# Cisco Firewall Audit > Dual-platform Cisco ASA and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) firewall audit with ACL analysis, NAT policy validation, Modular Policy Framework / Access Control Policy evaluation, Snort IPS assessment, VPN configuration review, and logging completeness verification. - Skill: `vahagn-madatyan/cisco-firewall-audit` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add vahagn-madatyan/cisco-firewall-audit` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/vahagn-madatyan/cisco-firewall-audit/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Security - License: Apache-2.0 - Author: vahagn-madatyan (https://skillmd.com/u/vahagn-madatyan) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/vahagn-madatyan/cisco-firewall-audit --- # Cisco ASA / FTD Firewall Security Policy Audit Policy-audit-driven analysis covering both Cisco ASA (classic) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD). Unlike generic firewall checklists that check for open ports and default-deny, this skill evaluates the platform-specific security architecture: ASA security levels with interface-bound ACLs and Modular Policy Framework, or FTD Access Control Policy with Snort IPS integration and Firepower Management Center (FMC) orchestration. Where platforms diverge, sections use **[ASA]** and **[FTD]** labels. Shared concepts apply to both platforms unlabeled. Covers ASA 9.x+ and FTD 6.x+ / 7.x+ managed by FMC or FDM. Reference `references/policy-model.md` for the ASA security-level model and FTD ACP evaluation chain, and `references/cli-reference.md` for dual-platform read-only commands. ## When to Use - ACL review after rule changes or migration from ASA to FTD - Annual or quarterly compliance audit requiring per-rule justification - Post-incident rule assessment to identify how traffic was permitted - **[ASA]** Security level and interface ACL gap analysis - **[ASA]** Modular Policy Framework audit — verifying inspection maps - **[FTD]** Access Control Policy rule ordering and IPS coverage review - **[FTD]** Snort IPS policy tuning assessment — false positive vs detection gap balance - NAT policy validation after network re-addressing or migration - VPN configuration security review — site-to-site and remote access - Failover / HA posture verification - Pre-migration baseline before ASA-to-FTD conversion ## Prerequisites - **[ASA]** Privilege level 5+ (read-only `show` commands) or ASDM read-only access - **[FTD]** Read-only analyst access to FMC web UI or FMC REST API; Expert shell access for Snort-level diagnostics - Understanding of the interface topology — which interfaces exist, their security levels (**[ASA]**), and network segment assignments - Knowledge of expected access policies per interface pair or zone - For multi-context ASA: access to system and each security context - **[FTD]** Knowledge of IPS policy baseline — which Snort ruleset and network analysis policy are expected - Active configuration — audit evaluates the running configuration, not pending changes ## Procedure Follow this audit flow sequentially. Each step builds on prior findings. The procedure moves from platform identification through access policy, NAT, inspection/IPS, VPN, and logging. ### Step 1: Platform Identification and Architecture Inventory Determine the platform and collect architectural baseline. ``` show version ``` Identify: ASA vs FTD, software version, hardware platform (ASA 5500-X, Firepower 1000/2100/4100/9300, virtual), licensed features. **[ASA]** Inventory interfaces, security levels, and context mode: ``` show interface ip brief show nameif show mode ``` Security levels (0–100) determine implicit traffic flow: traffic from a higher security level to a lower is permitted by default (unless ACLs override); lower-to-higher is denied by default. Record each interface name, security level, and IP address. For multi-context ASA: ``` show context changeto context show interface ip brief ``` **[FTD]** Identify management model and registered devices: ``` show managers ``` FTD managed by FMC: policy is pushed from FMC — audit via FMC UI/API. FTD managed by FDM (local): policy configured on-device — audit via FDM web UI or REST API. Check failover/HA status on both platforms: ``` show failover show failover state ``` Record active/standby status, failover interface, and last failover time. ### Step 2: Access Policy Analysis **[ASA]** ACL-based access control: ``` show access-list show running-config access-list show running-config access-group ``` ASA uses interface-bound ACLs. Each ACL is applied inbound or outbound on an interface via `access-group`. Evaluate: - **ACL evaluation order:** Top-down within each ACL. First matching