A configuration management system and method of iptables firewall

Abstract

The application provides an iptables firewall configuration management system and method, the system comprises: a policy configuration unit, an operation task unit, a host configuration unit and an operation audit unit. The policy configuration unit defines an initial template and generates a policy template according to the basic information input by a user, and configures multiple policies. The operation task unit generates an operation task according to target information, creates an approval work order when a change operation is performed, executes the task and saves the result after the approval is passed. The host configuration unit displays the current and historical iptables configuration according to a query command. The operation audit unit records operation logs and detects abnormal operations, and generates an alarm notification. The firewall rule configuration, task creation and approval, configuration query, operation log audit and problem positioning are simplified through a unified Web interface. The configuration efficiency and accuracy are improved, batch management and strict approval procedures are provided, and the consistency and security of the firewall configuration are ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of network security technology, and in particular to a configuration management system and method for an iptables firewall. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of information technology, network security issues are becoming increasingly prominent. As a widely used firewall tool in Linux systems, the correct configuration of iptables directly affects system security.

[0003] However, traditional iptables configuration methods have several problems: First, in production environments, many devices are involved, requiring manual login and maintenance of firewall configurations for each device. This is not only cumbersome but also susceptible to various factors. Second, it's impossible to configure and modify firewall rules for multiple devices in batches, and it's difficult to record and trace information such as operation logs, operators, and basis for each configuration change. Furthermore, the lack of version control means operations cannot be traced back or rolled back, and the separation of change approval from operation makes effective management difficult. Finally, the effective scope and standardized management of firewall configurations are insufficient, leading to chaotic configuration management and difficulty in maintenance. In summary, traditional iptables configuration methods suffer from operational complexity, error-proneness, and difficulty in management.

[0004] Therefore, improving configuration efficiency, reducing human error, and enhancing network security have become critical issues that urgently need to be addressed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, embodiments of the present invention provide a configuration management system and method for an iptables firewall to solve the problems of cumbersome configuration, difficulty in recording and rolling back, and chaotic management of iptables configuration.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the embodiments of the present invention provide the following technical solutions:

[0007] The first aspect of this invention discloses a configuration management system for an iptables firewall, the system comprising: a policy configuration unit, an operation task unit, a host configuration unit, and an operation audit unit;

[0008] The strategy configuration unit is used to define an initial template containing parameter placeholders based on the basic information input by the user through the strategy configuration interface; create a strategy generation class in the initial template and test the strategy generation class; if the strategy generation class meets the test requirements, then a strategy template is obtained; and configure multiple strategies using the strategy template.

[0009] The operation task unit is used to generate an operation task for iptables configuration based on the target information input by the user through the task management interface; if the operation task is a change operation, an approval work order is created; if the approval work order is approved, the operation task is executed and the execution result is saved; the target information includes the policy.

[0010] The host configuration unit is used to query and display the current iptables configuration and historical iptables configuration when it receives a query command input by the user through the configuration query interface.

[0011] The operation auditing unit is used to record all operation logs in the policy configuration unit, the operation task unit, and the host configuration unit, and to detect whether there are any abnormal operations based on all operation logs. If so, an alarm notification is generated and output.

[0012] Preferably, the strategy configuration unit includes: a strategy template creation module and a strategy rule configuration module;

[0013] The policy template creation module is used to define an initial template containing parameter placeholders based on the source IP address, destination IP address, port number, protocol type, and iptables command in the basic information entered by the user through the policy configuration interface.

[0014] The policy template creation module is also used to create a policy generation class in the initial template. If the policy generation class meets the generation requirements of iptables commands, then the policy generation class is determined to meet the test requirements, and the iptables command generation template including the policy generation class is determined as the policy template.

[0015] The strategy rule configuration module is used to import multiple strategy rules into the strategy template to obtain multiple configured strategies.

[0016] Preferably, the policy configuration unit further includes: a policy storage module;

[0017] The policy storage module is used to store all policy templates according to version numbers; wherein each policy template corresponds to a version number;

[0018] The policy storage module is also used to find the policy template corresponding to the version number in the viewing instruction when a viewing instruction is received;

[0019] When a rollback instruction is received, a rollback operation is performed according to the version number carried in the rollback instruction;

[0020] When a comparison instruction is received, the strategy templates corresponding to the multiple version numbers in the comparison instruction are obtained, a comparison operation is performed, and the comparison results are output.

[0021] Preferably, the operation task unit includes: a task creation module and a task execution module;

[0022] The task creation module is used to generate an iptables command list based on the policy, the list of IP addresses to be allowed access, and the list of machine IP addresses to be configured with policies in the target information input by the user through the task management interface, and to pass the iptables command list to the task execution module.

[0023] The task execution module is used to receive the list of iptables commands and generate operation tasks;

[0024] The task execution module is further configured to create an approval work order corresponding to the operation task if the operation task is a change operation task; and execute the operation task and store the execution result when an instruction indicating that the approval work order has been approved is received.

[0025] Preferably, the task execution module includes: an approval submodule and an execution submodule;

[0026] The approval submodule is used to receive the iptables command list and generate an operation task, and determine whether the operation task is a change operation task; if it is not a change operation task, the operation task is sent to the execution submodule; if it is a change operation task, an approval work order corresponding to the operation task is created and displayed through the interactive interface.

[0027] The approval submodule is further configured to send the operation task to the execution submodule when it receives an instruction indicating that the approval work order has been approved; and to send a modification instruction to the task creation module when it receives an instruction indicating that the approval work order has not been approved, so that the task creation module can modify the operation task based on the modification instruction.

[0028] The execution submodule is used to execute the operation task and store the execution result.

[0029] Preferably, the host configuration unit is further configured to: when receiving a configuration comparison instruction, compare the current iptables configuration with the historical iptables configuration, obtain the configuration comparison result, and output it.

[0030] Preferably, the operation auditing unit is further configured to: when a query operation log instruction is received, search for the operation log corresponding to the query operation log instruction from all operation logs and output it.

[0031] Preferably, the system further includes: a completion unit;

[0032] The completion unit is used to complete the user's input using a preset auto-completion method when the user enters an iptables command in the interactive interface.

[0033] Preferably, the system further includes: an error correction unit;

[0034] The error correction unit is used to correct the user's input using a preset error correction method when it detects that the user has entered an iptables command in the interactive interface.

[0035] A second aspect of this invention discloses a configuration management method for an iptables firewall, the method comprising:

[0036] The policy configuration unit defines an initial template containing parameter placeholders based on the basic information entered by the user through the policy configuration interface.

[0037] The strategy configuration unit is used to create a strategy generation class in the initial template and then tests the strategy generation class.

[0038] If the strategy generation class meets the test requirements, then the strategy template is determined to be obtained;

[0039] Multiple policies are configured using the policy template through the policy configuration unit;

[0040] The operation task unit generates operation tasks for the iptables configuration based on the target information input by the user through the task management interface; the target information includes the policy.

[0041] If the operation task is a change operation, then an approval work order is created using the operation task unit;

[0042] If the approval work order is approved, the operation task is executed using the operation task unit, and the execution result is saved.

[0043] When a query command is received from the user through the configuration query interface, the host configuration unit is used to query and display the current iptables configuration and the historical iptables configuration.

[0044] The operation audit unit records all operation logs in the policy configuration unit, the operation task unit, and the host configuration unit, and detects whether there are any abnormal operations based on all operation logs. If so, an alarm notification is generated and output.

[0045] The present invention provides a configuration management system and method for an iptables firewall, comprising: a policy configuration unit, an operation task unit, a host configuration unit, and an operation audit unit. The policy configuration unit defines an initial template and generates policy templates based on user-inputted basic information, configuring multiple policies. The operation task unit generates operation tasks based on target information, creates approval work orders when operations are changed, executes tasks after approval, and saves results. The host configuration unit displays current and historical iptables configurations based on query commands. The operation audit unit records operation logs, detects abnormal operations, and generates alarm notifications. A unified web interface simplifies firewall rule configuration, task creation and approval, configuration query, operation log auditing, and problem localization. It improves configuration efficiency and accuracy, provides batch management and real-time monitoring, a strict approval process and detailed log recording, and unified configuration standards and management specifications, ensuring the consistency and security of firewall configuration. This invention has broad application prospects in network security management, significantly improving network protection capabilities and ensuring network security. Attached Figure Description

[0046] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0047] Figure 1 A structural block diagram of an iptables firewall configuration management system provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the strategy configuration interface provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrating the rollback operation performed on the strategy configuration interface provided in this embodiment of the invention;

[0050] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a task management interface provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the host selection interface in the task management interface provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 6 A schematic diagram illustrating the creation of an approval work order according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 7 A schematic diagram illustrating the storage of execution results provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of an AI-based automatic completion method provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] Figure 9 A schematic diagram illustrating the automatic error correction model training provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] Figure 10 A schematic diagram illustrating the evaluation and optimization provided for embodiments of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 11 This is a flowchart illustrating a configuration management method for an iptables firewall provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0058] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0059] In this application, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0060] As can be seen from the background technology, traditional iptables configuration methods suffer from problems such as cumbersome operation, easy error, difficulty in batch management, lack of logging and version control, and difficulty in achieving standardization and effective management.

[0061] Therefore, this invention provides a configuration management system and method for an iptables firewall. The system includes a policy configuration unit, an operation task unit, a host configuration unit, and an operation audit unit. The policy configuration unit defines an initial template and generates policy templates based on basic information input by the user, configuring multiple policies. The operation task unit generates operation tasks based on target information, creates approval work orders when operations are changed, executes the tasks after approval, and saves the results. The host configuration unit displays current and historical iptables configurations based on query commands. The operation audit unit records operation logs and detects abnormal operations, generating alarm notifications. A unified web interface simplifies firewall rule configuration, task creation and approval, configuration query, operation log auditing, and problem localization. It improves configuration efficiency and accuracy, provides batch management and a strict approval process, ensuring the consistency and security of firewall configuration.

