break HTTPS Domain Filter for HTTPS traffic

PeterUK
PeterUK Posts: 2,655  Guru Member
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edited August 2022 in Security

Zywall 110 V4.72(AAAA.0)ITS-22WK28-r104687

I seem to have found a way to break HTTPS Domain Filter for HTTPS traffic when editing the zywall 110 content filter and needing to be rebooted to fix it.

So heres what I'm doing the HTTPS Domain Filter for HTTPS traffic is broken (not sure how yet I hope I can make it happen again) I have a Profile grc3 with custom service tab enable Custom Service and Check Common Trusted/Forbidden List checked in Forbidden Web Sites I have *.grc*.com then in policy control top rule with grc3 for HTTP and HTTPS taffic.

I can get to GRC.com! So changing nothing I reboot and NOW GRC.com is blocked so...time to brake it!

I go to the policy control uncheck content filter set to none and ok

go to content filter remove grc3

add a new profile name grc4 go to custom service tab enable Custom Service and Check Common Trusted/Forbidden List checked in Forbidden Web Sites I have *.grc*.com go back to policy control to add grc4 grc does not load uncheck content filter grc4 can get to grc.com re-enable can't get to grc.com....ok remove the policy control rule and add it back in grc blocked disable/Enable HTTPS Domain Filter for HTTPS traffic still blocked removed *.grc*.com test grc it loads add grc.com in Forbidden Web Sites grc loads...remove grc.com add *.grc*.com and YES grc loads so changing nothing reboot and... NOW HTTPS Domain Filter for HTTPS traffic works.


Best Answers

  • Zyxel_James
    Zyxel_James Posts: 606  Zyxel Employee
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    Answer ✓

    Hello @peterUK

    According to your newer clip provided, I'm more sure it's a cache problem instead of an issue although it's not intuition that you need to clear the content filter cache before blocking.

    In your clip, nordvpn.com was loaded first, so the device had the cache already. It's no doubt that you need to clear the cache before blocking it again.

    James

  • PeterUK
    PeterUK Posts: 2,655  Guru Member
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    Answer ✓

    Yes I get now the cache has to have a allow mainly for the content filter category or it be looking up all the time! so one quick fix would be to have the debug command run on a change to profile.

«1

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  • smb_corp_user
    smb_corp_user Posts: 145  Ally Member
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    Sorry for nitpicking, please use the spelling "break" instead of "brake" when saying that something has stopped working. The word "brake" means to slow down, like using the brakes in your car or other vehicle. Use "break" to mean that something gets destroyed. (Thank you in advance.)
  • I think it could be browser cache or content filter cache. You may use an incognito browser, and clear TCP sessions, CF cache before tests.
    Router#debug conntrack flush    //clear TCP sessions
    Router(config)#content filter cf-queue flush   //clear Content filter cache
  • PeterUK
    PeterUK Posts: 2,655  Guru Member
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    Now that I'm the proud own of services with USG FLEX200 on V5.35 this is still a problem!



  • mMontana
    mMontana Posts: 1,298  Guru Member
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    New hashtags for firmwares: #keepingbugs.
  • Zyxel_James
    Zyxel_James Posts: 606  Zyxel Employee
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    Hello @peterUK
    Since the paragraph has no punctuation, I'm not sure I understand right, please correct me if the steps are wrong. 

    1. create a Content Filter profile "grc3", enable Custom Service and Check Common Trusted/Forbidden List, add *.grc*.com to Forbidden Web Sites, and apply to LAN1_outgoing >> grc.com is blocked
    At this first step, you need to reboot the device to make the block work, I think it's a cache problem. You should use an incognito browser, and clear TCP sessions and CF cache before every tests.
    Router#debug conntrack flush    //clear TCP sessions
    Router(config)#content filter cf-queue flush   //clear Content filter cache
    Moreover, you can clear dns cache by ipconfig/flushdns

    2. Remove "grc3" from LAN1_outgoing and go to grc.com >> grc.com is loaded which is normal because CF profile is removed.

    3. Create another CF profile "grc4" with the same settings and apply it to LAN1_outgoing >> grc.com is loaded. But actually, it's a browser cache problem. If you clear the browser cache and input the suggested command and ipconfig/flushdns, the page is blocked again.

    4. The result is the same for the rest steps. If you clear browser cache and dns cache, the page is blocked again.

    I suggest clearing the browser cache and DNS cache every time you test the blocked site, thank you.

    James
  • PeterUK
    PeterUK Posts: 2,655  Guru Member
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    edited January 2023

    Hi James thanks for your interest in this have tested again doing browser cache clearing there is still a issue.

    So this really is broken if you put in grc.com for Forbidden instead of *grc*.com even with browser cached if you don't test this yourself you will never know how bad this bug is.


  • PeterUK
    PeterUK Posts: 2,655  Guru Member
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    Ok update I have found why your not seeing it as its because your not testing with a bridge in my case WAN1 and DMZ are in a bridge the IP does not matter I use 127.255.255.125/30 PC on DMZ and internet on WAN1 as normal.


    With a policy control for DMZ to WAN and the content filter rule

    Then test with Forbidden Web Sites *grc*.com all is fine its blocked

    Change Forbidden Web Sites to grc.com with browser cache cleared you can get to grc.com

    Change Forbidden Web Sites back to *grc*.com with browser cache cleared you can still get to grc.com at which point you have to reboot the USG for content filter to work again.

  • Zyxel_James
    Zyxel_James Posts: 606  Zyxel Employee
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    @PeterUK, thanks for the details information.
    I can reproduce the symptom with DMZ bridge and your steps. However, I will check on this and get back to you when there is any progress, thank you.
  • PeterUK
    PeterUK Posts: 2,655  Guru Member
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    edited February 2023
    I have posted a this in Zyxel Support Campus under
    #355158
    One fix would be when you input like grc.com it auto enter it to *.grc*.com
  • Zyxel_James
    Zyxel_James Posts: 606  Zyxel Employee
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    Hello @peterUK
    Except for the commands I suggested, please input these commands as well
    debug content-filter https-domain-filter cache flush
    debug system dmesg clean| match "grc"
    I also suggest using an incognito browser for testing.

    I reproduce the steps with input the commands before tests, and the website is blocked. It's a cache issue.

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