NGINX SSL – SSL Not Responding Over IPv6

ipv6nginxssl

On a Debian server with nginx, I get no response from a web server over HTTPS and IPv6. HTTP works fine.

  • netstat reports port 443 listening on the IPv6 address
  • firewall is open, ipv6scanner.com reports port 443 open
  • locally (over terminal) wget and curl receive a correct response, so the nginx configuration is OK
  • no sign of an error from nginx error.log
  • no record in access.log when it fails, so the communication probably is not reaching the web server
  • DNS is fine. Translation works, and the connection does not work even when the IP address is accessed directly

Every attempt to connect from "outside" (meaning outside of the network, from the internet) fails (web browser, telnet, ipv6-test.com, curl…). There is no response at all.

It can be tested on www.ekasparova.eu. I am clueless. What else can I check?

edit:

the output of traceroute6 --mtu www.google.com is as follows:

traceroute to www.google.com (2a00:1450:4014:800::2004), 30 hops max, 65000 byte packets
1  * F=1500 * *
2  * * *
~
30  * * *

So it never reaches the end…

edit2:

My ip6tables-save output (local firewall):

# Generated by ip6tables-save v1.6.0 on Wed Oct 17 06:25:40 2018
*filter
:INPUT DROP [32:9320]
:FORWARD DROP [0:0]
:OUTPUT ACCEPT [0:0]
:ufw6-after-forward - [0:0]
:ufw6-after-input - [0:0]
:ufw6-after-logging-forward - [0:0]
:ufw6-after-logging-input - [0:0]
:ufw6-after-logging-output - [0:0]
:ufw6-after-output - [0:0]
:ufw6-before-forward - [0:0]
:ufw6-before-input - [0:0]
:ufw6-before-logging-forward - [0:0]
:ufw6-before-logging-input - [0:0]
:ufw6-before-logging-output - [0:0]
:ufw6-before-output - [0:0]
:ufw6-logging-allow - [0:0]
:ufw6-logging-deny - [0:0]
:ufw6-reject-forward - [0:0]
:ufw6-reject-input - [0:0]
:ufw6-reject-output - [0:0]
:ufw6-skip-to-policy-forward - [0:0]
:ufw6-skip-to-policy-input - [0:0]
:ufw6-skip-to-policy-output - [0:0]
:ufw6-track-forward - [0:0]
:ufw6-track-input - [0:0]
:ufw6-track-output - [0:0]
:ufw6-user-forward - [0:0]
:ufw6-user-input - [0:0]
:ufw6-user-limit - [0:0]
:ufw6-user-limit-accept - [0:0]
:ufw6-user-logging-forward - [0:0]
:ufw6-user-logging-input - [0:0]
:ufw6-user-logging-output - [0:0]
:ufw6-user-output - [0:0]
-A INPUT -j ufw6-before-logging-input
-A INPUT -j ufw6-before-input
-A INPUT -j ufw6-after-input
-A INPUT -j ufw6-after-logging-input
-A INPUT -j ufw6-reject-input
-A INPUT -j ufw6-track-input
-A INPUT -j LOG --log-prefix "[IPTABLES] " --log-tcp-options
-A INPUT -j LOG --log-prefix "[IPTABLES] " --log-tcp-options
-A FORWARD -j ufw6-before-logging-forward
-A FORWARD -j ufw6-before-forward
-A FORWARD -j ufw6-after-forward
-A FORWARD -j ufw6-after-logging-forward
-A FORWARD -j ufw6-reject-forward
-A FORWARD -j ufw6-track-forward
-A FORWARD -j LOG --log-prefix "[IPTABLES] " --log-tcp-options
-A FORWARD -j LOG --log-prefix "[IPTABLES] " --log-tcp-options
-A OUTPUT -j ufw6-before-logging-output
-A OUTPUT -j ufw6-before-output
-A OUTPUT -j ufw6-after-output
-A OUTPUT -j ufw6-after-logging-output
-A OUTPUT -j ufw6-reject-output
-A OUTPUT -j ufw6-track-output
-A ufw6-after-input -p udp -m udp --dport 137 -j ufw6-skip-to-policy-input
-A ufw6-after-input -p udp -m udp --dport 138 -j ufw6-skip-to-policy-input
-A ufw6-after-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 139 -j ufw6-skip-to-policy-input
-A ufw6-after-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 445 -j ufw6-skip-to-policy-input
-A ufw6-after-input -p udp -m udp --dport 546 -j ufw6-skip-to-policy-input
-A ufw6-after-input -p udp -m udp --dport 547 -j ufw6-skip-to-policy-input
-A ufw6-after-logging-forward -m limit --limit 3/min --limit-burst 10 -j LOG --log-prefix "[UFW BLOCK] "
-A ufw6-after-logging-input -m limit --limit 3/min --limit-burst 10 -j LOG --log-prefix "[UFW BLOCK] "
-A ufw6-before-forward -m rt --rt-type 0 -j DROP
-A ufw6-before-forward -m conntrack --ctstate RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-forward -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 1 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-forward -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 2 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-forward -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 3 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-forward -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 4 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-forward -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 128 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-forward -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 129 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-forward -j ufw6-user-forward
-A ufw6-before-input -i lo -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -m rt --rt-type 0 -j DROP
-A ufw6-before-input -m conntrack --ctstate RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -m conntrack --ctstate INVALID -j ufw6-logging-deny
-A ufw6-before-input -m conntrack --ctstate INVALID -j DROP