[0062] See Figure 1 This diagram illustrates a structural block diagram of an iptables firewall configuration management system provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, this system is a Java-based automated iptables firewall monitoring and configuration system, managed through a unified web interface. The system includes: a policy configuration unit 1, an operation task unit 2, a host configuration unit 3, and an operation audit unit 4.

[0063] Specifically, the strategy configuration unit 1 is used to define an initial template containing parameter placeholders based on the basic information input by the user through the strategy configuration interface; create a strategy generation class in the initial template and test the strategy generation class; if the strategy generation class meets the test requirements, the strategy template is determined; and multiple strategies are configured using the strategy template.

[0064] For example, embodiments of the present invention Figure 2 As shown, the policy configuration interface receives user input such as policy title, operation type, policy type, operating system, business function, whitelist, and port to configure the policy.

[0065] It's worth noting that the policy configuration interface provides intuitive forms, making it easy for administrators to fill in firewall rules. It also supports batch import and export of rules, improving configuration efficiency.

[0066] In other words, policy configuration unit 1 defines an initial template containing parameter placeholders based on the basic information entered by the user in the policy configuration interface; a policy generation class is created in this initial template and tested. If the policy generation class passes the test, the final policy template is determined; then, multiple policies are configured using this policy template.

[0067] It should be noted that the policy configuration unit 1 includes: a policy template creation module and a policy rule configuration module.

[0068] Specifically, the policy template creation module is used to define an initial template containing parameter placeholders based on the source IP address, destination IP address, port number, protocol type, and iptables commands in the basic information entered by the user through the policy configuration interface.

[0069] It should be noted that the policy template creation module is also used to create policy generation classes in the initial template. If the policy generation class meets the generation requirements of iptables commands, then the policy generation class is determined to meet the testing requirements, and the iptables command generation template including the policy generation class is determined as the policy template.

[0070] Understandably, users can configure specific iptables rules in batches within the initial template.

[0071] Specifically, the strategy rule configuration module is used to import multiple strategy rules into a strategy template to obtain multiple configured strategies.

[0072] Understandably, policy configuration unit 1 also includes a policy storage module, used to store all policy templates according to version numbers, specifically stored in a database. Each policy template corresponds to a version number.

[0073] It should be noted that the policy storage module is also used to find the policy template corresponding to the version number in the viewing instruction when a viewing instruction is received; to perform a rollback operation according to the version number carried in the rollback instruction when a rollback instruction is received; and to obtain the policy templates corresponding to multiple version numbers in the comparison instruction when a comparison instruction is received, perform a comparison operation, and output the comparison results.

[0074] In other words, policy templates can be version-controlled using version numbers, allowing users to query and roll back policy template versions. It also enables comparison operations between multiple policy template versions.

[0075] For example Figure 3 As shown, a rollback operation is performed on the policy template with policy ID 1, policy title "Blacklist Policy", and version number 2.

[0076] It's worth noting that, to achieve unified and automated firewall management, different access policies can be encapsulated, with basic commands packaged into multiple policies. Each policy assembles commands using parameterization and then operates through a unified command modification mechanism. This enables flexible firewall management.

[0077] Taking the encapsulation of a whitelist policy (that is, encapsulating the whitelist configurations between a cluster or services with normal calling relationships into a single whitelist policy) as an example:

[0078] First, define an initial template containing parameter placeholders using the following code to generate iptables commands.

[0079] " public class IptablesTemplate {

[0080] private static final String TEMPLATE = "iptables -A INPUT -s %s -jACCEPT";

[0081] public String generateCommand(String ipAddress) {

[0082] return String.format(TEMPLATE, ipAddress);

[0083] }

[0084] }".

[0085] Secondly, the following code creates a policy generation class in the initial template to generate specific iptables commands.

[0086] import java.util.List;

[0087] public class IptablesPolicyGenerator {

[0088] private IptablesTemplate template;

[0089] public IptablesPolicyGenerator() {

[0090] this.template = new IptablesTemplate();

[0091] }

[0092] public List <string>createWhitelistPolicy(List <string>ipAddresses) {

[0093] List <string>commands = new ArrayList<>();

[0094] for (String ip : ipAddresses) {

[0095] commands.add(template.generateCommand(ip));

[0096] }

[0097] return commands;

[0098] }

[0099] }".

[0100] Finally, the policy generation class is tested using the following code to ensure that iptables commands can be generated correctly.

[0101] import java.util.Arrays;

[0102] import java.util.List;

[0103] public class Main {

[0104] public static void main(String[] args) {

[0105] IptablesPolicyGenerator generator = new IptablesPolicyGenerator();

[0106] List <string>ipAddresses = Arrays.asList("192.168.1.1", "192.168.1.2", "192.168.1.3");

[0107] List <string>commands = generator.createWhitelistPolicy(ipAddresses);

[0108] for (String command : commands) {

[0109] System.out.println(command);

[0110] }

[0111] }

[0112] }".

