Firewalls Questions
Firewall state tables are data structures used by firewalls to track and manage network connections. They keep track of the state of each connection passing through the firewall, allowing the firewall to make informed decisions about whether to allow or block traffic.
The state table maintains information about each connection, such as the source and destination IP addresses, port numbers, and the current state of the connection (e.g., established, closed, or waiting for a response). This information is used by the firewall to enforce security policies and filter network traffic.
When a packet arrives at the firewall, it is inspected and compared against the state table. If a matching entry is found, the firewall can determine the state of the connection and apply the appropriate rules. For example, if the packet is part of an established connection, it may be allowed to pass through. On the other hand, if the packet does not match any existing entry in the state table, it may be considered a new connection and subjected to further scrutiny or blocked entirely.
By maintaining a state table, firewalls can effectively track and manage network connections, ensuring that only authorized traffic is allowed while blocking potentially malicious or unauthorized access attempts. This helps to enhance network security and protect against various types of cyber threats.