URL Categories - match different categories

[TRisec]

Hello

How do the PA decide which categorie it should use, if a web site matches 2 categories.

Example: I have checked "www.paloaltonetworks.com" at Brightcloud. The result, it matches "Business and Economy" and "Computer and Internet Security".

So I created a special rule set to deny both categories from a specific client. Result: site blocked.

Now I allow only one of thos 2 categories. Results:

"Business and Economy"- Blocked and "Computer and Internet Security"- Allowed --> Site available.

"Business and Economy"- Allowed and "Computer and Internet Security"- Blocked --> Site BLOCKED.

Now the final question:

Which are the criterias the DAN devices uses, if Bright Cloud is configured as DB and URLs should be handelt with more than one category match?

Regards

Ralf

[kfindlen · Accepted solution]

Hi Ralf,

While the BrightCloud website can list two or more categories for a URL the firewall itself only utilizes one category.  In addition the order in which the categories are returned on the BrightCloud website don't always align with the category the firewall sees.

The way to verify which category is being returned is to use a test command from the CLI.  After logging in to the firewall via SSH issue the command:

test url <URL>

The category returned by this command is the only one the firewall will see for the specified URL.  Since the firewall will always only see one category the logic of applying an action should be clear.

Thanks,

-- Kevin

[UhMayYeah]

If there are multiple categories associated with a URL,PAN-OS firewalls  use the category with the higher confidence score.

Ref

[JWebb-did]

Thanks for this!  I also found out that this also applies to custom URL categories...