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Re: [LUG] Security considerations on internet facing VPS server

 

On 22/06/10 11:22, James Fidell wrote:
On 22/06/10 10:38, Gordon Henderson wrote:

Control interactive access - ssh - firewall it, make sure it's ssh v2
and don't use passwords - tricky to setup in the first instance, but
once setup it's relatively easy from there. If you do insist on
passwords, then it's still not a bad thing, but firewall it, if posible,
so it can only be accessed from known loations. (and thus for that, you
need a static IP address)

Wot Gordon said.

Some people like to run ssh on a different port for this, or to use
some form of "port-knocking". Depending on your level of paranoia,
you may want to think about those.

Don't allow remote root logins in any case.

Yep, I'll look into this. The VPS has got root enabled, I was hoping to use a key to login, maybe with a password on top for extra security. I'll also change the ssh port number too (since it's reasonably simple to do).

FTP is another one to avoid unless you have absolutely no choice.

I don't think it'll need FTP, as far as I know the only requirement is Shoutcast (I'd have preferred to use Icecast but hey, they want Shoutcast).

You can also look at using something along the lines of fail2ban to
firewall IP addresses that look like they're up to no good.

Okay, that sounds good.

Keep on top of security patches, and not just immediately remotely
exploitable ones.

Yep.

Join the "announce" list for any software packages you're using that
aren't directly supported by the distribution maintainer.

Didn't think of that one, I will do.

Consider firewalling outbound traffic as well as inbound -- there's
probably no good reason for the server to be making outbound connections
to the usual IRC ports, for instance, and it might even be possible to
disable outbound FTP/HTTP except for those times you're doing updates.

Another thing I didn't consider.

If you're using PHP, disable the PHP engine for upload directories where
possible and remove index generation and all options for directories
writeable by apache. Disable opening of remote files in PHP if
possible. Check that upload directories only contain files of types
you expect to be there, on a regular basis.

Consider installing mod_security.


I don't think it'll be running PHP. I gather his web site is hosted on another server anyway. I'll have a word with him and find out his exact requirements.

Rob

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