Provided by: knockd_0.5-3ubuntu1_amd64 
NAME
knockd - port-knock server
SYNOPSIS
knockd [options]
DESCRIPTION
knockd is a port-knock server. It listens to all traffic on an ethernet (or PPP)
interface, looking for special "knock" sequences of port-hits. A client makes these port-
hits by sending a TCP (or UDP) packet to a port on the server. This port need not be open
-- since knockd listens at the link-layer level, it sees all traffic even if it's destined
for a closed port. When the server detects a specific sequence of port-hits, it runs a
command defined in its configuration file. This can be used to open up holes in a
firewall for quick access.
COMMANDLINE OPTIONS
-i, --interface <int>
Specify an interface to listen on. The default is eth0.
-d, --daemon
Become a daemon. This is usually desired for normal server-like operation.
-c, --config <file>
Specify an alternate location for the config file. Default is /etc/knockd.conf.
-D, --debug
Ouput debugging messages.
-l, --lookup
Lookup DNS names for log entries. This may be a security risk! See section SECURITY
NOTES.
-v, --verbose
Output verbose status messages.
-V, --version
Display the version.
-h, --help
Syntax help.
CONFIGURATION
knockd reads all knock/event sets from a configuration file. Each knock/event begins with
a title marker, in the form [name], where name is the name of the event that will appear
in the log. A special marker, [options], is used to define global options.
Example #1:
This example uses two knocks. The first will allow the knocker to access port 22
(SSH), and the second will close the port when the knocker is complete. As you can
see, this could be useful if you run a very restrictive (DENY policy) firewall and
would like to access it discreetly.
[options]
logfile = /var/log/knockd.log
[openSSH]
sequence = 7000,8000,9000
seq_timeout = 10
tcpflags = syn
command = /sbin/iptables -A INPUT -s %IP% -j ACCEPT
[closeSSH]
sequence = 9000,8000,7000
seq_timeout = 10
tcpflags = syn
command = /sbin/iptables -D INPUT -s %IP% -j ACCEPT
Example #2:
This example uses a single knock to control access to port 22 (SSH). After
receiving a successful knock, the daemon will run the start_command, wait for the
time specified in cmd_timeout, then execute the stop_command. This is useful to
automatically close the door behind a knocker. The knock sequence uses both UDP
and TCP ports.
[options]
logfile = /var/log/knockd.log
[opencloseSSH]
sequence = 2222:udp,3333:tcp,4444:udp
seq_timeout = 15
tcpflags = syn,ack
start_command = /usr/sbin/iptables -A INPUT -s %IP% -p tcp --syn -j ACCEPT
cmd_timeout = 5
stop_command = /usr/sbin/iptables -D INPUT -s %IP% -p tcp --syn -j ACCEPT
Example #3:
This example doesn't use a single, fixed knock sequence to trigger an event, but a
set of sequences taken from a sequence file (one time sequences), specified by the
one_time_sequences directive. After each successful knock, the used sequence will
be invalidated and the next sequence from the sequence file has to be used for a
successful knock. This prevents an attacker from doing a replay attack after
having discovered a sequence (eg, while sniffing the network).
[options]
logfile = /var/log/knockd.log
[opencloseSMTP]
one_time_sequences = /etc/knockd/smtp_sequences
seq_timeout = 15
tcpflags = fin,!ack
start_command = /usr/sbin/iptables -A INPUT -s %IP% -p tcp --dport 25 -j ACCEPT
cmd_timeout = 5
stop_command = /usr/sbin/iptables -D INPUT -s %IP% -p tcp --dport 25 -j ACCEPT
CONFIGURATION: GLOBAL DIRECTIVES
UseSyslog
Log action messages through syslog(). This will insert log entries into your
/var/log/messages or equivalent.
LogFile = /path/to/file
Log actions directly to a file, usually /var/log/knockd.log.
PidFile = /path/to/file
Pidfile to use when in daemon mode, default: /var/run/knockd.pid.
Interface = <interface_name>
Network interface to listen on. Only its name has to be given, not the path to the
device (eg, "eth0" and not "/dev/eth0"). Default: eth0.
CONFIGURATION: KNOCK/EVENT DIRECTIVES
Sequence = <port1>[:<tcp|udp>][,<port2>[:<tcp|udp>] ...]
Specify the sequence of ports in the special knock. If a wrong port with the same
flags is received, the knock is discarded. Optionally, you can define the protocol
to be used on a per-port basis (default is TCP).
One_Time_Sequences = /path/to/one_time_sequences_file
File containing the one time sequences to be used. Instead of using a fixed
sequence, knockd will read the sequence to be used from that file. After each
successful knock attempt this sequence will be disabled by writing a '#' character
at the first position of the line containing the used sequence. That used sequence
will then be replaced by the next valid sequence from the file.
Because the first character is replaced by a '#', it is recommended that you leave
a space at the beginning of each line. Otherwise the first digit in your knock
sequence will be overwritten with a '#' after it has been used.
Each line in the one time sequences file contains exactly one sequence and has the
same format as the one for the Sequence directive. Lines beginning with a '#'
character will be ignored.
Note: Do not edit the file while knockd is running!
Seq_Timeout = <timeout>
Time to wait for a sequence to complete in seconds. If the time elapses before the
knock is complete, it is discarded.
TCPFlags = fin|syn|rst|psh|ack|urg
Only pay attention to packets that have this flag set. When using TCP flags,
knockd will IGNORE tcp packets that don't match the flags. This is different than
the normal behavior, where an incorrect packet would invalidate the entire knock,
forcing the client to start over. Using "TCPFlags = syn" is useful if you are
testing over an SSH connection, as the SSH traffic will usually interfere with (and
thus invalidate) the knock.
Separate multiple flags with commas (eg, TCPFlags = syn,ack,urg). Flags can be
explicitly excluded by a "!" (eg, TCPFlags = syn,!ack).
Start_Command = <command>
Specify the command to be executed when a client makes the correct port-knock. All
instances of %IP% will be replaced with the knocker's IP address. The Command
directive is an alias for Start_Command.
Cmd_Timeout = <timeout>
Time to wait between Start_Command and Stop_Command in seconds. This directive is
optional, only required if Stop_Command is used.
Stop_Command = <command>
Specify the command to be executed when Cmd_Timeout seconds have passed since
Start_Command has been executed. All instances of %IP% will be replaced with the
knocker's IP address. This directive is optional.
SECURITY NOTES
Using the -l or --lookup commandline option to resolve DNS names for log entries may be a
security risk! An attacker may find out the first port of a sequence if he can monitor
the DNS traffic of the host running knockd. Also a host supposed to be stealth (eg,
dropping packets to closed TCP ports instead of replying with an ACK+RST packet) may give
itself away by resolving a DNS name if an attacker manages to hit the first (unknown) port
of a sequence.
SEE ALSO
knock is the accompanying port-knock client, though telnet or netcat could be used for
simple TCP knocks instead. For more advanced knocks, see hping, sendip or packit.
AUTHOR
Judd Vinet <jvinet@zeroflux.org>