topic Re: Understanding Static NAT in General Topics

Understanding Static NAT

Sanjay_Ramaiah — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 12:40:46 GMT

Hi All,

When it comes to Static NAT it will be one to one NAT in vendors like Checkpoint and Cisco ASA. I am bit confused with the NAT configuration in Palo Alto. Went through config guide and examples of NAT as well but still confused.

We have a scenario as below.

We have 3 zones - WAN, LAN and DMZ.

Users want to reach DMZ interface from WAN and vice versa.

IP: 10.10.10.10 shd be translated to 1.1.1.2

WAN Int: 1.1.1.1/29

So ACL is configured as below:

WAN to DMZ Zones port 443 is allowed.

Src Int: WAN

Src: Any

Dst Int: DMZ

Dst: 1.1.1.2

Port: 443

Src Int: DMZ

Src: 10.10.10.10

Dst Int: WAN

Dst: Any

Port: 443

NAT:

Src Zone: DMZ

Dst Zone: WAN

Dst Int: WAN

Src Add: 10.10.10.10

Dst Add:Any

Src Trans: Static IP(1.1.1.2)Bi-directional

Dst Trans:none

Src Zone:WAN

Dst Zone: DMZ

Dst Int:DMZ

Src Add:Any

Dst Add:1.1.1.2

Src Trans:none

Dst Trans:dst-translation(10.10.10.10)

Is there anything wrong with this?

Though 1.1.1.2 is directly connected to WAN. Traffic from outside to 1.1.1.2 to is going to LAN interface instead of DMZ.

I am concerned with my NAT understanding in Palo.

Any suggestions on this would really help.

Regards,

Sanjay S

Re: Understanding Static NAT

TomYoung — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 13:24:34 GMT

Hi @Sanjay_Ramaiah ,

That looks good. The 2nd NAT entry is not needed because you configured the 1st one as bidirectional.

Could you give me the IP address/mask on the DMZ and LAN interfaces? I am curious why the traffic is going to the LAN interface also. Do you have other NAT rules above the ones you listed? I wonder if the traffic is hitting another rule.

Thanks,

Tom

Re: Understanding Static NAT

Sanjay_Ramaiah — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 14:57:47 GMT

Hi Tom,

After further checking i see the same IP is being NATted to the different internal IP behind the LAN interface.

That NAT is on TOP of the NAT rule base which could be the reason for traffic going to LAN interface.

Thank you very much, i am bit confident now about the NATs in Palo after your confirmation.

Issue is not resolved, i have requested customer to provide me the unused IP in the same subnet and awaiting response. Will let the trail updated.

Regards,

Sanjay S