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Palo Alto NGFW lab 15 of 30

User-ID: API and syslog mapping, dynamic user groups and user-based policy

Write policy for people instead of addresses: map users to IP addresses through the XML API and a syslog listener that parses Wi-Fi controller logins, restrict the finance portal to one user, then quarantine contractors with a dynamic user group tagged through the API.

Run this lab

It needs Lite: its 4 nodes are set to 5 vCPU and 7,680 MB in total. That fits the free demo too.

In your workspace: Shared, then Palo Alto NGFW PAN-OS 11 guided labs, then 15 - User-ID - API and syslog mapping dynamic user groups and user-based policy

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Level
Advanced
Time
About 55 minutes
Nodes need
5 vCPU, 7,680 MB
Smallest plan
Lite

The scenario

Calder wants rules written for people:

  • The finance portal on web01 is for the finance team only (alice).
  • Contractors (bob is one) must be kept off the DMZ servers completely, whichever desk they sit at.

There is no Active Directory in this lab, so you'll feed the firewall user information the way modern networks often do:

  • from an identity system through the XML API;
  • from a Wi-Fi controller's syslog login messages.

Client-PC plays both the users' desktop and the Wi-Fi controller.

KEY=$(curl -sk https://10.1.1.254/api/ -d type=keygen -d user=admin --data-urlencode password=Lab-Access-1 | grep -o '<key>[^<]*' | cut -c6-)

Before you start. Start all the nodes. The firewall takes 6-8 minutes to boot and comes up with this lab's starting configuration already loaded. Wait until the FW1 console shows FW1 login:, then log in as admin / Lab-Access-1. Until the management plane is ready it answers Login incorrect, even with the right password. The Linux hosts are ready within seconds.

What you’ll practise

  • Explain the User-ID mapping sources and enable User-ID on the right zones
  • Create user-to-IP mappings with the XML API
  • Configure a syslog listener, parse profile and syslog sender to map users from login events
  • Write security rules with source users and a custom URL category
  • Tag users with the API and use a dynamic user group in policy

The tasks

  1. Where User-ID gets its information
  2. Map alice with the XML API
  3. Rules for the finance portal
  4. Map users from Wi-Fi controller logins (syslog)
  5. Quarantine contractors with a dynamic user group

The Lab Tasks pane has the scenario, these tasks, the checks to run, hints and the full solution.

Topology and devices

The network as it opens in EVE-NG, drawn from the lab’s own canvas, and the image each node runs.

Topology of User-ID - API and syslog mapping dynamic user groups and user-based policy4 nodes and 3 networks, 7 links. Every link is listed as text below the diagram.FW1Client-PCweb01InternetInsideOutsideDMZeth0ethernet1/3eth0mgmtethernet1/2eth0ethernet1/1
4 nodes and 3 networks, with the interface names each link uses. On a narrow screen, scroll the diagram sideways.
Every link, as text
  • FW1 mgmt to Inside (network)
  • FW1 ethernet1/1 to Outside (network)
  • FW1 ethernet1/2 to Inside (network)
  • FW1 ethernet1/3 to DMZ (network)
  • Client-PC eth0 to Inside (network)
  • web01 eth0 to DMZ (network)
  • Internet eth0 to Outside (network)
Nodes in User-ID: API and syslog mapping, dynamic user groups and user-based policy, with the image each runs and the vCPU and RAM it’s set to
NodeDeviceImage in Add NodeSet to
FW1Palo Alto Networks VM-Series (PAN-OS)paloalto-11.2.52 vCPU, 5,632 MB
Client-PCEVE-NG GUI server (Docker)eve-gui-server:latest1 vCPU, 1,024 MB
web01EVE-NG GUI server (Docker)eve-gui-server:latest1 vCPU, 512 MB
InternetEVE-NG GUI server (Docker)eve-gui-server:latest1 vCPU, 512 MB

How to open this lab

  1. Sign in to your workspace at lab.cloudlabbox.com.

  2. In File Manager, open Shared, then the folder Palo Alto NGFW PAN-OS 11 guided labs.

  3. Open 15 - User-ID - API and syslog mapping dynamic user groups and user-based policy and start its nodes, then open Lab Tasks for the scenario and the steps.

The lab is read-only. You can start the nodes and configure the devices, but changes to the topology can’t be saved. To change it, rebuild it in your own folder.

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CloudLabBox is independent of Palo Alto Networks and Cisco. The lab follows exam topics and isn’t vendor training material; vendor names identify the exams and the images in the workspace.