ACE (Access Control Entry) is applied. Implicit deny at the bottom. - **Global ACL:** If configured, applies to all interfaces. Interface ACLs are evaluated before the global ACL. - **Overly permissive ACEs:** `permit ip any any` or `permit tcp any any` entries are Critical findings — they permit all traffic of that protocol. - **Unused ACEs:** ACEs with zero hit counts (check `show access-list` output for `hitcnt=0`) over 90+ days are cleanup candidates. - **EtherType ACLs:** Used on transparent firewall interfaces. Review for overly broad EtherType permits. ``` show access-list brief ``` **[FTD]** Access Control Policy (ACP): Access the ACP via FMC UI or REST API. The ACP evaluates traffic through a defined chain (see `references/policy-model.md`). Evaluate: - **Prefilter policy:** Hardware-level rules that bypass Snort. Overly broad prefilter Trust rules skip all inspection. - **SSL policy:** Determines which TLS flows are decrypted for inspection. - **Access Control rules:** Top-down evaluation. Actions: Allow (with or without IPS), Trust (bypass Snort), Block, Monitor. - Rules with Action=Allow and no Intrusion Policy pass traffic without IPS inspection. - Rules with Action=Trust bypass all further inspection including IPS and file/malware — use only for verified trusted flows. - **Default action:** Applied when no rule matches. Should be Block with logging, not Allow. - **Intrusion Policy binding:** Each Allow rule can bind an Intrusion Policy (Snort ruleset). Rules without one pass traffic uninspected. ``` system support diagnostic-cli show access-control-config ``` ### Step 3: NAT Policy Audit **[ASA]** NAT order of operations: ``` show nat show nat detail show running-config nat show xlate ``` ASA NAT evaluates in three sections: - **Section 1 (Manual NAT / Twice NAT):** Explicit rules, top-down. Highest priority. Used for fine-grained control. - **Section 2 (Auto NAT / Object NAT):** Per-object NAT definitions. Evaluated after Section 1. Ordering: static rules first, then dynamic. - **Section 3 (Manual NAT after-auto):** Low-priority manual rules evaluated after auto NAT. Used for catch-all translations. Check for NAT rule conflicts — a Section 1 rule that matches the same traffic as a Section 2 object NAT always wins. Verify that static NAT entries for published servers have corresponding ACL entries restricting access. **[FTD]** NAT rules in FMC: FTD NAT follows the same three-section model as ASA but is configured via FMC. Review NAT rules in the FMC NAT policy. Verify: - Manual NAT rules take precedence over auto NAT - NAT rules align with ACP rules — ensure translated addresses match ACP source/destination references - No unnecessary identity NAT rules consuming processing Cross-reference NAT entries with access policy on both platforms — static NAT that exposes internal servers must have restrictive access rules. ### Step 4: Inspection and IPS Assessment **[ASA]** Modular Policy Framework (MPF): ``` show running-config class-map show running-config policy-map show running-config service-policy show service-policy ``` ASA inspection uses MPF: class-maps define traffic → policy-maps bind inspections → service-policies apply to interfaces. Evaluate: - **Default inspection:** ASA enables inspection for common protocols (HTTP, DNS, FTP, etc.) via the `global_policy`. Verify the global policy is applied (`service-policy global_policy global`). - **Custom inspections:** Additional class-maps/policy-maps for specific traffic patterns. Verify they are applied to correct interfaces. - **Missing inspections:** Traffic not matching any class-map in the service-policy receives no application-layer inspection — only ACL enforcement. - **Connection limits:** MPF can set connection limits and timeouts. Review for overly permissive or missing connection limits on internet-facing interfaces. **[FTD]** Snort IPS and File/Malware policies: - **Intrusion Policy:** Each ACP Allow rule can reference an Intrusion Policy that determines the Snort ruleset. Check that internet-facing Allow rules bind an Intrusion Policy. - **Snort rule sets:** Verify the base policy (Balanced Security and Connectivity, Connectivity Over Security, Security Over Connectivity, Maximum Detection). For production environments, "Balanced Security and Connectivity" is the minimum recommended baseline. - **Network Analysis Policy (NAP):** Controls protocol decoder settings and preprocessor configuration. Misconfigured NAP can cause Snort detection gaps. - **File and Malware Policy:** Detects and blocks malware file transfers. Verify binding on rules permitting file-carrying protocols (HTTP, SMTP, FTP, SMB). - **Snort deployment mode:** Inline (can block) vs passive (alert