished using the same process as editing a standard. An extended ACL can be modified using: Method 1 - Text editor

Method 2 Sequence numbers

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Processing Packets with ACLs

Inbound ACL Logic

Packets are tested against an inbound ACL, if one exists, before being routed. If an inbound packet matches an ACL statement with a permit, it is sent to be routed.

If an inbound packet matches an ACL statement with a deny, it is dropped and not routed.
If an inbound packet does not meet any ACL statements, then it is implicitly denied and dropped without being routed.

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Processing Packets with ACLs

Outbound ACL Logic

Packets are first checked for a route before being sent to an outbound interface. If there is no route, the packets are dropped. If an outbound interface has no ACL, then the packets are sent directly to that interface. If there is an ACL on the outbound interface, it is tested before being sent to that interface. If an outbound packet matches an ACL statement with a permit, it is sent to the interface.

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Processing Packets with ACLs

Outbound ACL Logic (cont.)

If an outbound packet matches an ACL statement with a deny, it is dropped. If an outbound packet does not meet any ACL statements, then it is implicitly denied and dropped.

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Processing Packets with ACLs

ACL Logic Operations

When a packet arrives at a router interface, the router process is the same, whether ACLs are used or not. As a frame enters an interface, the router checks to see whether the destination Layer 2 address matches its the interface Layer 2 address or if the frame is a broadcast frame. If the frame address is accepted, the frame information is stripped off and the router checks for an ACL on the inbound interface. If an ACL exists, the packet is tested against the statements in the list.

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Processing Packets with ACLs

ACL Logic Operations (cont.)

If the packet is accepted, it is then checked against routing table entries to determine the destination interface. If a routing table entry exists for the destination, the packet is then switched to the outgoing interface, otherwise the packet is dropped.

Next, the router checks whether the outgoing interface has an ACL. If an ACL exists, the packet is tested against the statements in the list.
If there is no ACL or the packet is permitted, the packet is encapsulated in the new Layer 2 protocol and forwarded out the interface to the next device.

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Processing Packets with ACLs

Standard ACL Decision Process

Standard ACLs only examine the source IPv4 address. The destination of the packet and the ports involved are not considered. Cisco IOS software tests addresses against the conditions in the ACL. The first match determines whether the software accepts or rejects the address. Because the software stops testing conditions after the first match, the order of the conditions is critical. If no conditions match, the address is rejected.

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Processing Packets with ACLs

Extended ACL Decision Process

The ACL first filters on the source address, then on the port and protocol of the source. It then filters on the destination address, then on the port and protocol of the destination, and makes a final permit or deny decision.

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Common ACLs Errors

Troubleshooting Common ACL Errors - Example 1

Host 192.168.10.10

has no connectivity
with 192.168.30.12.

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Common ACLs Errors

Troubleshooting Common ACL Errors Example 2

The 192.168.10.0 /24

network cannot use

TFTP to connect to the 192.168.30.0 /24

network.

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Common ACLs Errors

Troubleshooting Common ACL Errors Example 3

The 192.168.11.0 /24 network can use Telnet to connect to 192.168.30.0 /24, but according to company policy, this connection should not be allowed.

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Common ACLs Errors

Troubleshooting Common ACL Errors Example 4

Host 192.168.30.12 is able to Telnet to connect to 192.168.31.12, but company policy states that this connection should not be allowed.

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Common ACLs Errors

Troubleshooting Common ACL Errors Example 5

Host 192.168.30.12 can use Telnet to connect to 192.168.31.12, but according to the security policy, this connection should not be allowed.

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IPv6 ACL Creation

Type of IPv6 ACLs

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IPv6 ACL Creation

Comparing IPv4 and IPv6 ACLs

Although IPv4 and IPv6 ACLs are very similar, there are three significant differences between them. Applying an IPv6 ACL
IPv6 uses the ipv6 traffic-filter command to perform the same function for IPv6 interfaces.

No Wildcard Masks
The prefix-length is used to indicate how much of an IPv6 source or destination address should be matched.

Additional Default Statements

permit icmp any any nd-na permit icmp any any nd-ns

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Configuring IPv6 ACLs

Configuring IPv6 Topology

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Configuring IPv6 ACLs

Configuring IPv6 ACLs

There are three basic steps to configure an IPv6 ACL: 1. From global configuration mode, use the ipv6 access-list name command to create an IPv6 ACL. 2. From the named ACL configuration mode, use the permit or deny statements to specify one or more conditions to determine if a packet is forwarded or dropped. 3. Return to privileged EXEC mode with the end command.

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Configuring IPv6 ACLs

Applying an IPv6 ACL to an Interface

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Configuring IPv6 ACLs

IPv6 ACL Examples

Deny FTP

Restrict Access

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Configuring IPv6 ACLs

Verifying IPv6 ACLs

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Chapter 9: Summary
By default a router does not filter traffic. Traffic that enters the router is routed solely based on information within the routing table.

Packet filtering, controls access to a network by analyzing the incoming and outgoing packets and passing or dropping them based on criteria such as the source IP address, destination IP addresses, and the protocol carried within the packet.
A packet-filtering router uses rules to determine whether to permit or deny traffic. A router can also perform packet filtering at Layer 4, the transport layer.

An ACL is a sequential list of permit or deny statements.

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Chapter 9: Summary (cont.)

The last statement of an ACL is always an implicit deny which blocks all traffic. To prevent the implied deny any statement at the end of the ACL from blocking all traffic, the permit ip any any statement can be added. When network traffic passes through an interface configured with an ACL, the router compares the information within the packet against each entry, in sequential order, to determine if the packet matches one of the statements. If a match is found, the packet is processed accordingly. ACLs are configured to apply to inbound traffic or to apply to outbound traffic.

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Chapter 9: Summary (cont.)

Standard ACLs can be used to permit or deny traffic only from source IPv4 addresses. The destination of the packet and the ports involved are not evaluated. The basic rule for placing a standard ACL is to place it close to the destination. Extended ACLs filter packets based on several attributes: protocol type, source or destination IPv4 address, and source or destination ports. The basic rule for placing an extended ACL is to place it as close to the source as possible.

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Chapter 9: Summary (cont.)

The access-list global configuration command defines a standard ACL with a number in the range of 1 to 99 or an extended ACL with numbers in the range of 100 to 199 and 2000 to 2699. Both standard and extended ACLs can be named. The ip access-list standard name is used to create a standard named ACL, whereas the command ip accesslist extended name is for an extended access list. IPv4 ACL statements include the use of wildcard masks. After an ACL is configured, it is linked to an interface using the ip access-group command in interface configuration mode.

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Chapter 9: Summary (cont.)

Remember the three Ps, one ACL per protocol, per direction, per interface. To remove an ACL from an interface, first enter the no ip access-group command on the interface, and then enter the global no access-list command to remove the entire ACL. The show running-config and show access-lists commands are used to verify ACL configuration. The show ip interface command is used to verify the ACL on the interface and the direction in which it was applied.

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Chapter 9: Summary (cont.)

The access-class command configured in line configuration mode restricts incoming and outgoing connections between a particular VTY and the addresses in an access list. Like IPv4 named ACLs, IPv6 names are alphanumeric, case sensitive and must be unique. Unlike IPv4, there is no need for a standard or extended option.

From global configuration mode, use the ipv6 accesslist name command to create an IPv6 ACL. The prefixlength is used to indicate how much of an IPv6 source or destination address should be matched. After an IPv6 ACL is configured, it is linked to an interface using the ipv6 traffic-filter command.
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