IP Tables network magic SysRq 0.5

IP Tables network magic SysRq is a new iptables target that allows you to do the same as the magic sysrq key on a keyboard does, but over the network.

Why to use the remote sysrq?

Sometimes a remote server hangs and only responds to icmp echo request (ping). Every administrator of such machine is very unhappy because (s)he must go there and press the reset button. It takes a long time and its inconvenient. So here is a solution. Use the Network Magic SysRq and you will be able to do more than just pressing a reset button. You can remotely sync disks, remount them read-only, then do a reboot. And everything comfortably and only in a few seconds.

Is it secure?

That depends. Let me explain: You can restrict who can do this by setting the iptables firewall. But unfortunately, for simplicity, the Network Magic SysRq is based on a single packet request. This packet is encrypted and password protected, but if somebody can sniff it (s)he will be able to repeat (but not to change) the query (so-called replay attack). The query is also protected by a timestamp. When the packet is generated, it is stamped by current date and time. Then on the server side that stamp is compared with the current time of the server and if it is within the tolerance the request is accepted. Together with some other information, the timestamp is protected by SHA1 hash. This means that the potential attacker has a limited time to repeat the sniffed packet. If anybody requires a better security than this, some secure encrypted tunnel can be used. (not depending on userspace, of course!

How to install it?

Just type make.

When everything is compiled type make install as root and after that run depmod -a. Now you can load the kernel module by the command modprobe ipt_SYSRQ.

You would also like to configure the server password and the tolerance. This can be set when installing the module into a kernel, by specifying the module parameters passwd for password and tolerance for tolerance in seconds. The default values are passwd="" and tolerance=43200.

Example:

modprobe ipt_SYSRQ passwd="my_very_secret_password" tolerance=3600

Module options can also be specified in file /etc/modules.conf.

Example:

options ipt_SYSRQ passwd="my_very_secret_password" tolerance=3600

What to do on a server?

After the module is loaded you are able to deploy it using the iptables command.

Some examples of usage:

iptables -I INPUT -p udp --dport 9 -j SYSRQ

or

iptables -I INPUT -i eth1 -s 192.168.1.2 -p udp --dport 9 -j SYSRQ

Note that UDP port 9 is used. This is the default port for send_sysrq program, which shouldnt do any harm, as it defaults to discard service.

What to do on the remote machine?

Copy the executable binary send_sysrq to the remote (client) machine. Alternatively, you can compile ipt_sysrq there yourselves. After uncompressing the source package, you just need to do a make send_sysrq.

Now you can use the client program send_sysrq to send the sysrq request.