Click here to Skip to main content
15,867,488 members
Articles / Web Development / ASP.NET

Open Windows Firewall During Installation

Rate me:
Please Sign up or sign in to vote.
4.30/5 (9 votes)
23 Jul 2006CPOL2 min read 117K   38   27
This test code will serve as an MSI custom action to open the Windows firewall after installation.

Introduction

During the installation of my application, I needed to add it to the Windows firewall as an allowed application and open two ports for another application. This code will function as a custom action during the install to open the firewall on install and close it on uninstall. In trying to keep things as simple as possible, the following C# class library will be called from the setup - openFirewall() and closeFirewall().

First, I generated the FWSetupAction project as a C# class library. After that, I use the properties page to switch the output type to a console application to step through it with the debugger. When it's operational, switch back to the class library for integration with the MSI setup logic and incorporate it as a custom action.

After the initial project creation, rename Class1.cs to Firewall.cs in the Solution Navigator. If you're writing code anew, add the NetFwTypeLib reference first to allow intellisense to help you recognize the terms you'll be coding. This reference will be required for correct compilation, so whether you put it in before coding or after doesn't matter, but it will be needed. To add the reference, right click on References and select Browse. Browse to %windir%\system32\hnetcfg.dll and select it - the NetFwTypeLib will be created.

Edit the Firewall.cs class to have the following code:

C#
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.Reflection;
using NetFwTypeLib;
using Microsoft.Win32;
namespace FWSetupAction
{
public class Firewall
{
    protected int[] discoPorts = { 0xD100, 0xD101 };
    protected INetFwProfile fwProfile;

    public void openFirewall()
    {
        ///////////// Firewall Authorize Application ////////////
        String imageFilename = getImageFilename();
        setProfile();
        NetFwAuthorizedApplications apps = fwProfile.AuthorizedApplications;
        INetFwAuthorizedApplication app = 
          ( INetFwAuthorizedApplication ) getInstance( "INetAuthApp" );
        app.Name = "Application Name";
        app.ProcessImageFileName = imageFilename;
        apps.Add( app );
        apps = null;

        //////////////// Open Needed Ports /////////////////
        INetFwOpenPorts openports = fwProfile.GloballyOpenPorts;
        foreach( int port in discoPorts )
        {
            INetFwOpenPort openport = 
              ( INetFwOpenPort ) getInstance( "INetOpenPort" );
            openport.Port = port;
            openport.Protocol = NET_FW_IP_PROTOCOL_.NET_FW_IP_PROTOCOL_UDP;
            openport.Name = "New Open Port";
            openports.Add( openport );
        }
        openports = null;
    } // openFirewall

    public void closeFirewall()
    {
        String imageFilename = getImageFilename();
        setProfile();
        INetFwAuthorizedApplications apps = fwProfile.AuthorizedApplications;
        apps.Remove( imageFilename );
        apps = null;
        INetFwOpenPorts ports = fwProfile.GloballyOpenPorts;
        ports.Remove( discoPorts[ 0 ], NET_FW_IP_PROTOCOL_.NET_FW_IP_PROTOCOL_UDP );
        ports.Remove( discoPorts[ 1 ], NET_FW_IP_PROTOCOL_.NET_FW_IP_PROTOCOL_UDP );
        ports = null;
    }

    protected string getImageFilename()
    {
        // Get install directory from the registry
        RegistryKey pRegKey = Registry.LocalMachine;
        pRegKey = pRegKey.OpenSubKey( "SOFTWARE\\Company Directory\\AppDir" );
        Object insDir = pRegKey.GetValue( "InstallDir" );
        return insDir + "RVP.exe";
    }

    protected void setProfile()
    {
        // Access INetFwMgr
        INetFwMgr fwMgr = ( INetFwMgr ) getInstance( "INetFwMgr" );
        INetFwPolicy fwPolicy = fwMgr.LocalPolicy;
        fwProfile = fwPolicy.CurrentProfile;
        fwMgr = null;
        fwPolicy = null;
    }

    protected Object getInstance( String typeName )
    {
        if( typeName == "INetFwMgr" )
        {
            Type type = Type.GetTypeFromCLSID(
            new Guid( "{304CE942-6E39-40D8-943A-B913C40C9CD4}" ) );
            return Activator.CreateInstance( type );
        }
        else if( typeName == "INetAuthApp" )
        {
            Type type = Type.GetTypeFromCLSID(
            new Guid( "{EC9846B3-2762-4A6B-A214-6ACB603462D2}" ) );
            return Activator.CreateInstance( type );
        }
        else if( typeName == "INetOpenPort" )
        {
            Type type = Type.GetTypeFromCLSID(
            new Guid( "{0CA545C6-37AD-4A6C-BF92-9F7610067EF5}" ) );
            return Activator.CreateInstance( type );
        }
        else return null;
    }

    static void Main( string[] args )
    {
        Firewall fw = new Firewall();
        fw.openFirewall();
        fw.closeFirewall();
    }
}
}

