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SonicReader 0.5 Released

SonicReader is a config file reader for SonicWall firewalls. Sonicwall config files end in the .exp extension. SonicReader reads the SonicWall config file and produces an HTML report of the contents. The only other way to read these files is to import them into a SonicWall and click through the web interface. The issue is that there are many cases that the config files are incompatible, such as with major differences in firmware or models.

You can get SonicReader v0.5 over at SourceForge.net

Direct link: Windows Binary or Cross Platform Java Package

A while back I was interested getting something to open these SonicWall config files (.exp). I scoured the web far and wide and the only thing I could find was either proprietary software that cost over $200 PER FIREWALL, or some guys chatting on a mailing list talking about using Perl and the Base64 package to read the files. There had to be a better way, especially since there are so many circumstances when you need to read one of these files.

It’s true, you can just use a Perl script and Base64-decode the Sonicwall Config file. But then you end up with something like this:

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checksumVersion=1
buildNum=5.8.1.11-62o
shortProdName=NSA 240
hasHAPort=0
userIV=9a221a6717cf4f21
passwordUniqueNum=0
[...]
zoneObjId_0=LAN
zoneObjProperties_0=50123
zoneObjCflProfile_0=1
zoneObjSslCtrlProfile_0=0
zoneObjSslVpnProfile_0=0
zoneObjCfspId_0=Default
zoneObjZoneType_0=1
zoneObjIntraZoneCom_0=1
[...]

I don’t know about you but I would rather see a nice report instead:

So I fired up Netbeans, brushed up on my Java skills, and began digging into the config file. So far I have been able to decode most of the contents of the file and organize it nicely. There is still a lot to be done, but as it stands now I think the program has some use. I know the code is ugly and slow and may be buggy. I hope to fix all of this in newer versions. If you have any comments, want to help with the project, or if the program helped you, please drop me a comment!

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