only). Production deployments should use inline mode for active prevention. ``` system support diagnostic-cli show snort statistics ``` ### Step 5: VPN and Remote Access Audit Evaluate VPN configuration security on both platforms. ``` show crypto ipsec sa show crypto ikev2 sa show vpn-sessiondb ``` Check: - **Site-to-site tunnels:** Verify IKE version (IKEv2 preferred over IKEv1), encryption algorithms (AES-256-GCM recommended; DES/3DES are findings), DH groups (group 14+ recommended; groups 1/2/5 are weak), and PFS settings. - **Crypto maps / tunnel groups:** **[ASA]** Review crypto map entries and tunnel group definitions. **[FTD]** Review site-to-site VPN topology in FMC. - **AnyConnect / remote access VPN:** If configured, evaluate: - Authentication method (certificate + MFA preferred over password-only) - Split tunneling settings (full tunnel recommended for security; split tunnel for performance — document the choice) - Connection profiles and group policies - Client certificate validation settings - Banner and session timeout configuration ``` show running-config tunnel-group show running-config group-policy ``` - **IKE/IPSec SA lifetimes:** Very long lifetimes (>24h IKE, >8h IPSec) increase exposure if keys are compromised. ### Step 6: Logging and Monitoring Evaluate logging configuration and coverage. **[ASA]** Syslog configuration: ``` show logging show running-config logging ``` - **Syslog severity:** Verify logging level is set to at least "informational" (level 6) for security-relevant events. Level 5 (notifications) misses connection teardown events. Level 7 (debugging) generates excessive volume. - **Syslog destinations:** Verify syslog server(s) are configured and reachable. Check for encrypted syslog (TCP/TLS) for log integrity. - **SNMP:** If configured, verify community strings are not defaults and SNMP v3 is used for authentication/encryption. **[FTD]** Firepower event logging: - **Connection events:** In FMC, verify connection logging is enabled on ACP rules. "Log at End of Connection" is standard; "Log at Beginning" adds volume but provides immediate visibility. - **Intrusion events:** Automatically logged by Snort when rules trigger. Verify events are forwarded to the SIEM. - **eStreamer:** The Firepower event streaming API for SIEM integration. Verify eStreamer client connectivity if in use. - **Security Analytics / SecureX:** If integrated, verify telemetry forwarding is active. ``` show logging show running-config logging ``` Verify logging covers: denied connections (ACL denials), permitted connections (for audit trail), VPN events, failover events, and administrative access. ## Threshold Tables ### Policy Rule Severity Classification | Finding | Severity | Rationale | |---------|----------|-----------| | **[ASA]** `permit ip any any` in interface ACL | Critical | Permits all IP traffic — no access restriction | | **[FTD]** ACP default action set to Allow | Critical | All unmatched traffic permitted without inspection | | **[FTD]** Prefilter Trust rule with broad match (any/any) | Critical | Traffic bypasses all Snort inspection | | **[ASA]** No global service-policy applied | High | No application-layer inspection on any traffic | | **[FTD]** Allow rule without Intrusion Policy binding | High | Traffic permitted without IPS inspection | | **[FTD]** SSL policy not decrypting internet-bound traffic | High | Snort inspects only metadata on encrypted flows | | VPN using DES/3DES or DH group 1/2/5 | High | Weak cryptographic algorithms — vulnerable to attack | | Static NAT with no restricting ACL | High | Published server accessible on all ports | | Failover configured but standby not monitoring | High | HA not providing redundancy | | **[FTD]** Snort in passive mode (production) | High | IPS detects but cannot block threats | | **[ASA]** ACE with hitcnt=0 for >90 days | Medium | Unused rule — cleanup candidate | | **[FTD]** File/Malware policy not bound on file-carrying rules | Medium | Malware detection gap on HTTP/SMTP/FTP | | VPN split tunneling enabled | Medium | Remote user traffic may bypass corporate security controls | | Logging severity below informational (level 6) | Medium | Security events not captured in logs | | **[ASA]** Security levels equal with same-security-traffic disabled | Low | Traffic between equal interfaces blocked (may be intentional) | ### IPS / Inspection Maturity | Coverage | Maturity | Guidance | |----------|----------|----------| | **[FTD]** All Allow rules have Intrusion + File/Malware policies | Mature | Maintain; tune Snort rules quarterly | | **[FTD]** Most Allow rules have Intrusion Policy, some gaps | Developing | Bind Intrusion Policy to remaining Allow rules | | **[ASA]** Global