Enable Logging of SSL Negotiation Errors

Problem Definition:

By default, the Web access service does not log error messages when a client attempts to connect using an invalid SSL protocol, or if SSL negotiation fails.  This article describes how to enable this additional logging through the use of a hand edit of a configuration file on the appliance.

Procedure:

Warning  SonicWall strongly recommends that users not familiar or comfortable with the "vi" command or the command line contact SonicWall product support for assistance.  Always back up your configuration before performing hand edits. Use the command line at your own risk. See KB item #2500 for some suggestions on enabling SSH access to the appliance and getting onto the command line.

1. Using vi, edit /usr/local/app/mgmt-server/datastore/pending/sysconf/avconfig.xml.
2. In this file, look for ewConf.
3. Directly under ewConf will be a line that looks like this:
   <logType>FFFFF7BF</logType>
4. Change FFFFF7BF to FFFFFFFF.
5. Save the file and exit vi.
6. Using KB #2612 as the starting point, change the ExtrawebHup line from current to pending in changestate.properties.
7. Save the file and exit vi.
8. Restart AMC by running this command:
   /etc/init.d/mgmt-server restart
9. After AMC restarts, log back in and apply changes.

After making this change, the Web access service will begin logging SSL negotiation failures, as in the following example.  This was from an Internet Explorer 7 client that was using SSLv2 when connecting to an appliance:

[14/Apr/2009:06:08:29.068381 -0700] node1 005611 ew 10000005 Info    Audit   VirtualHost='192.168.200.122' StartTime='14/Apr/2009 06:08:29 -0700' Src='192.168.200.162' User='-' Method='GET' HTTPVersion='0x3e9' Request='GET / HTTP/1.1' Status='302' Bytes='323' EquipmentId='-'
[14/Apr/2009:06:08:29.143481 -0700] node1 005611 ew 10000000 Info    Apache ::APACHE:: Connection to child 6 established (server 192.168.200.122:80)
[14/Apr/2009:06:08:29.143841 -0700] node1 005611 ew 10000000 Info    Apache ::APACHE:: Seeding PRNG with 392 bytes of entropy
[14/Apr/2009:06:08:29.144204 -0700] node1 005611 ew 10000000 Info    Apache ::APACHE:: SSL library error 1 in handshake (server xweb-ext:443)
[14/Apr/2009:06:08:29.144274 -0700] node1 005611 ew 10000000 Info    Apache ::APACHE:: SSL Library Error: 336027900 error:140760FC:SSL routines:SSL23_GET_CLIENT_HELLO:unknown protocol speaking not SSL to HTTPS port!?
[14/Apr/2009:06:08:29.144283 -0700] node1 005611 ew 10000000 Info    Apache ::APACHE:: Connection closed to child 6 with abortive shutdown (server xweb-ext:443)

Affected SonicWall Security Appliance Platforms:

E-Class Secure Remote Access (EX SSL-VPN): All hardware platforms