[0113] Understandably, when the test passes, executing the above code should output:

[0114] " iptables -A INPUT -s 192.168.1.1 -j ACCEPT

[0115] iptables -A INPUT -s 192.168.1.2 -j ACCEPT

[0116] iptables -A INPUT -s 192.168.1.3 -j ACCEPT".

[0117] By following these steps, you can obtain a Java class that can generate whitelist policies based on parameters. This class accepts a list of IP addresses and generates corresponding iptables commands.

[0118] Specifically, operation task unit 2 is used to generate operation tasks for iptables configuration based on the target information input by the user through the task management interface; if the operation task is a change operation, an approval work order is created; if the approval work order is approved, the operation task is executed and the execution result is saved. The target information includes any policy configured by policy configuration unit 1.

[0119] In other words, task unit 2 generates corresponding iptables configuration task based on the target information entered by the user in the task management interface. If the task is a change operation, an approval work order is created; after the approval work order is approved, the task is executed and the execution result is saved.

[0120] It should be noted that the operation task unit 2 includes: a task creation module and a task execution module.

[0121] Specifically, the task creation module is used to generate an iptables command list based on the policy, the list of IP addresses to be allowed access, and the list of machine IP addresses to be configured with policies in the target information entered by the user through the task management interface, and then pass the iptables command list to the task execution module.

[0122] For example, the present invention Figure 4 As shown, users can input target information such as policy title (i.e., policy), whitelist (i.e., list of IP addresses to be allowed access), device IP (i.e., list of machine IP addresses to be configured with the policy) and effective time through the task management interface to generate a list of iptables commands.

[0123] Among them, when the user clicks Figure 4 When the "Please Select Host" button is pressed in the task management interface shown, the host selection interface is displayed, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the host selection interface displays multiple machine IP addresses for which policies need to be configured. Users can select the list of machine IP addresses for which policies need to be configured through the host selection interface.

[0124] Understandably, the task management interface displays a list of all tasks, allowing administrators to view task details, create new tasks, and approve tasks. This interface supports batch operations and search functions, facilitating efficient management of a large number of tasks by administrators.

[0125] Specifically, the task execution module is used to receive a list of iptables commands and generate operation tasks.

[0126] In other words, the task creation module passes a list of iptables commands to the interface that executes these commands, and the task execution module generates operation tasks based on these commands.

[0127] It should be noted that generating and saving operation tasks is for the purpose of easily tracking the task's execution status, viewing the execution results, and logs. If the task fails, the reason for the failure can be understood by viewing the relevant information.

[0128] Understandably, the task execution module is also used to create an approval work order corresponding to the operation task if the operation task is a change operation task; when it receives an instruction indicating that the approval work order has been approved, it executes the operation task and stores the execution result.

[0129] In other words, if the operation task is a change operation task, an approval work order corresponding to that operation task is created. When the approval work order is received, the operation task is executed and the execution result is saved. If the operation task is not a change operation task, that is, a non-change operation task, the operation task is executed directly and the execution result is saved.

[0130] It should be further noted that the task execution module includes an approval submodule and an execution submodule.

[0131] Specifically, the approval submodule receives a list of iptables commands and generates an operation task, then determines whether the operation task is a change operation task. If it is not a change operation task, the operation task is sent to the execution submodule. If it is a change operation task, an approval work order corresponding to the operation task is created and displayed through the interactive interface.

[0132] It should be noted that if the operation task involves adding, deleting, or modifying iptables configuration information, then the operation task is a change operation task; if the operation task involves querying iptables configuration information, then the operation task is a non-change operation task.

[0133] For example, embodiments of the present invention Figure 6 As shown, create an approval work order (such as an ITSM work order) corresponding to the operation task, and set the authorized person corresponding to the approval work order, that is, the administrator who approves the approval work order.

[0134] It should be noted that the approval work order includes, but is not limited to, the content of the changes to iptables configuration information, the basis for the changes, risk analysis, business impact, rollback strategy, and detailed operation steps, verification methods, and verification steps.

[0135] Understandably, the approval submodule is also used to send the operation task to the execution submodule when it receives an instruction indicating that the approval work order has been approved; and to send a modification instruction to the task creation module when it receives an instruction indicating that the approval work order has not been approved, so that the task creation module can modify the operation task based on the modification instruction.

[0136] It should be noted that the system will only automatically execute the corresponding operation task after approval. This mechanism greatly improves security and also enhances the efficiency and security of network administrators in writing and maintaining firewall rules.

[0137] Specifically, the execution submodule is used to perform operation tasks and store the execution results. The storage of execution results is as described in the embodiments of this invention. Figure 7 As shown.

[0138] Understandably, the execution submodule specifically calls the automation system's API to execute the corresponding iptables configuration commands, supporting the scheduled execution of tasks.

[0139] In some specific embodiments, when the system receives an operation task through an interface, it will automatically verify the command to be executed, and if any errors are found, it will automatically correct them and save them to the log.

[0140] Understandably, the task execution results and logs are recorded in the system, which helps administrators view the task execution status and detailed logs through the web interface, and supports real-time monitoring of the task execution process.

[0141] Specifically, host configuration unit 3 is used to query and display the current iptables configuration and historical iptables configuration when it receives a query command entered by the user through the configuration query interface.

[0142] The host configuration unit 3 is also used to compare the current iptables configuration with the historical iptables configuration when a configuration comparison instruction is received, obtain the configuration comparison result and output it.

[0143] In other words, Host Configuration Module 3 supports real-time querying and comparison of current and historical host configurations, facilitating configuration optimization for administrators. Administrators can select the target host and execute a query command via the web interface to obtain the current and historical iptables configurations. The query results will be displayed on the web interface, with graphical representation available for administrators to easily view configuration details. Furthermore, the module supports comparative analysis of current and historical configurations, allowing administrators to select different configuration versions for detailed comparison and easily identify configuration differences.

[0144] Understandably, the configuration query interface provides query functionality for both current and historical configurations, allowing administrators to intuitively view and compare firewall configurations. This interface also supports graphical display of configuration results, improving readability.

[0145] Specifically, the operation audit unit 4 is used to record all operation logs in the policy configuration unit 1, operation task unit 2 and host configuration unit 3, and to detect whether there are any abnormal operations based on all operation logs. If so, an alarm notification is generated and output.

[0146] Operation auditing unit 4 is also used to search for the operation log corresponding to the query operation log instruction from all operation logs and output it when a query operation log instruction is received.

[0147] In other words, the operation audit module 4 records all operation logs, providing detailed operation auditing and problem localization functions. The system records detailed information such as the time, operator, and operation content of each operation, and supports regular log backup and archiving. Administrators can query historical operation records through a web interface using various query and filtering conditions. If the system detects abnormal operations, it will automatically send an alarm notification. The alarm record includes detailed information about the abnormal operation, helping administrators to locate and resolve problems in a timely manner.

[0148] In some specific embodiments, the configuration management system for the iptables firewall proposed in this invention also includes an completion unit and an error correction unit.

[0149] Specifically, the completion unit is used to complete the user's input using a preset auto-completion method when the user enters an iptables command in the interactive interface.

[0150] The preset auto-completion methods include, but are not limited to, dictionary-based auto-completion methods, context-aware auto-completion methods, and AI-based auto-completion methods.

[0151] It's important to note that the dictionary-based autocomplete method is specifically based on dictionary maintenance: A dictionary is created containing commonly used iptables commands, parameters, and options, including but not limited to: -A, -I, -D, -L, --dport, --sport, etc. The dictionary is regularly updated based on user feedback and the latest iptables version to ensure it covers the newest and most frequently used commands.

[0152] In the front-end implementation, the React-Autocomplete component from the React library is used to implement the auto-completion function. When the user enters a command in the input box, React-Autocomplete will match relevant commands and parameters from the dictionary based on the current input and display them in a drop-down list for the user to select.

[0153] For example, when a user enters "iptables -" in the interactive interface, the drop-down list may display options such as "-A", "-I", "-D", and "-L". After the user selects "-A", when they continue to enter, the drop-down list will display commonly used parameters such as "--dport" and "--sport".

[0154] It's important to note that context-aware autocomplete methods include intelligent completion and context analysis. Intelligent completion specifically provides more accurate completion suggestions by analyzing the context of user input. For example, when a user enters "iptables -A", the completion list should display common chain names such as "INPUT", "FORWARD", and "OUTPUT". Context analysis, on the other hand, uses rule-based context analysis methods to identify the currently entered command and parameters. For instance, when "-A" is detected, the system can recognize that the user is adding a rule and thus display the relevant chain name.

[0155] For example, after a user enters "iptables -A" in the interactive interface, the auto-completion suggestions may include: "INPUT", "FORWARD", and "OUTPUT". After the user selects "INPUT", when they continue typing, the completion list will display commonly used subsequent parameters, such as: "-p", "--dport", etc.

[0156] In practical applications, to achieve more intelligent completion, techniques such as regular expressions can be combined to identify command patterns, thereby improving the accuracy of completion.

[0157] It should be noted that, in conjunction with the embodiments of the present invention Figure 8 The content of this article, based on AI technology, includes nine parts: data collection and preprocessing, command syntax and structure analysis, model selection and architecture design, model training, inference and completion, evaluation and optimization, integration and deployment, security and privacy considerations, and continuous improvement.

[0158] Specifically, data collection and preprocessing involves gathering a large number of iptables-related command usage examples and configuration files. Sources include rules used in actual operations and maintenance, examples from online tutorials, and configuration templates provided by the community. The collected data needs to be cleaned and standardized, removing redundant comments and formatting errors to ensure consistency and high quality, thus providing a reliable foundation for subsequent data completion functionality.

[0159] Command syntax and structure analysis specifically involves the following: iptables commands typically consist of a series of options and parameters, such as chains (INPUT, OUTPUT), actions (ACCEPT, DROP), and conditions (-p tcp, --dport 80). To enable the model to understand the command structure, the command syntax tree needs to be analyzed and defined. Furthermore, the logical order and dependencies of the rules must be understood to ensure a reasonable combination of commands under specific conditions, thereby generating effective and expected rules.

