Page 1 of 1

Can't access a computer on the LAN of the VPN server, unless its firewall is completly turned off

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2021 7:23 pm
by EagleX
Hello guys,

First of all, I would like to apologize for the confusing subject, I had some troubles phrasing it...

On a certain LAN that has several computers that I wish to access remotely, I have one computer running OpenVPN as a server (Tun, On Windows).

LAN range: 10.0.0.0 (Gateway-Router, separated from VPN is on 10.0.0.138).
VPN range: 192.168.5.0/24 (OpenVPN Server is on 192.168.5.1).

I have followed the "Extending the scope" part of the How-to. I'm pushing "route 10.0.0.0 255.255.255.0" to the clients, IP forwarding is enabled on the VPN server windows machine and I added a static route to my router, and everything seems to work fine.

The problem applies to computers running Windows Firewall, for example, the one at 10.0.0.10 which I need to access for RD and for file sharing. When the firewall is completely disabled (Which is not a good practice), I can access it through the VPN without any issues. However, when I enable the firewall, I lose the ability to reach it. I tried both allowing incoming connections through specific ports (RD and SMB ports, for example) from the desired scope (192.168.5.0/24) and simply allowing all traffic from that scope, but both options failed to work. The thing that confuses me is that, from my understanding, allowing all traffic from that scope is almost like turning off the firewall completely, so I just don't get where the issue is at.

I have taken a look at wireshark while the firewall was turned on, with the rule that allows all traffic from 192.168.5.0/24 to flow, and it does show incoming requests, but as far as I understand, they get rejected.

Server config:

config

dev-node "Obelisk"
topology subnet

server 192.168.5.0 255.255.255.0
port 49361

proto udp4
dev tun

tls-server
tls-crypt "C:\\Program Files\\OpenVPN\\config\\ta.key" 0

ca ...
cert ...
key ...
dh ...

keepalive 300 600

cipher AES-256-GCM
auth SHA256

push "route 10.0.0.0 255.255.255.0"

persist-key
persist-tun

verb 3


I'm also linking 2 screenshots of Wireshark ping updates (Sorry for the confusion, when I took those screenshots, my VPN range was changed to 10.8.0.0):
This one is running on the target of the ping, with its firewall enabled, with or without a general rule of allowing traffic from VPN subnet: https://imgur.com/RMRddko
This one is running on the computer running the VPN server: https://imgur.com/dlS6Tu9
I'll admit that I can't totally understand what is going on in here, but attaching them sure can't hurt.

I'm not a professional of any sort, but I am trying to learn and to do my googling for solutions before posting.
I'll be more than happy to provide any more info necessary.

Thank you so much!
Noam.

Re: Can't access a computer on the LAN of the VPN server, unless its firewall is completly turned off

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 1:49 pm
by 300000
what do you ask on openvpn forum if you know that windows firewall stop it working ? nothing in here help you and people cant make it work for you either .

Re: Can't access a computer on the LAN of the VPN server, unless its firewall is completly turned off

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 8:40 pm
by EagleX
I was wondering perhaps it's not a windows firewall issue and I'm missing something bigger, while the firewall thing is just a symptom.

Anyway, thank you for being so nice.
I'm sure the people around you really enjoy your daily presence.
Have a wonderful day, week and life.

Re: Can't access a computer on the LAN of the VPN server, unless its firewall is completly turned off

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 8:59 pm
by TinCanTech
EagleX wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 8:40 pm
I was wondering perhaps it's not a windows firewall issue
It is Windows firewall.
EagleX wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 8:40 pm
and I'm missing something bigger
something bigger would be a site specific security policy .. but I doubt if M$ are giving that away ..
EagleX wrote:
Sat Jan 02, 2021 7:23 pm
I have one computer running OpenVPN as a server (Tun, On Windows).
Brave or crazy ?

Just use Linux ..

Re: Can't access a computer on the LAN of the VPN server, unless its firewall is completly turned off

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 9:33 pm
by EagleX
A little bit of both, I guess...