Mastering Linux Firewall with UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall): The Ultimate Command Reference & Configuration Guide

UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) is a simplified interface for managing iptables, the standard Linux firewall. It is designed to make firewall configuration easier while maintaining powerful security features. This command reference is a beginner-friendly yet comprehensive guide to Linux firewall management.

Key Notes Before Proceeding

• Most UFW commands require sudo privileges.
• UFW modifies iptables rules but abstracts away the complexity.
• Always check rules with ufw status before enabling the firewall.

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1. Basic UFW Commands

Enable/Disable UFW

Command	Description
sudo ufw enable	Activates UFW and enables it at boot.
sudo ufw disable	Stops UFW and disables it at boot.

Check UFW Status

Command	Description
sudo ufw status	Shows active rules.
sudo ufw status verbose	Detailed status (including defaults).
sudo ufw status numbered	Lists rules with numbers for easy deletion.

Reset UFW to Defaults

Command	Description
sudo ufw reset	Disables UFW and deletes all rules permanently.

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2. Default Policies

Controls default behavior for incoming, outgoing, and routed traffic.

Command	Description	Security Note
sudo ufw default deny incoming	Blocks all incoming connections unless explicitly allowed.	Recommended for security.
sudo ufw default allow outgoing	Allows all outgoing traffic by default.	Commonly used for usability.
sudo ufw default reject incoming	Rejects (instead of drops) incoming traffic, notifying the sender.	Useful for debugging.

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3. Allowing/Denying Connections

Basic Port Rules

Command	Description	Example
sudo ufw allow <port>	Allows traffic on a port (TCP & UDP).	sudo ufw allow 22
sudo ufw allow <port>/<proto>	Allows only TCP or UDP.	sudo ufw allow 53/udp
sudo ufw deny <port>	Blocks traffic on a port.	sudo ufw deny 23

Service Names (Resolved via /etc/services)

UFW recognizes common services (e.g., ssh, http).

sudo ufw allow ssh      # Allows port 22 (SSH)
sudo ufw allow http     # Allows port 80 (HTTP)
sudo ufw allow https    # Allows port 443 (HTTPS)

IP-Based Rules

Command	Description	Example
sudo ufw allow from <IP>	Allows all traffic from an IP.	sudo ufw allow from 192.168.1.100
sudo ufw allow from <IP> to any port <port>	Allows only a specific port.	sudo ufw allow from 192.168.1.100 to any port 3306
sudo ufw deny from <IP>	Blocks all traffic from an IP.	sudo ufw deny from 10.0.0.5

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4. Advanced Rule Management

Port Ranges

sudo ufw allow 5000:6000/tcp   # Allow TCP ports 5000-6000
sudo ufw allow 9000:9100/udp   # Allow UDP ports 9000-9100

Rate Limiting (Brute-Force Protection)

• ufw limit restricts repeated connections (useful for SSH).
• Uses iptables recent module to block excessive requests.

sudo ufw limit ssh   # Allow SSH but block brute-force attempts

Deleting Rules

1. List rules with numbers:

   sudo ufw status numbered

2. Delete by rule number:

   sudo ufw delete 2   # Deletes rule #2

Or delete by rule syntax:

sudo ufw delete allow 22   # Removes the rule allowing port 22

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5. Application Profiles

UFW supports predefined application rules (stored in /etc/ufw/applications.d/).

Command	Description	Example
sudo ufw app list	Lists available profiles.	sudo ufw app list
sudo ufw app info <name>	Shows details of a profile.	sudo ufw app info 'Nginx Full'
sudo ufw allow <app>	Allows an application’s ports.	sudo ufw allow 'Nginx HTTP'

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6. Logging

Enable Logging

sudo ufw logging on        # Enable (default: low)
sudo ufw logging high      # Most verbose logging

• Logs stored in /var/log/ufw.log.
• Levels:
  • low (default) – Logs blocked packets.
  • medium – Logs allowed & blocked.
  • high – Logs all traffic (can be noisy).

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7. Advanced Configurations

Port Forwarding (NAT)

1. Enable forwarding in /etc/default/ufw:

   DEFAULT_FORWARD_POLICY="ACCEPT"

2. Add rules in /etc/ufw/before.rules (before *filter):

   *nat
   :PREROUTING ACCEPT [0:0]
   -A PREROUTING -p tcp --dport 80 -j DNAT --to-destination 192.168.1.10:80
   COMMIT

3. Restart UFW:

   sudo ufw disable && sudo ufw enable

IPv6 Support

Ensure IPv6 is enabled in /etc/default/ufw:

IPV6=yes

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8. Practical Examples

Example 1: Secure Web Server

sudo ufw default deny incoming
sudo ufw default allow outgoing
sudo ufw allow ssh
sudo ufw allow http
sudo ufw allow https
sudo ufw enable

Example 2: Restrict MySQL to a Subnet

sudo ufw allow from 192.168.1.0/24 to any port 3306

Example 3: Rate-Limited SSH

sudo ufw limit ssh   # Protects against brute-force attacks

Example 4: Complex Rule (IP + Port)

sudo ufw allow from 203.0.113.45 to any port 22 proto tcp

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9. Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
UFW not blocking traffic?	Check sudo ufw status. Ensure UFW is enabled.
Rule not working?	Verify syntax with sudo ufw show added.
Too many logs?	Adjust log level: sudo ufw logging medium.

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10. Re-Ordering and Inserting UFW Rules

To manage the order of your firewall rules or insert new rules at specific positions, follow these steps:

Step 1: List Current Firewall Rules

Use the following command to display the current firewall rules along with their positions:

sudo ufw status numbered

This command will list all the active firewall rules in a numbered format, making it easier to identify their positions.

Step 2: Insert a New Rule at a Specific Position

To insert a new rule at a specific position, use the ufw insert command. This command places the new rule at the specified position and shifts the existing rules down by one position.

sudo ufw insert [position] [rule text]

• [position]: The position number where you want to insert the new rule.
• [rule text]: The actual rule you want to add (e.g., allow from 10.10.10.0/24).

Example

1. List Current Rules:

   sudo ufw status numbered

This will output something like:

   [ 1] allow in on eth0 from 192.168.1.0/24 to any port 22
   [ 2] deny in on eth0 from 10.0.0.0/8 to any

2. Insert a New Rule at Position 2:

   sudo ufw insert 2 allow from 10.10.10.0/24

This command will insert the new rule at position 2, and the existing rule at position 2 will move to position 3.

Final Note

• Inserting Rules: The ufw insert command does not replace the existing rule at the specified position; it shifts it down.
• Re-Ordering Rules: By inserting rules at specific positions, you can effectively re-order your firewall rules to ensure they are processed in the desired sequence.

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UFW provides a simple yet powerful way to manage Linux firewalls. By combining default policies, port rules, and application profiles, you can secure your system effectively.