[0160] Model selection and architecture design specifically involve choosing a rule-based approach, such as designing a rule-based completion system based on iptables syntax rules and command structure. This system analyzes the user's input of partial commands and, combined with iptables syntax requirements, provides suggestions for subsequent command completion. This completion method ensures that the user's input commands conform to the correct iptables format and helps users quickly complete command writing, improving efficiency and accuracy. Alternatively, machine learning-based methods can be chosen, such as n-gram models, Seq2Seq models, or Transformer models.

[0161] Model training specifically involves constructing a training set containing complete iptables commands and partial input commands. This training set should cover various real-world use cases and different rule combinations to ensure the model can handle diverse command inputs. The objective function optimizes model performance by minimizing the difference between the predicted completion and the actual command, typically using cross-entropy as the loss function to measure the degree of matching between the command fragment generated by the model and the correct command. Furthermore, data augmentation by generating command variants with different orders and parameter combinations increases the diversity of training data, thereby improving the model's generalization ability and its ability to handle complex scenarios.

[0162] Inference and completion specifically involve the system predicting and suggesting possible next parameters or command fragments in real time during the user's input of the "iptables" command. Based on the user's already entered commands and common command patterns, the system can dynamically generate completion suggestions, improving the user's input efficiency. Simultaneously, the system also needs to possess contextual understanding capabilities. By analyzing the context of the current command (such as previous rule configurations or the user's input target), it provides more logical and context-aware completion suggestions, ensuring that the suggested commands are more accurate, reasonable, and consistent with the user's intent.

[0163] Integration and deployment specifically refer to the following: To improve the input efficiency of iptables commands, the completion function can be integrated into commonly used development environments and text editors, enabling real-time command completion through plugins. Furthermore, developing command-line auto-completion tools will provide users with immediate suggestions when entering iptables commands in the terminal, further enhancing the user experience. To facilitate network configuration management, this completion function can also be integrated into online editors, providing a more user-friendly and intuitive interface to ensure users can complete tasks quickly and accurately when configuring commands.

[0164] Security and privacy considerations, along with continuous improvement, mean that when providing iptables command completion functionality, the primary goal is to ensure that user-inputted commands and configuration data are not leaked or misused, thus protecting user privacy. Simultaneously, the generation of completion suggestions must prioritize security, avoiding the recommendation of potentially dangerous or insecure rules. To maintain the accuracy and usability of the completion suggestions, the system should continuously update and train its models in response to iptables version updates and changes in the network security landscape. Furthermore, active user and community participation is encouraged, with feedback and improvement suggestions submitted to enhance the adaptability, coverage, and user experience of the completion system.

[0165] Specifically, the error correction unit is used to correct the user's input using a preset error correction method when it detects that the user has entered an iptables command in the interactive interface.

[0166] The preset error correction methods include, but are not limited to, regular expression validation error correction methods, static analysis error correction methods, and AI-based automatic error correction methods.

[0167] Understandably, to ensure that user-input commands conform to iptables syntax rules, regular expressions can be used to validate the command format during the input process. If a command does not conform to the specifications, the system will promptly prompt the user to correct it. Furthermore, by combining the official iptables documentation and manuals, static analysis tools can be developed to check the correctness of user-input commands in real time, ensuring the validity and accuracy of commands, thereby improving the security and accuracy of operations.

[0168] It should be noted that the AI-based automatic error correction method includes eight parts: data collection and labeling, error type analysis, model selection and architecture design, model training, inference and error correction, evaluation and optimization, security and privacy considerations, and continuous improvement.

[0169] Specifically, data collection, annotation, and error type analysis refer to the following: To improve the accuracy of iptables command completion and verification, it is necessary to collect a large number of real-world use cases, including both correct and incorrect commands. This data can come from open-source projects, online tutorials, and actual operation logs. After collecting this data, it is annotated to clearly identify the error types in the commands, such as syntax errors, parameter errors, and logical errors, and to provide the corresponding correct forms. Specific error types include: Syntax errors: such as incorrect command format or missing necessary parameters. Parameter errors: using invalid options or parameter values. Logical errors: logical conflicts between rules, such as improper rule order or rule overriding issues. Security errors: insecure rule configurations that may lead to potential security vulnerabilities. Through this data annotation and analysis, the accuracy and usability of the command checking and completion system can be improved.

[0170] Model selection and architecture design can specifically choose rule-based or machine learning-based methods. Rule-based methods include: a syntax checker, which identifies obvious syntax and parameter errors in commands based on iptables syntax rules and promptly prompts the user for correction; and static analysis, which uses static analysis techniques to check for logical errors and potential security risks in commands, such as rule order issues, rule conflicts, or insecure configurations.

[0171] Machine learning-based methods include: error detection models, which use sequence labeling models (such as LSTM and CRF) to process commands, mark error locations in the commands, and help identify and correct errors. Transformer models, which utilize the Transformer architecture (such as BERT and GPT) to predict potential errors in commands by understanding the command context and provide correction suggestions, further improving the accuracy and intelligence of command correction.

