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Calico Open Source 3.28 (latest) documentation

Use ICMP/ping rules in policy

Big picture​

Use Calico network policy to allow and deny ICMP/ping messages.

Value​

The Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) provides valuable network diagnostic functions, but it can also be used maliciously. Attackers can use it to learn about your network, or for DoS attacks. Using Calico network policy, you can control where ICMP is used. For example, you can:

  • Allow ICMP ping, but only for workloads, host endpoints (or both)
  • Allow ICMP for pods launched by operators for diagnostic purposes, but block other uses
  • Temporarily enable ICMP to diagnose a problem, then disable it after the problem is resolved
  • Deny/allow ICMPv4 and/or ICMPv6

Concepts​

ICMP packet type and code​

Calico network policy also lets you deny and allow ICMP traffic based on specific types and codes. For example, you can specify ICMP type 5, code 2 to match specific ICMP redirect packets.

For details, see ICMP type and code.

How to​

Deny all ICMP, all workloads and host endpoints​

In this example, we introduce a "deny all ICMP" GlobalNetworkPolicy.

This policy selects all workloads and host endpoints. It enables a default deny for all workloads and host endpoints, in addition to the explicit ICMP deny rules specified in the policy.

If your ultimate goal is to allow some traffic, have your regular "allow" policies in place before applying a global deny-all ICMP traffic policy.

In this example, all workloads and host endpoints are blocked from sending or receiving ICMPv4 and ICMPv6 messages.

If ICMPv6 messages are not used in your deployment, it is still good practice to deny them specifically as shown below.

In any "deny-all" Calico network policy, be sure to specify a lower order (order:200) than regular policies that might allow traffic.

apiVersion: projectcalico.org/v3
kind: GlobalNetworkPolicy
metadata:
name: block-icmp
spec:
order: 200
selector: all()
types:
- Ingress
- Egress
ingress:
- action: Deny
protocol: ICMP
- action: Deny
protocol: ICMPv6
egress:
- action: Deny
protocol: ICMP
- action: Deny
protocol: ICMPv6

Allow ICMP ping, all workloads and host endpoints​

In this example, workloads and host endpoints can receive ICMPv4 type 8 and ICMPv6 type 128 ping requests that come from other workloads and host endpoints.

All other traffic may be allowed by other policies. If traffic is not explicitly allowed, it will be denied by default.

The policy applies only to ingress traffic. (Egress traffic is not affected, and default deny is not enforced for egress.)

apiVersion: projectcalico.org/v3
kind: GlobalNetworkPolicy
metadata:
name: allow-ping-in-cluster
spec:
selector: all()
types:
- Ingress
ingress:
- action: Allow
protocol: ICMP
source:
selector: all()
icmp:
type: 8 Ping request
- action: Allow
protocol: ICMPv6
source:
selector: all()
icmp:
type: 128 Ping request

Allow ICMP matching protocol type and code, all Kubernetes pods​

In this example, only Kubernetes pods that match the selector projectcalico.org/orchestrator == 'kubernetes' are allowed to receive ICMPv4 code: 1 host unreachable messages.

apiVersion: projectcalico.org/v3
kind: GlobalNetworkPolicy
metadata:
name: allow-host-unreachable
spec:
selector: projectcalico.org/orchestrator == 'kubernetes'
types:
- Ingress
ingress:
- action: Allow
protocol: ICMP
icmp:
type: 3 Destination unreachable
code: 1 Host unreachable

Additional resources​

For more on the ICMP match criteria, see: