2

In the kernel log there are hundreds of these lines. The source is the external IP of the VPS (not localhost nor 127.0.0.1), other times an IP of the network of the VPS provider. The source port and dest port is always 17500. I searched a bit but doesn't seem to be a known port. It's not used by SSH, FTP, mailserver or others on my part.

EDIT: Dropbox is not installed of the server (that runs Ubuntu Server 12.04)

Jan  2 01:17:17 kernel: [8861587.504866] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:25:09:e7:9b:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=210 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=190 
Jan  2 01:17:40 kernel: [8861610.825311] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:05:90:ad:c2:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=151 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=131 
Jan  2 01:17:47 kernel: [8861617.544797] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:25:09:e7:9b:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=210 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=190 
Jan  2 01:18:10 kernel: [8861640.864049] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:05:90:ad:c2:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=151 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=131 
Jan  2 01:18:17 kernel: [8861647.584077] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:25:09:e7:9b:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=210 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=190 
Jan  2 01:18:40 kernel: [8861670.903856] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:05:90:ad:c2:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=151 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=131 
Jan  2 01:18:47 kernel: [8861677.623413] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:25:09:e7:9b:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=210 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=190 
Jan  2 01:19:10 kernel: [8861700.944182] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:05:90:ad:c2:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=151 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=131 
Jan  2 01:19:17 kernel: [8861707.662837] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:25:09:e7:9b:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=210 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=190 
Jan  2 01:19:40 kernel: [8861730.984200] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:05:90:ad:c2:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=151 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=131 
Jan  2 01:19:47 kernel: [8861737.702796] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:25:09:e7:9b:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=210 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=190 
Jan  2 01:20:10 kernel: [8861761.023621] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:05:90:ad:c2:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=151 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=131 
Jan  2 01:20:17 kernel: [8861767.742645] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:25:09:e7:9b:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=210 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=190 
Jan  2 01:20:40 kernel: [8861791.064367] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:05:90:ad:c2:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=151 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=131 
Jan  2 01:20:47 kernel: [8861797.782511] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:25:09:e7:9b:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=210 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=190 
Jan  2 01:21:10 kernel: [8861821.103867] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:05:90:ad:c2:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=151 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=131 
Jan  2 01:21:17 kernel: [8861827.822161] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:25:09:e7:9b:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=210 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=190 
Jan  2 01:21:40 kernel: [8861851.144209] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:05:90:ad:c2:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=151 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=131 
Jan  2 01:21:47 kernel: [8861857.862165] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:25:09:e7:9b:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=210 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=190 
Jan  2 01:22:10 kernel: [8861881.181915] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:05:90:ad:c2:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=151 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=131 
Jan  2 01:22:17 kernel: [8861887.901566] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:25:09:e7:9b:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=210 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=190 
Jan  2 01:22:41 kernel: [8861911.215488] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:05:90:ad:c2:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=151 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=131 
Jan  2 01:22:47 kernel: [8861917.941271] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:25:09:e7:9b:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=210 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=190 
Jan  2 01:23:11 kernel: [8861941.252756] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:05:90:ad:c2:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=151 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=131 
Jan  2 01:23:17 kernel: [8861947.981005] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:25:09:e7:9b:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=210 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=190 
Jan  2 01:23:41 kernel: [8861971.292991] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:05:90:ad:c2:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=151 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=131 
Jan  2 01:23:47 kernel: [8861978.021033] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:25:09:e7:9b:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=210 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=190 
Jan  2 01:24:11 kernel: [8862001.333676] iptables denied: IN=eth0 OUT= MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:10:00:05:90:ad:c2:08:00 SRC=xx.xx.xx.xx DST=255.255.255.255 LEN=151 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=17500 DPT=17500 LEN=131 

Here's my iptables:

################## FILTER ##################
*filter

#  Allows all loopback (lo0) traffic and drop all traffic to 127/8 that doesn't use lo0
-A INPUT -i lo -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -i lo -d 127.0.0.0/8 -j REJECT

#  Accepts all established inbound connections
-A INPUT -m state --state ESTABLISHED,RELATED -j ACCEPT

#  Allows all outbound traffic
#  You can modify this to only allow certain traffic
-A OUTPUT -j ACCEPT

# Allows HTTP and HTTPS connections from anywhere (the normal ports for websites)
-A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j ACCEPT

#  Allows SSH and Webmin connections
-A INPUT -p tcp -m state --state NEW --dport 50000 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p tcp -m state --state NEW -m tcp --dport 1212 -j ACCEPT

# Allows FTP access
-A OUTPUT -p tcp -m tcp --sport 20 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 21 -j ACCEPT

# Disallow ping
-A INPUT -p icmp -m icmp --icmp-type 8 -j DROP

# log iptables denied calls
-A INPUT -m limit --limit 5/min -j LOG --log-prefix "iptables denied: " --log-level 7

# Reject all other inbound - default deny unless explicitly allowed policy
-A INPUT -j REJECT
-A FORWARD -j REJECT

COMMIT


################## NAT ##################
*nat

:PREROUTING ACCEPT [59412:4936393]
:INPUT ACCEPT [41513:2484958]
:OUTPUT ACCEPT [16417:1072327]
:POSTROUTING ACCEPT [16417:1072327]

COMMIT


################## MANGLE ##################
*mangle

:PREROUTING ACCEPT [1574957:131349929]
:INPUT ACCEPT [1572501:131156748]
:FORWARD ACCEPT [0:0]
:OUTPUT ACCEPT [1669706:6747756890]
:POSTROUTING ACCEPT [1669706:6747756890]

COMMIT
11
  • did you add the xx.xx.xx.xx there?
    – titus
    Jan 2, 2013 at 0:53
  • Yep. Oh, I forgot to say that Dropbox is not installed (seems that it uses that port). Jan 2, 2013 at 0:56
  • is the incomming ip address the same?
    – titus
    Jan 2, 2013 at 1:03
  • It's alterned. One time it's 37.9.231.xxx (my VPS external IP), the other it's 5.144.173.194 (belonging to the VPS provider range, I don't have access to it). Jan 2, 2013 at 1:07
  • 1
    Do you have vpn setup on your vps box? The request maybe from vpn/nat clients.
    – John Siu
    Jan 2, 2013 at 1:41

1 Answer 1

2

Port 17500 is used by Dropbox LAN Sync. If you have 2 computers on the same network with Dropbox installed, activating it would allow for very fast transfers.

Lan Sync uses broadcast to detect peers, so if someone in your lan has Dropbox installed with it activated, you will see those entries in the log.

To never see those entries again, add this line to your filters:

# Ignore Dropbox LAN Sync broadcasts
-A INPUT -p udp -m udp --dport 17500 -j DROP

You should never see those entries again.

1
  • This ought to be the accepted answer, IMHO. Worked a treat.
    – JK Laiho
    May 7, 2015 at 7:32

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