[0172] Combining these two methods can comprehensively enhance the analysis and correction capabilities of iptables commands, ensuring the accuracy and security of operations.

[0173] Specifically, as in the embodiments of the present invention Figure 9 As shown, model training includes: a training data preparation process, dividing the collected "iptables" command dataset into training and validation sets, and ensuring the training set contains various types of error examples, such as syntax errors, parameter errors, and logical errors, to enhance the model's generalization ability. During model training, cross-entropy is used as the loss function to minimize the gap between the predicted results and the actual labels. To improve the model's robustness, data augmentation techniques can be used to add common error variants (such as parameter spelling errors, sequence errors, etc.) to help the model better cope with different command formats and non-standard inputs, thereby improving the model's performance in practical applications.

[0174] Inference and error correction specifically involve the model analyzing the input "iptables" commands. First, it performs error detection, identifying potential erroneous parts. For identified errors, the model provides correction suggestions, which the user can choose to accept or reject. The correction process is based on contextual understanding, ensuring the correctness of the command logic. Furthermore, the model can provide contextual suggestions based on the preceding and following text or the existing state of the rule set, helping users avoid logical conflicts and further optimizing the accuracy and effectiveness of commands.

[0175] Specifically, as in the embodiments of the present invention Figure 10 As shown, evaluation and optimization specifically refer to the model's performance assessment, including accuracy and recall, with a focus on command security and execution accuracy to ensure its effectiveness in identifying and correcting errors. Simultaneously, through error analysis, the model's performance in handling complex rule sets is evaluated in depth, optimizing its error correction capabilities. Furthermore, the model integrates a user feedback mechanism, continuously adjusting and improving the error correction logic based on actual user feedback, thereby enhancing the model's practicality and accuracy.

[0176] Security and privacy considerations, along with continuous improvement, mean that during command analysis, the model prioritizes privacy protection, ensuring that sensitive user configuration information is not leaked. Simultaneously, security remains a top priority; the model avoids introducing potential security vulnerabilities when providing error correction suggestions. As `iptables` versions are updated and new cybersecurity threats emerge, the model promptly updates its rules and algorithms to adapt to the latest requirements. Furthermore, the model leverages feedback and contributions from the open-source community to continuously improve its error detection and correction mechanisms, ensuring its ongoing optimization and enhancement.

[0177] In this embodiment of the invention, the Spring framework based on Java simplifies the firewall configuration and management process. Based on the system's policy configuration unit, operation task unit, host configuration unit, and operation audit unit, users only need to fill in configuration information and execute it through the automated system. The approval and secondary authorization mechanisms effectively solve the problem of chaotic management. Furthermore, the audit function improves the efficiency of problem localization. Its main advantages include simplified operation processes, support for batch configuration management, recording operation logs, implementation of version control and rollback, unified approval and operation management, standardized management, real-time monitoring, graphical display, and alarm notifications, greatly improving the security, efficiency, and controllability of management.

[0178] Corresponding to the iptables firewall configuration management system provided in the above embodiments of the present invention, see also... Figure 11 The diagram illustrates a flowchart of a configuration management method for an iptables firewall provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes:

[0179] Step S1101: Using the policy configuration unit, define an initial template containing parameter placeholders based on the basic information entered by the user through the policy configuration interface.

[0180] Step S1102: Use the strategy configuration unit to create a strategy generation class in the initial template and test the strategy generation class.

[0181] Step S1103: If the strategy generation class meets the test requirements, then the strategy template is obtained.

[0182] Step S1104: Configure multiple policies using policy templates through the policy configuration unit.

[0183] Step S1105: Use the operation task unit to generate operation tasks for iptables configuration based on the target information entered by the user through the task management interface.

[0184] It should be noted that the target information includes at least the policy configured in the policy template.

[0185] Step S1106: If the operation task is a change operation, then use the operation task unit to create an approval work order.

[0186] Step S1107: If the approval work order is approved, the operation task is executed using the operation task unit, and the execution result is saved.

[0187] Step S1108: When a query command is received from the user through the configuration query interface, the host configuration unit is used to query and display the current iptables configuration and the historical iptables configuration.

[0188] Step S1109: Use the operation audit unit to record all operation logs in the policy configuration unit, operation task unit and host configuration unit, and check whether there are any abnormal operations based on all operation logs. If so, generate an alarm notification and output it.

[0189] This invention provides a Java-based automated iptables firewall monitoring and configuration device. It simplifies firewall rule configuration, task creation and approval, configuration query and comparison, as well as operation log auditing and problem localization through a unified web interface. Its significant advantages include improved configuration efficiency and accuracy, reduced human error, batch management and real-time monitoring, a rigorous approval process and detailed logging, and unified configuration standards and management specifications, ensuring the consistency and security of firewall configurations. This invention has broad application prospects in network security management, significantly enhancing network protection capabilities and ensuring network security.

[0190] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to mutually. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments. In particular, for system or system embodiments, since they are basically similar to method embodiments, the description is relatively simple, and relevant parts can be referred to the descriptions in the method embodiments. The systems and system embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs. Those skilled in the art can understand and implement this without creative effort.

