Firewall with iptables

This installation steps are applied at Redhat Linux. However, it should be fine with other distributions also.

1. Check for installation status of iptables servicerpm -q iptables

2. This step is important if your server have FTP service.insmod ip_conntrack_ftp (redhat 9)
modprobe ip_conntrack_ftp (rhel)

3. create filevi /root/primary_firewall

#The NAT portion of the ruleset. Used for Network Address Transalation.
#Usually not needed on a typical web server, but it's there if you need it.
*nat
:PREROUTING ACCEPT [127173:7033011]
:POSTROUTING ACCEPT [31583:2332178]
:OUTPUT ACCEPT [32021:2375633]
COMMIT
#The Mangle portion of the ruleset. Here is where unwanted packet types get dropped.
#This helps in making port scans against your server a bit more time consuming and difficult, but not impossible.
*mangle
:PREROUTING ACCEPT [444:43563]
:INPUT ACCEPT [444:43563]
:FORWARD ACCEPT [0:0]
:OUTPUT ACCEPT [402:144198]
:POSTROUTING ACCEPT [402:144198]
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags FIN,SYN,RST,PSH,ACK,URG FIN,PSH,URG -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags FIN,SYN,RST,PSH,ACK,URG NONE -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags SYN,RST SYN,RST -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags FIN,SYN FIN,SYN -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags FIN,SYN,RST,PSH,ACK,URG FIN,PSH,URG -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags FIN,SYN,RST,PSH,ACK,URG NONE -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags SYN,RST SYN,RST -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags FIN,SYN FIN,SYN -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags FIN,SYN,RST,PSH,ACK,URG FIN,PSH,URG -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags FIN,SYN,RST,PSH,ACK,URG NONE -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags SYN,RST SYN,RST -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags FIN,SYN FIN,SYN -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags FIN,SYN,RST,PSH,ACK,URG FIN,PSH,URG -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags FIN,SYN,RST,PSH,ACK,URG NONE -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags SYN,RST SYN,RST -j DROP
-A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --tcp-flags FIN,SYN FIN,SYN -j DROP
COMMIT
#The FILTER section of the ruleset is where we initially drop all packets and then selectively open certain ports.
#We will also enable logging of all dropped requests.
*filter
:INPUT DROP [1:242]
:FORWARD DROP [0:0]
:OUTPUT DROP [0:0]
:LOG_DROP - [0:0]
:LOG_ACCEPT - [0:0]
:icmp_packets - [0:0]
#First, we cover the INPUT rules, or the rules for incoming requests. 
#Note how at the end we log any incoming packets that are not accepted.
-A INPUT -m state --state RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 20 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 21 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 22 -j LOG_ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 25 -j LOG_ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 43 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p udp -m udp --dport 53 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 110 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 143 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 443 -j ACCEPT
#uncomment the next line if you are running Spamassassin on your server
#-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 783 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 993 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 3306 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -s 127.0.0.1 -j ACCEPT
-A INPUT -p icmp -j icmp_packets
-A INPUT -j LOG_DROP
#Next, we cover the OUTPUT rules, or the rules for all outgoing traffic.
#Note how at the end we log any outbound packets that are not accepted.
-A OUTPUT -m state --state RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 20 -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 21 -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 22 -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 23 -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 25 -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 43 -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -p udp -m udp --dport 53 -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 110 -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 143 -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 443 -j ACCEPT
#uncomment the next line if you are running Spamassassin on your server
#-A OUTPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 783 -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 993 -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 3306 -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -d 127.0.0.1 -j ACCEPT
-A OUTPUT -p icmp -j icmp_packets
-A OUTPUT -j LOG_DROP
#Here we have 2 sets of logging rules. One for dropped packets to log all dropped requests and one for accepted packets, should we wish to log any accepted requesets.
-A LOG_DROP -j LOG --log-prefix "[IPTABLES DROP] : " --log-tcp-options --log-ip-options
-A LOG_DROP -j DROP
-A LOG_ACCEPT -j LOG --log-prefix "[IPTABLES ACCEPT] : " --log-tcp-options --log-ip-options
-A LOG_ACCEPT -j ACCEPT
#And finally, a rule to deal with ICMP requests. We drop all ping requests except from our own server.
# Make sure you replace 1.2.3.4 with the IP address of your server.
-A icmp_packets -p icmp -m icmp --icmp-type 0 -j ACCEPT
-A icmp_packets -s 1.2.3.4 -p icmp -m icmp --icmp-type 8 -j ACCEPT
-A icmp_packets -p icmp -m icmp --icmp-type 8 -j DROP
-A icmp_packets -p icmp -m icmp --icmp-type 3 -j ACCEPT
-A icmp_packets -p icmp -m icmp --icmp-type 11 -j ACCEPT
COMMIT

Save and exit the file.

According to sample rules, following ports are opened 20 to 22, 25, 43, 53, 80, 110, 143, 443, 993, 3306
Essentially, most of the service ports are opened. You may need to review your requirements and adjust accordingly.
For example, you don't want to expose Mysql service to outside world. You should remove port 3306 from allow list.

4. Activate rules
iptables-restore < /root/primary_firewall

5. Check the rules
iptables -L

6. Populate upon boot up
Edit /etc/rc.local
iptables-restore < /root/primary_firewall


Ref:
www.iptablesrocks.org