How to configure iptables so an unwanted port is not reported as filtered

Question

I'd like to stop others from seeing my ports as filtered in the nmap standard scan (unprivileged). Let's say that I have the following ports open: 22, 3306, 995 and a firewall configured like this:

-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 22 -j DROP
-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 3306 -j DROP
-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 995 -j DROP

This is the result of an nmap scan:

[+] Nmap scan report for X.X.X.X

    Host is up (0.040s latency).
    Not shown: 90 closed ports

    PORT     STATE    SERVICE
    22/tcp   filtered ssh
    995/tcp  filtered pop3s
    3306/tcp filtered mysql

It displays these ports as filtered, because my server didn't reply RST for SYN. Is there a way to modify this behaviour? For example: if the iptables firewall blocks a port, reply RST for SYN, instead of remaining silent (not replying anything)?

Answer 1

Don't use DROP, that's easily identified as "filtered" if you know the box is up. Instead, you may use the following to send a RST. (as if there is a service listening, but it doesn't accept connections from you)

-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 22 -j REJECT --reject-with tcp-reset

Or otherwise simply use the following to make the port look closed. (as if there is no service listening on it)

-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 22 -j REJECT

Answer 2

-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 995 -j REJECT --reject-with tcp-reset

should be doing what you want (reply with RST).