[0191] Those skilled in the art will further recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, the components and steps of the various examples have been generally described in terms of functionality in the foregoing description. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this invention.

[0192] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.< / string> < / string> < / string> < / string> < / string>

Claims

1. A configuration management system for an iptables firewall, characterized in that, The system includes: a policy configuration unit, an operation task unit, a host configuration unit, and an operation audit unit; The strategy configuration unit is used to define an initial template containing parameter placeholders based on the basic information input by the user through the strategy configuration interface; create a strategy generation class in the initial template and test the strategy generation class; if the strategy generation class meets the test requirements, then a strategy template is obtained; and configure multiple strategies using the strategy template. The operation task unit is used to generate an operation task for iptables configuration based on the target information input by the user through the task management interface; if the operation task is a change operation, an approval work order is created; if the approval work order is approved, the operation task is executed and the execution result is saved; the target information includes the policy. The host configuration unit is used to query and display the current iptables configuration and historical iptables configuration when it receives a query command input by the user through the configuration query interface. The operation auditing unit is used to record all operation logs in the policy configuration unit, the operation task unit, and the host configuration unit, and to detect whether there are any abnormal operations based on all operation logs. If so, an alarm notification is generated and output.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The policy configuration unit includes: a policy template creation module and a policy rule configuration module; The policy template creation module is used to define an initial template containing parameter placeholders based on the source IP address, destination IP address, port number, protocol type, and iptables command in the basic information entered by the user through the policy configuration interface. The policy template creation module is also used to create a policy generation class in the initial template. If the policy generation class meets the generation requirements of iptables commands, then the policy generation class is determined to meet the test requirements, and the iptables command generation template including the policy generation class is determined as the policy template. The strategy rule configuration module is used to import multiple strategy rules into the strategy template to obtain multiple configured strategies.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The policy configuration unit further includes: a policy storage module; The policy storage module is used to store all policy templates according to version numbers; wherein each policy template corresponds to a version number; The policy storage module is also used to find the policy template corresponding to the version number in the viewing instruction when a viewing instruction is received; When a rollback instruction is received, a rollback operation is performed according to the version number carried in the rollback instruction; When a comparison instruction is received, the strategy templates corresponding to the multiple version numbers in the comparison instruction are obtained, a comparison operation is performed, and the comparison results are output.

4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operation task unit includes: a task creation module and a task execution module; The task creation module is used to generate an iptables command list based on the policy, the list of IP addresses to be allowed access, and the list of machine IP addresses to be configured with policies in the target information input by the user through the task management interface, and to pass the iptables command list to the task execution module. The task execution module is used to receive the list of iptables commands and generate operation tasks; The task execution module is further configured to create an approval work order corresponding to the operation task if the operation task is a change operation task; and execute the operation task and store the execution result when an instruction indicating that the approval work order has been approved is received.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The task execution module includes: an approval submodule and an execution submodule; The approval submodule is used to receive the iptables command list and generate an operation task, and determine whether the operation task is a change operation task; if it is not a change operation task, the operation task is sent to the execution submodule; if it is a change operation task, an approval work order corresponding to the operation task is created and displayed through the interactive interface. The approval submodule is further configured to send the operation task to the execution submodule when it receives an instruction indicating that the approval work order has been approved; and to send a modification instruction to the task creation module when it receives an instruction indicating that the approval work order has not been approved, so that the task creation module can modify the operation task based on the modification instruction. The execution submodule is used to execute the operation task and store the execution result.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The host configuration unit is further configured to: when receiving a configuration comparison instruction, compare the current iptables configuration with the historical iptables configuration, obtain the configuration comparison result, and output it.

7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operation auditing unit is further configured to: when a query operation log instruction is received, search for the operation log corresponding to the query operation log instruction from all operation logs and output it.

8. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The system also includes: a completion unit; The completion unit is used to complete the user's input using a preset auto-completion method when the user enters an iptables command in the interactive interface.

9. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The system also includes: an error correction unit; The error correction unit is used to correct the user's input using a preset error correction method when it detects that the user has entered an iptables command in the interactive interface.

10. A configuration management method for an iptables firewall, characterized in that, The method includes: The policy configuration unit defines an initial template containing parameter placeholders based on the basic information entered by the user through the policy configuration interface. The strategy configuration unit is used to create a strategy generation class in the initial template and then tests the strategy generation class. If the strategy generation class meets the test requirements, then the strategy template is determined to be obtained; Multiple policies are configured using the policy template through the policy configuration unit; The operation task unit generates operation tasks for the iptables configuration based on the target information input by the user through the task management interface; the target information includes the policy. If the operation task is a change operation, then an approval work order is created using the operation task unit; If the approval work order is approved, the operation task is executed using the operation task unit, and the execution result is saved. When a query command is received from the user through the configuration query interface, the host configuration unit is used to query and display the current iptables configuration and the historical iptables configuration. The operation audit unit records all operation logs in the policy configuration unit, the operation task unit, and the host configuration unit, and detects whether there are any abnormal operations based on all operation logs. If so, an alarm notification is generated and output.

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