Permissive allow rule is evaluated before restrictive rules
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
A wide open allow rule sits above deny rules in the same chain. Those deny rules only ever see traffic the wide rule did not already permit, which is usually the opposite of the intent.
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.
- Move the deny rules above the permissive allow rule.
- Narrow the permissive rule so it cannot swallow the traffic the deny rules target.
Command line
PAN-OS CLI, standalone firewall, vsys1
move vsys vsys1 rulebase security rules <object-name> before <anchor-rule-name>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 rulesValues to fill in2
- <object-name>
- The object's name, as it appears on your firewall
- <anchor-rule-name>
- The rule to place this one before
Before you type it1
- Rule order decides who reaches what. Choose the anchor deliberately.
How to confirm the fix
- Re-order and confirm with a policy match query that the deny rules now answer first.
Limits
- Deny rules placed low on purpose as a defense in depth backstop will match.
Compliance references
No benchmark recommendation is mapped to this control in this version.
More in Security Policies
- PAN-SEC-009Rule has no log forwarding profile
- PAN-SEC-019Earlier rule covers this rule with different behavior
- PAN-SEC-020Rule is redundant
- PAN-SEC-021Broad allow rule generalizes earlier specific rules
- PAN-SEC-040Two rules are exact duplicates
- PAN-SEC-041Two rules differ in one dimension and could be reviewed for consolidation
- PAN-SEC-042Duplicate rules log differently
- PAN-SEC-094Enabled rule names a zone only a disabled tunnel feeds
See it on your own firewall
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