Firewall and Security

Linux offers various tools for configuring and managing firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, auditing, and security policies. Commands like firewalld, fail2ban, and auditd help secure the system by controlling network traffic, detecting and mitigating malicious activities, and monitoring system events for security purposes.

Command

Description

Example

firewalld

Manage firewall rules (modern).

firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=80/tcp --permanent 

Opens port 80 for TCP traffic permanently.

fail2ban

Intrusion prevention system that scans log files and bans IPs that show malicious signs.

fail2ban-client status 

Displays the current status of Fail2Ban.

auditd

Linux audit daemon to monitor system calls and file system events.

auditctl -l 

Lists the current audit rules.

semanage

SELinux policy management tool.

semanage fcontext -a -t httpd_sys_content_t '/web(/.*)?' 

Adds a new SELinux file context for a web directory.

getsebool

Get the value of an SELinux boolean.

getsebool httpd_can_network_connect 

Retrieves the value of the SELinux boolean “httpd_can_network_connect”.

setsebool

Set the value of an SELinux boolean.

setsebool -P httpd_can_network_connect on 

Sets the SELinux boolean “httpd_can_network_connect” to “on” persistently.

sestatus

Display SELinux status.

sestatus 

Displays the current SELinux status, including mode, policy version, and status of SELinux modules.

AppArmor

Mandatory access control framework for restricting programs’ capabilities.

aa-status 

Shows the status of AppArmor and its enforced profiles.

sysctl

Configure kernel parameters at runtime.

sysctl -w net.ipv4.tcp_syncookies=1 

Enables TCP SYN cookies to mitigate SYN flood attacks.

ufw

Uncomplicated Firewall – simplifies firewall configuration.

ufw allow ssh 

Allows SSH traffic through the firewall.

Linux Security Command Cheat Sheet

Maintaining a secure and hardened Linux system is crucial in today’s threat-laden digital landscape. This comprehensive Linux Security Command Cheat Sheet serves as an invaluable resource for system administrators and security professionals, providing a concise reference to essential commands spanning various security domains. From user and group management to privilege escalation, file system security, process monitoring, firewall configuration, and security scanning, this guide covers a wide array of tools and utilities tailored for fortifying Linux environments.

Whether you’re managing access controls, auditing system events, securing network communications, or proactively detecting and mitigating potential threats, this cheat sheet equips you with the necessary knowledge to navigate through the vast arsenal of Linux security commands. With practical examples and clear descriptions, this resource empowers you to effectively secure, harden, and maintain the integrity of your Linux systems, ensuring robust protection against evolving cyber threats.

Linux Security Command Cheat Sheet

  • User and Group Management
  • Privilege Management
  • File and Directory Management
  • Process Management
  • Firewall and Security
  • Networking and Security Tools
  • Security Scanners

Similar Reads

User and Group Management

Managing users and groups is a critical aspect of Linux system administration. These commands allow you to create, modify, and delete user accounts, set passwords, and manage group memberships. Proper user and group management ensures secure access control and resource allocation within the system....

Privilege Management

Privilege management commands enable administrators to temporarily elevate or switch user privileges, granting access to perform administrative tasks or run commands with elevated permissions. Tools like su and sudo facilitate controlled access to restricted operations, providing a secure and auditable way to manage system resources....

File and Directory Management

These commands are essential for managing files and directories on a Linux system. They allow you to change file permissions, ownership, and default access rights, ensuring proper access control and security. Additionally, commands like ls provide a way to list and inspect file system contents and metadata....

Process Management

Monitoring and managing processes is crucial for system administration. These commands provide insights into running processes, their resource usage, and network connections. Tools like ps, top, and lsof help identify and troubleshoot issues related to system performance, resource consumption, and potential security threats....

Firewall and Security

Linux offers various tools for configuring and managing firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, auditing, and security policies. Commands like firewalld, fail2ban, and auditd help secure the system by controlling network traffic, detecting and mitigating malicious activities, and monitoring system events for security purposes....

Networking and Security Tools

These commands encompass a wide range of networking and security-related utilities. From secure remote access with ssh to network scanning with nmap, encryption with openssl and gpg, and data transfer with curl and wget, these tools provide essential capabilities for secure communication, data protection, and network analysis....

Security Scanners

Linux offers several security scanning tools to detect and mitigate potential security threats. Commands like chkrootkit, rkhunter, and lynis are designed to scan the system for rootkits, backdoors, vulnerabilities, and provide hardening recommendations, helping to maintain a secure and hardened system....

Conclusion

In summary, this Linux Security Command Cheat Sheet packs a ton of useful information for securing your Linux systems in one easy-to-reference place. By having these commands at your fingertips, you can properly manage user access, harden file system security, detect threats with scanning tools, and generally batten down the hatches against any potential attacks or vulnerabilities. Make this your go-to guide for keeping your Linux environments safe and secure....