inspection policy active, custom maps defined | Developing | Evaluate FTD migration for deeper inspection | | **[ASA]** Default global_policy only, no custom inspections | Immature | Add custom inspection maps for critical protocols | ## Decision Trees ### Access Policy Gap Remediation ``` Overly permissive access rule identified ├── Platform? │ ├── [ASA] permit ip any any in ACL │ │ ├── Is ACL applied to an interface? │ │ │ ├── Yes → CRITICAL: All traffic permitted on that interface │ │ │ │ └── Analyze connections: show conn [interface] │ │ │ │ → Replace with specific permit entries │ │ │ └── No → ACL exists but not applied; verify intent │ │ └── Global ACL? │ │ └── Applies to all interfaces → assess scope of exposure │ │ │ └── [FTD] Allow rule without Intrusion Policy │ ├── What traffic does the rule match? │ │ ├── Internet-bound → Bind Intrusion Policy (Balanced minimum) │ │ │ └── Also bind File/Malware policy │ │ ├── Inter-zone → Bind Intrusion Policy │ │ └── Trusted internal → Evaluate risk; bind at minimum │ │ │ └── Is it a Trust rule? │ ├── Yes → Bypasses ALL inspection │ │ └── Verify traffic is truly trusted (e.g., backup) │ │ └── Consider changing to Allow + Intrusion Policy │ └── No (Allow) → Add Intrusion Policy binding │ └── Action = Trust vs Allow? ├── Trust → Zero inspection; use sparingly └── Allow → Inspection possible; bind policies ``` ### NAT Conflict Resolution ``` NAT rule conflict suspected ├── [ASA] Which section is each rule in? │ ├── Section 1 (Manual) vs Section 2 (Auto) → Section 1 always wins │ ├── Both in Section 2 → Static evaluates before dynamic; check overlap │ └── Section 1 vs Section 3 → Section 1 wins; Section 3 may be unreachable │ ├── [FTD] Same three-section model via FMC │ └── Review NAT policy → identify ordering conflicts │ └── Verify with packet tracer: packet-tracer input tcp ``` ## Report Template ``` CISCO ASA / FTD SECURITY POLICY AUDIT REPORT =============================================== Device: [hostname] Platform: [ASA model / FTD model] Software: [ASA version / FTD version] Management: [ASDM / FMC hostname / FDM] Mode: [routed / transparent] [single / multi-context] Failover: [active-standby / active-active / standalone] Audit Date: [timestamp] Performed By: [operator/agent] INTERFACE / ZONE SUMMARY: [ASA]: Interfaces: [count] (security levels: [list]) | Multi-context: [yes/no] [FTD]: Zones: [count] ([list]) | Managed by: [FMC/FDM] ACCESS POLICY: [ASA]: ACLs: [count] | ACEs total: [n] | hitcnt=0 (>90d): [n] | Global service-policy: [yes/no] [FTD]: ACP rules: [n] (Allow:[n] Block:[n] Trust:[n]) IPS-bound: [n]/[allow] | File/Malware-bound: [n]/[allow] | Default: [Block/Allow] NAT: Section 1: [n] | Section 2: [n] | Section 3: [n] | Static: [n] | Conflicts: [n/none] INSPECTION / IPS: [ASA]: Service-policy: [applied/missing] | Inspected: [protocols] [FTD]: IPS policy: [name] | Snort: [inline/passive] | SSL decrypt: [n rules/none] VPN: Tunnels: [n] | IKE: [v1/v2] | Crypto: [algs] | AnyConnect: [yes/no] | Split: [yes/no] FINDINGS: 1. [Severity] [Category] — [Description] Platform: [ASA/FTD] | Rule: [id] | Interface/Zone: [name] Issue: [problem] → Recommendation: [remediation] RECOMMENDATIONS: [Prioritized by severity] NEXT AUDIT: [CRITICAL: 30d, HIGH: 90d, clean: 180d] ``` ## Troubleshooting ### ASA-to-FTD Migration Assessment When evaluating an ASA for migration to FTD, document: ACL count, NAT rules, MPF inspections, VPN configurations (crypto maps don't migrate directly), and multi-context usage (FTD does not support multi-context). The Cisco Firepower Migration Tool provides a baseline but audit the migrated policy for accuracy — automated migration often produces suboptimal rule ordering. ### Multi-Context ASA Audits Each security context is an independent firewall with its own interfaces, ACLs, NAT, and routing. Audit each context separately via `changeto context `. Use `show context` in the system context to list all contexts and `show resource allocation` for per-context limits. ### Large ACLs (>1000 ACEs) Export the configuration (`show running-config access-list`) and parse programmatically. Prioritize by hit count — high-hit-count ACEs carry the most traffic. Zero-hit-count ACEs over 90 days are removal candidates. ### FTD Diagnostic CLI FTD runs Snort on top of an ASA-derived data plane. Use `system support diagnostic-cli` for ASA-style `show` commands. The canonical policy source is FMC — the diagnostic CLI shows deployed results. ### Packet Tracer for Policy Verification Both platforms support packet tracer for simulating traffic: ``` packet-tracer input tcp ``` Shows each processing phase: ACL/ACP evaluation, NAT translation, inspection, routing, and egress. Use to verify audit findings.