Network hardening in rlx 3.0 - General Discussion [Security per Design]

[DEVHELP24]

What can we learn from other linux distros___??

Whats about generating a virtual and secure isolated firewall__? Like in Qubes OS

And what can we do to make it better then Qubes or other distros.

Whats about auditing and monitoring and logging all importent events in an extra logfile for the admin or users??
Whats about sending smtp logevents to an e-mail address [Admin or co Admins) daily and if critical or high events are detected??

---

And what do you think about this complicated network background infos or possibilities,

---

`To implement a secure network for both LAN and WLAN, you can use the OSI model as a guideline. Security measures can be applied at each OSI layer to enhance protection. The Zero Trust model, Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW), and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) play a crucial role in this process. Here's an overview of the recommended measures across the different OSI layers:

1. Physical Layer (Layer 1: Physical Layer)

Hardware:

• Use high-quality, robust network cables and devices (routers, switches, access points) that are secure against physical tampering.
• Employ dedicated and managed switches that support port security to monitor and restrict physical access to the network.

Security Measures:

• Secure physical networks (LAN) by restricting access to server rooms.
• Install WLAN access points in secure areas to prevent unauthorized tampering.
• Use hardware that supports network security, such as VLAN segmentation on switches.

2. Data Link Layer (Layer 2: Data Link Layer)

Hardware:

• Deploy managed switches with VLAN support to segment the network into different sections. This isolates sensitive areas (e.g., guest network, internal network).
• Enable MAC address filtering on access points and switches.

Security Measures:

• WLAN: Use WPA3 for Wi-Fi encryption. If WPA3 is unavailable, use WPA2 with AES encryption.
• LAN: Enable 802.1X (port-based network access control) on switches and access points to authorize access.
• MAC Spoofing Prevention: Implement measures against MAC spoofing, such as static MAC address assignments and protection against fake ARP messages (e.g., via ARP-Guard).

3. Network Layer (Layer 3: Network Layer)

Hardware:

• Use routers and firewalls that support NGFW features.
• Implement Network Access Control (NAC) for managing and monitoring devices within the network.

Security Measures:

• Zero Trust Model: Allow only devices and users with confirmed authentication to access the network.
• VPN: Implement secure VPN connections (e.g., WireGuard or IPsec) for all connections in public networks.
• IPv6: Use IPv6 with firewall rules, and block unused address ranges. Protect IPv6 addresses from potential scans.
• Intrusion Prevention: Deploy IPS/IDS systems (e.g., Snort, Suricata) to monitor and block malicious activity in network traffic.
• Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs): Use firewalls with deep packet inspection, application control, and threat intelligence to detect and block attacks.

4. Transport Layer (Layer 4: Transport Layer)

Security Measures:

• Implement SSL/TLS encryption for all key services like web and email servers.
• Use TLS 1.3 or higher for secure encryption.
• Block unused and insecure ports (e.g., Telnet, FTP) and use secure alternatives (e.g., SSH, SFTP).
• Employ DoS protection measures at the firewall level to prevent availability-disrupting attacks.

5. Session Layer (Layer 5: Session Layer)

Security Measures:

• Use timeout mechanisms to terminate inactive sessions and prevent session hijacking.
• Enforce secure authentication through multi-factor authentication (MFA) for critical applications.
• Use protocols like OAuth and Kerberos for more secure session management.

6. Presentation Layer (Layer 6: Presentation Layer)

Security Measures:

• Employ strong data encryption, such as AES-256, for file encryption and data transfer.
• Use data masking or tokenization to protect sensitive information in applications.
• Avoid weak hashing algorithms (like MD5 or SHA-1). Instead, use modern, secure hashes (e.g., SHA-256 or Argon2).

7. Application Layer (Layer 7: Application Layer)

Security Measures:

• Deploy application-layer firewalls, such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) for web services, to protect against application-specific attacks.
• Use Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) or AppArmor to secure applications at the operating system level.
• Zero Trust Model: Ensure each application in the network can only access the services it needs. Implement micro-segmentation to isolate application areas from each other.
• Keep all applications up to date and implement automatic security patches.

Additional Key Recommendations for Public Networks:

• Use of VPNs: Ensure you are always connected via VPN in public networks to protect data from being sniffed.
• Mobile Device Management (MDM): Manage mobile devices accessing the network, ensuring they meet security standards.
• Harden the Operating System: Use specially hardened Linux distributions such as Qubes OS or Parrot Security for added security in public networks.

Zero Trust and NGFW/IPS:

• The Zero Trust Model is based on mistrusting every device and user in the network and granting access only after continuous authentication and authorization.
• Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW) integrate security functions such as intrusion detection/prevention, deep packet inspection, and threat intelligence. These should be used across Layers 3 to 7 to filter network traffic and detect threats in real time.

By applying these measures across the various OSI layers, you can build a secure LAN and WLAN network that is specifically protected for use in public networks.`