Understanding Common Log Attributes


  • What kind of information do logs contain?
  • Example entry:

Feb  1 00:00:02 bridge kernel: INBOUND TCP: IN=br0 PHYSIN=eth0OUT=br0 PHYSOUT=eth1 SRC=192.150.249.87 DST=11.11.11.84LEN=40 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=110 ID=12973PROTO=TCP SPT=220 DPT=6129

  • WINDOW=16384 RES=0x00 SYN URGP=0
  • Quite a lot of information, but very little at the same time

Cataloging the Information
  • Feb  1 00:00:02: Date and time (GMT or Local)
  • bridge kernel: NIC interface name
  • INBOUND TCP: Type of traffic flow, direction and protocol
  • IN=br0 PHYSIN=eth0 OUT=br0 PHYSOUT=eth1: Adapter traversal for the firewall
  • SRC=192.150.249.87 DST=11.11.11.84: Source and destination IP
  • LEN=40 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=110 ID=12973: IP Header information
    • Sometimes includes DF as well
  • PROTO=TCP SPT=220 DPT=6129: Protocol and port numbers
    • Also have PROTO=UDP and PROTO=ICMP
  • WINDOW=16384 RES=0x00 SYN URGP=0: Protocol specific information