How can I configure the SonicWall to mitigate DDoS attacks?

10/23/2024 733 People found this article helpful 500,888 Views

Description

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is an attempt to make an online service unavailable by overwhelming it with traffic from multiple sources. There are three types of DDoS attacks. Layer 3,Layer 4 DDoS attacks and Layer 7 DDoS attack.

Layer 3 / 4 DDoS attacks

The majority of DDoS attacks focus on targeting the Transport and Network Layers of the OSI Model. These types of attacks are usually comprised of volumetric floods that aim to overwhelm the target devices, denying or consuming resources until they're unreachable. In these types of DDoS attacks, malicious traffic (TCP / UDP) is used to flood the victim.

Layer 7 DDoS attacks

Application-layer DDoS attacks are some of the most difficult attacks to mitigate against because they mimic human behavior as they interact with the user interface. A sophisticated Layer 7 DDoS attack may target specific areas of a website, making it even more difficult to separate from normal traffic.

Resolution

Resolution for SonicOS 7.X

This release includes significant user interface changes and many new features that are different from the SonicOS 6.5 and earlier firmware. The below resolution is for customers using SonicOS 7.X firmware.

CAUTION: Please be aware that mitigating DDoS Attacks at the Firewall level is far less effective than at the ISP level. Once packets have made it to the Firewall, typically the network edge device, they're going to overwhelm your network such that it will be hard for traffic to get in or out. Mitigating DDoS at the firewall level will allow you to preserve and protect internal resources so that internal users may still be able to function and sensitive information isn't compromised.

DDoS Protection Checklist

In order to help harden your network against DDoS Attacks at the firewall level, please follow the below steps. These are presented in no particular order.

Enable Intrusion Prevention

Click on POLICY, Navigate to Security Services | Intrusion Prevention. Ensure that your settings mirror the screenshot below.

NOTE: To enforce SonicWall IPS not only between each Network Zone and the WAN, but also between internal zones, you should also apply SonicWall IPS to zones on the OBJECT | Match Object | Zones Page .

Block unused Ports from the WAN to the Internal Network

Navigate to POLICY | Rules and Policies > Access Rules
Check the WAN to LAN, WAN to DMZ, WAN to WLAN, and WAN to any Custom Zones access rules.
Ensure that any Allow rules are specified by Service (Port) as well as Source IP if possible.

Enable Flood Protection

Navigate to NETWORK | Firewall > Flood Protection
Enable UDP Flood Protection and ICMP Flood Protection.
Set TCP Flood Protection to Proxy WAN Client Connections when attack is suspected. This option will be available under Layer 3 SYN Flood Protection - SYN Proxy tab
CAUTION: Proxy WAN Connections will cause External Users who trigger the Flood Protection feature to be blocked from connecting to internal resources. If there is a chance any Users can generate a false positive for this feature it is recommended to leave TCP Flood Protection in Watch and Report mode.

Enable Geo-IP Filter and Botnet Filter

Many DDoS attacks occur when infected machines under the control of a few individuals are all directed at one target. Often these attacks come from certain Countries and do not have their IP Addresses obfuscated. By using the Geo-IP Filter and Botnet Filter on the SonicWall it is possible to drop these packets as they attempt to enter your network which can aid the SonicWall in keeping your network reachable.

Navigate to POLICY | Security Services > Geo-IP Filter
In the Settings Tab, Enable Block connections to/from countries selected in the Countries tab.
Select the countries you'd like to block from the table provided under the Countries - Allowed Countries tab, you can Drag and Drop the Countries name to move them under the Blocked Countries.
Click Accept at the bottom.

CAUTION: This feature will block Outbound Connections to any device that has a Public IP Address associated with the selected country. If you'd like to setup Geo-IP Filter for a more granular block please reference How to configure SonicWall Geo-IP Filter using Firewall Access Rules.

NOTE: Botnet IP addresses are maintained by SonicWall for internal use. If you'd like to test a Domain/IP for possibly being flagged as a Botnet, navigate to POLICY | Security Services | Botnet Filter | Diagnostics and enter the desired IP Address in the Lookup IP Tool.

CAUTION: This feature will block Outbound Connections to any device that has a Public IP Address associated with the selected country.

Navigate to POLICY | Security Services | Botnet Filter
In the Settings tab, Enable Block connections to/from Botnet Command and Control Servers
Click on Accept

Resolution for SonicOS 6.5

This release includes significant user interface changes and many new features that are different from the SonicOS 6.2 and earlier firmware. The below resolution is for customers using SonicOS 6.5 firmware.

CAUTION: Please be aware that mitigating DDoS Attacks at the Firewall level is far less effective than at the ISP level. Once packets have made it to the Firewall, typically the network edge device, they're going to overwhelm your network such that it will be hard for traffic to get in or out. Mitigating DDoS at the firewall level will allow you to preserve and protect internal resources so that internal users may still be able to function and sensitive information isn't compromised.

DDoS Protection Checklist

In order to help harden your network against DDoS Attacks at the firewall level, please follow the below steps. These are presented in no particular order.

Enable Intrusion Prevention

Click on MANAGE , navigate to Security Services | IPS. Ensure that your settings mirror the screenshot below.

NOTE: To enforce SonicWall IPS not only between each Network Zone and the WAN, but also between internal zones, you should also apply SonicWall IPS to zones on the Network | Zones Page .

Block unused Ports from the WAN to the Internal Network

Navigate to Rules | Access Rules.
Check the WAN to LAN, WAN to DMZ, WAN to WLAN, and WAN to any Custom Zones access rules.
Ensure that any Allow rules are specified by Service (Port) as well as Source IP if possible.

Enable Flood Protection

Navigate to Firewall Settings | Flood Protection.
Enable UDP Flood Protection and ICMP Flood Protection.
Set TCP Flood Protection to Proxy WAN Client Connections when attack is suspected.
CAUTION: Proxy WAN Connections will cause External Users who trigger the Flood Protection feature to be blocked from connecting to internal resources. If there is a chance any Users can generate a false positive for this feature it is recommended to leave TCP Flood Protection in Watch and Report mode.

Enable Geo-IP Filter and Botnet Filter

Many DDoS attacks occur when infected machines under the control of a few individuals are all directed at one target. Often these attacks come from certain Countries and do not have their IP Addresses obfuscated. By using the Geo-IP Filter and Botnet Filter on the SonicWall it is possible to drop these packets as they attempt to enter your network which can aid the SonicWall in keeping your network reachable.

Navigate to Security Services | Geo-IP Filter.
Enable both Block connections to/from countries selected in the Countries tab.
Select the countries you'd like to block from the table provided under the Countries tab, you can Drag and Drop the Countries name to move them under the Selected Country List.
Click Accept at the bottom.
CAUTION: This feature will block Outbound Connections to any device that has a Public IP Address associated with the selected country. If you'd like to set up Geo-IP Filter for a more granular block please reference How to configure SonicWall Geo-IP Filter using Firewall Access Rules.

NOTE: Botnet IP addresses are maintained by SonicWall for internal use. If you'd like to test a Domain/IP for possibly being flagged as a Botnet, navigate to Security Services | Botnet Filter | Diagnostics and enter the desired IP Address in the Lookup IP Tool.
CAUTION:This feature will block Outbound Connections to any device that has a Public IP Address associated with the selected country. If you'd like to setup Geo-IP Filter for a more granular block please reference How to configure Botnet Filtering with Firewall Access Rules.
Navigate to Security Services | Botnet Filter > Settings
Enable Block connections to/from Botnet Command and Control Servers
Click on Accept

Resolution for SonicOS 6.2 and Below

The below resolution is for customers using SonicOS 6.2 and earlier firmware. For firewalls that are generation 6 and newer we suggest to upgrade to the latest general release of SonicOS 6.5 firmware.

CAUTION: Please be aware that mitigating DDoS Attacks at the Firewall level is far less effective than at the ISP level. Once packets have made it to the Firewall, typically the network edge device, they're going to overwhelm your network such that it will be hard for traffic to get in or out. Mitigating DDoS at the Firewall level will allow you to preserve and protect internal resources so that internal Users may still be able to function and sensitive information isn't compromised.

DDoS Protection Checklist

In order to help harden your network against DDoS Attacks at the firewall level, please follow the below steps. These are presented in no particular order.

Enable Intrusion Prevention

Navigate to Security Services | IPS. Ensure that your settings mirror the screenshot below.

NOTE: To enforce SonicWall IPS not only between each Network Zone and the WAN, but also between internal Zones, you should also apply SonicWall IPS to Zones on the Network | Zones Page .

Block unused Ports from the WAN to the Internal Network

Navigate to Firewall | Access Rules.
Check the WAN to LAN, WAN to DMZ, WAN to WLAN, and WAN to any Custom Zones access rules.
Ensure that any Allow rules are specified by Service (Port) as well as Source IP if possible.

Enable Flood Protection

Navigate to Firewall Settings | Flood Protection.
Enable UDP Flood Protection and ICMP Flood Protection.
Set TCP Flood Protection to Proxy WAN Client Connections when attack is suspected.
CAUTION: Proxy WAN Connections will cause External Users who trigger the Flood Protection feature to be blocked from connecting to internal resources. If there is a chance any Users can generate a false positive for this feature it is recommended to leave TCP Flood Protection in Watch and Report mode.

Enable Geo-IP Filter and Botnet Filter

Many DDoS attacks occur when infected machines under the control of a few individuals are all directed at one target. Often these attacks come from certain Countries and do not have their IP Addresses obfuscated. By using the Geo-IP Filter and Botnet Filter on the SonicWall it is possible to drop these packets as they attempt to enter your network which can aid the SonicWall in keeping your network reachable.

Navigate to Security Services | Geo-IP Filter.
Enable both Block connections to/from countries listed in the table below and Enable Logging.
Select the countries you'd like to block from the table provided.
CAUTION: This feature will block Outbound Connections to any device that has a Public IP Address associated with the selected country. If you'd like to setup Geo-IP Filter for a more granular block please reference How to configure SonicWall Geo-IP Filter using Firewall Access Rules.
Navigate to Security Services | Botnet Filter.
Enable both Block connections to/from Botnet Command and Control Servers and Enable Logging.
NOTE: Botnet IP Addresses are maintained by SonicWall for internal use. If you'd like to test a Domain/IP for possibly being flagged as a Botnet, go to Security Services | Botnet Filter | Diagnostics and enter the desired IP address in the Lookup ID Tool.
CAUTION: This feature will block Outbound Connections to any device that has a Public IP Address associated with the selected country. If you'd like to setup Geo-IP Filter for a more granular block please reference How to configure Botnet Filtering with Firewall Access Rules.