Firewall Wizards mailing list archives
Re: Prohibiting SSL VPNs
From: Frederick M Avolio <fred () avolio com>
Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 14:27:06 -0400
At 01:40 PM 5/20/2004 +0300, John Kougoulos wrote:
... Does anybody have any ideas on how I could prohibit the usage of SSL VPNs like the one offered by F5 (Firepass), since this requires only the ability for the client to make an https connection (bypassing any kind of firewall/proxy)? Since this product (or any similar) creates some kind of PPP connection over https, installs routes on the PC etc. it will create a lot of problems. (see also: Worms, Air Gaps etc) ...
Generally speaking, SSL VPNs require authentication and then provide access control. IE, to call itself a "VPN" and SSL device has to do more than just do SSL (or TLS) encryption and server authentication. It has to also provide access control. Firepass, for example, supports strong authentication and access control and passed ICSA Labs SSL VPN certification.
But, to answer your question, rather than just suggest it is based on a false premise, you could 1) write a policy that outlaws their use and 2) disallow SSL or TLS through the firewall (or other intrusion prevention device).
DISCLOSURE: I've done consulting work for SSL VPN vendors in the past (writing papers for Aventail and Whale Communications) and consult for ICSA Labs in the SSL-TLS Consortium program.
Fred Avolio Consulting, Inc. URL: http://www.avolio.com/ Weblog: http://www.avolio.com/weblog/ AIM: fmavolio, Yahoo Messenger: avolio, MSN Messenger: fred () avolio com PGP Key Fingerprint: 928D 0903 934F 8CFA 6124 BBF6 0B45 93C7 3521 CEA0 _______________________________________________ firewall-wizards mailing list firewall-wizards () honor icsalabs com http://honor.icsalabs.com/mailman/listinfo/firewall-wizards
Current thread:
- Prohibiting SSL VPNs John Kougoulos (May 21)
- Re: Prohibiting SSL VPNs Frederick M Avolio (May 21)
- Re: Prohibiting SSL VPNs John Kougoulos (May 25)
- Re: Prohibiting SSL VPNs Paul D. Robertson (May 21)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- RE: Prohibiting SSL VPNs Melson, Paul (May 21)
- RE: Prohibiting SSL VPNs Desai, Ashish (May 21)
- Re: Prohibiting SSL VPNs Frederick M Avolio (May 21)