Once compiled, you're ready to test. Set a breakpoint on each of the firewall entry methods - openFirewall() and closeFirewall(), and step through the program. Use a DOS box to verify the operations. The netsh firewall command will verify the operation of the code:

  • netsh fire show allowed - shows the programs that are allowed
  • netsh fire show port - shows the ports that are open

Acknowledgements

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Web Developer
United States United States
This member has not yet provided a Biography. Assume it's interesting and varied, and probably something to do with programming.

Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralNetFwAuthorizedApplications type Pin
triplebit25-Sep-09 6:10
triplebit25-Sep-09 6:10 
GeneralRe: NetFwAuthorizedApplications type Pin
Donsw27-Oct-09 10:36
Donsw27-Oct-09 10:36 
Generalgood for xp Pin
Donsw18-Sep-09 7:00
Donsw18-Sep-09 7:00 
QuestionDoes it work on vista? Pin
David Engler29-May-08 10:10
David Engler29-May-08 10:10 
I tried this code on vista, and it didnt seem to be working
AnswerRe: Does it work on vista? Pin
Jmgxu21-Dec-08 3:57
Jmgxu21-Dec-08 3:57 
GeneralHelp anybody - very peculiar bug Pin
Dave Midgley28-Nov-07 8:13
Dave Midgley28-Nov-07 8:13 
GeneralRe: Help anybody - very peculiar bug [modified] Pin
Don Hamson28-Nov-07 23:31
Don Hamson28-Nov-07 23:31 
GeneralSetting things back to null Pin
Dave Midgley28-Nov-07 7:16
Dave Midgley28-Nov-07 7:16 
GeneralRe: Setting things back to null Pin
Don Hamson28-Nov-07 22:33
Don Hamson28-Nov-07 22:33 
GeneralError checking Pin
Dave Midgley26-Nov-07 5:40
Dave Midgley26-Nov-07 5:40 
AnswerRe: Error checking Pin
Don Hamson26-Nov-07 16:51
Don Hamson26-Nov-07 16:51 
GeneralRe: Error checking Pin
Dave Midgley28-Nov-07 7:14
Dave Midgley28-Nov-07 7:14 
GeneralRe: Error checking Pin
Don Hamson28-Nov-07 22:19
Don Hamson28-Nov-07 22:19 
Questionnecessary privs Pin
AleRanza25-May-07 5:11
AleRanza25-May-07 5:11 
AnswerRe: necessary privs Pin
Don Hamson25-May-07 13:48
Don Hamson25-May-07 13:48 
GeneralA different way of doing things Pin
Yiogi11-Jan-07 5:04
Yiogi11-Jan-07 5:04 
GeneralRe: A different way of doing things Pin
shysan24-Apr-07 2:29
shysan24-Apr-07 2:29 
Generalsecurity caveat Pin
kckn4fun26-Jul-06 2:03
kckn4fun26-Jul-06 2:03 
GeneralRe: security caveat Pin
Don Hamson26-Jul-06 8:34
Don Hamson26-Jul-06 8:34 
GeneralRe: security caveat Pin
tverweij26-Jul-06 21:17
tverweij26-Jul-06 21:17 
GeneralRe: security caveat [modified] Pin
Don Hamson27-Jul-06 3:36
Don Hamson27-Jul-06 3:36 
GeneralRe: security caveat Pin
Jason Barry26-Jun-08 13:20
professionalJason Barry26-Jun-08 13:20 
GeneralThis is not a feature, but a security leak [modified] Pin
tverweij25-Jul-06 7:04
tverweij25-Jul-06 7:04 
GeneralRe: This is not a feature, but a security leak Pin
Don Hamson26-Jul-06 1:36
Don Hamson26-Jul-06 1:36 
GeneralRe: This is not a feature, but a security leak Pin
tverweij26-Jul-06 21:20
tverweij26-Jul-06 21:20 

General General    News News    Suggestion Suggestion    Question Question    Bug Bug    Answer Answer    Joke Joke    Praise Praise    Rant Rant    Admin Admin   

Use Ctrl+Left/Right to switch messages, Ctrl+Up/Down to switch threads, Ctrl+Shift+Left/Right to switch pages.