Re: Firewall on server itself

[Volker Kindermann <bugtraq () secspace de>]

> I am trying to set up a secure web server which will already be
> protected by a dedicated harware firewall.  The hardware firewall will
> be configured to protect the web server as well other computers on the
> network.  The web server will be running Red Hat 9.0.  Is there any
> reason to install and configure firewall software such as IPTables on
> the web server itself? Are there any advantaqes or disadvantages to
> having two firewalls set up this way?

Regarding one of the security principles (defense in depth) it will be
an advantage if you configure some iptables rules on this box.

Imagine the case that your hardware-firewall has a security flaw and is
cracked by an attacker. Then you'll have still the
iptables-protection. This is not true, if the hardware firewall is built
upon a linux system and uses iptables, too.

 -volker


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