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 1 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 2 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 3 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 4 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 128 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 129 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 133 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 134 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 135 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 136 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 141 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 142 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -s fe80::/10 -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 130 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -s fe80::/10 -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 131 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -s fe80::/10 -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 132 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -s fe80::/10 -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 143 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 148 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 149 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -s fe80::/10 -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 151 -m hl --hl-eq 1 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -s fe80::/10 -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 152 -m hl --hl-eq 1 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -s fe80::/10 -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 153 -m hl --hl-eq 1 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 144 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 145 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 146 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 147 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -s fe80::/10 -d fe80::/10 -p udp -m udp --sport 547 --dport 546 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -d ff02::fb/128 -p udp -m udp --dport 5353 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -d ff02::f/128 -p udp -m udp --dport 1900 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-input -j ufw6-user-input
-A ufw6-before-output -o lo -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -m rt --rt-type 0 -j DROP
-A ufw6-before-output -m conntrack --ctstate RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 1 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 2 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 3 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 4 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 128 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 129 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 133 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 136 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 135 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 134 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 141 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 142 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -s fe80::/10 -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 130 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -s fe80::/10 -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 131 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -s fe80::/10 -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 132 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -s fe80::/10 -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 143 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 148 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 149 -m hl --hl-eq 255 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -s fe80::/10 -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 151 -m hl --hl-eq 1 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -s fe80::/10 -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 152 -m hl --hl-eq 1 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -s fe80::/10 -p ipv6-icmp -m icmp6 --icmpv6-type 153 -m hl --hl-eq 1 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-before-output -j ufw6-user-output
-A ufw6-logging-allow -m limit --limit 3/min --limit-burst 10 -j LOG --log-prefix "[UFW ALLOW] "
-A ufw6-logging-deny -m conntrack --ctstate INVALID -m limit --limit 3/min --limit-burst 10 -j RETURN
-A ufw6-logging-deny -m limit --limit 3/min --limit-burst 10 -j LOG --log-prefix "[UFW BLOCK] "
-A ufw6-skip-to-policy-forward -j DROP
-A ufw6-skip-to-policy-input -j DROP
-A ufw6-skip-to-policy-output -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-track-output -p tcp -m conntrack --ctstate NEW -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-track-output -p udp -m conntrack --ctstate NEW -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 20 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 21 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 25 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 53 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 110 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 143 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 587 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 993 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 995 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 8080 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 8081 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 10000 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p udp -m udp --dport 53 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m multiport --dports 29799:29899 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p udp -m udp --dport 25 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-input -p tcp -m tcp --dport 8082 -j ACCEPT
-A ufw6-user-limit -m limit --limit 3/min -j LOG --log-prefix "[UFW LIMIT BLOCK] "
-A ufw6-user-limit -j REJECT --reject-with icmp6-port-unreachable
-A ufw6-user-limit-accept -j ACCEPT
COMMIT
# Completed on Wed Oct 17 06:25:40 2018

edit3:

Thanks to everyone's help I was able to convince the datacenter operator that the problem is in their infrastructure. The problem really was in the MTU setting on a virtual router in the path to internet.

