Allow rule matches any application
At a glance
Base severity
Area
Platform
Evidence level
Benchmark reference
Reads the export, not the device
ConfigProof reads a configuration export. This control is evaluated against the objects in that file, and it reports what the file says. It does not connect to the device and sees no traffic, so a finding here describes the configuration, not what the firewall is doing right now.
Why it matters
An allow rule with application any does not limit which applications may pass: any application matches on the addresses and ports the rule allows, and with service application-default each one only on its default ports.
How to fix it
Web interface
The steps below are written for the web interface. A finding raised on your own export carries the same steps with your object names filled in.
- Run a policy optimizer or traffic log review to list the applications actually seen on this rule.
- Replace application any with that list, plus their implicit dependencies.
- Set service to application-default once the applications are pinned.
Command line
PAN-OS CLI, standalone firewall, vsys1
set vsys vsys1 rulebase security rules <object-name> application <application>An example. Values in angle brackets are yours to supply; a finding on your own export fills in the names it read. Nothing here commits. Review the candidate configuration, then commit it yourself.
Read it back
show vsys vsys1 rulebase security rules <object-name>Values to fill in2
- <object-name>
- The object's name, as it appears on your firewall
- <application>
- The application or applications this rule should match
Before you type it1
- Narrowing this changes who reaches what. Confirm the new set covers the traffic the application needs.
How to confirm the fix
- Compare the application list against a week of traffic logs for this rule before committing.
- Watch for denied sessions on the new list for one business cycle.
Limits
- Temporary discovery rules built to learn traffic legitimately use any. Tag them and set an expiry.
Compliance references
No benchmark recommendation is mapped to this control in this version.
More in Security Policies
- PAN-SEC-001Allow rule matches any source and any destination
- PAN-SEC-003Allow rule matches any service
- PAN-SEC-004Disabled rule left in the rulebase
- PAN-SEC-005Rule has no description and no tag
- PAN-SEC-006Temporary rule with no schedule or expiry
- PAN-SEC-007Allow rule with logging fully disabled
- PAN-SEC-008Rule does not log at session end
- PAN-SEC-009Rule has no log forwarding profile
See it on your own firewall
One complete analysis of one firewall costs nothing. A card is required and nothing is charged.