Best Answer

You have an MTU problem.

I tested wget -O /dev/null https://www.ekasparova.eu while observing the traffic with tcpdump. This is what I saw:

19:56:57.048361 IP6 2001:db8::1.47386 > 2a04:f310:100:3:f816:3eff:fea3:4553.443: Flags [S], seq 262121609, win 28800, options [mss 1440,sackOK,TS val 298423713 ecr 0,nop,wscale 7], length 0
19:56:57.087457 IP6 2a04:f310:100:3:f816:3eff:fea3:4553.443 > 2001:db8::1.47386: Flags [S.], seq 2396216876, ack 262121610, win 28560, options [mss 1440,sackOK,TS val 82836580 ecr 298423713,nop,wscale 7], length 0
19:56:57.087490 IP6 2001:db8::1.47386 > 2a04:f310:100:3:f816:3eff:fea3:4553.443: Flags [.], ack 1, win 225, options [nop,nop,TS val 298423723 ecr 82836580], length 0
19:56:57.087692 IP6 2001:db8::1.47386 > 2a04:f310:100:3:f816:3eff:fea3:4553.443: Flags [P.], seq 1:322, ack 1, win 225, options [nop,nop,TS val 298423723 ecr 82836580], length 321
19:56:57.126190 IP6 2a04:f310:100:3:f816:3eff:fea3:4553.443 > 2001:db8::1.47386: Flags [.], ack 322, win 232, options [nop,nop,TS val 82836590 ecr 298423723], length 0
19:56:57.141224 IP6 2a04:f310:100:3:f816:3eff:fea3:4553.443 > 2001:db8::1.47386: Flags [P.], seq 2857:3678, ack 322, win 232, options [nop,nop,TS val 82836594 ecr 298423723], length 821
19:56:57.141301 IP6 2001:db8::1.47386 > 2a04:f310:100:3:f816:3eff:fea3:4553.443: Flags [.], ack 1, win 248, options [nop,nop,TS val 298423736 ecr 82836590,nop,nop,sack 1 {2857:3678}], length 0

The first 3 packets is the handshake. Both ends announce mss 1440 which means they are capable of receiving packets with 1440 bytes of TCP payload, counting headers as well it totals to 1500 bytes of IP traffic, which is what Ethernet commonly supports.

The next 2 packets is client hello and acknowledgement it was received by the server.

The final 2 packets is where things get interesting. By default tcpdump shows relative sequence numbers, which in this case make the capture easier to read. In the packet from the server this is the interesting part seq 2857:3678. We see a jump from 1 to 2857 which means there is a gap of 2856 bytes which the client did not yet receive. 2856 bytes corresponds to two packets of 1428 bytes. The difference between 1440 and 1428 is the size of a timestamp option.

So, the server sent the server hello split across 3 packets. But the first two were too large for the network and were not delivered to the client.

In the final packet from client to server we see this sack 1 {2857:3678}. This is a selective acknowledgement sent by the client informing the server that there is a gap in the data it has received this far.

Likely the server keeps sending the two lost packets over and over again. But no matter how many times it retransmits the same two packets they remain too large for the network. And probably a router on the path sends an error message back to the server informing it the packets are too large and need to be retransmitted in smaller packets.

If the server received those error messages, it would retransmit the packets smaller as needed. And it would remember the smaller PMTU such that on subsequent requests it does not have to repeat this discovery step.

A possible explanation for all of this is that you have a misconfigured firewall which drops all of the error messages informing your server it needs to retransmit the data in smaller packets.

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